[Minnie]

Hi - My boyfriend has just got a job in HK and the company will sort out his visa. The company I work for has a HK office and is happy to sponsor me for an employment visa as an inter-company transfer.

Currently there is only 1 other ex-pat with this company (in a staff of 100). Are the chances of this being approved pretty high and is it fairly straight-forward? I have heard that this is a much easier way to get a visa approved than if starting a new job but it would be helpful to have this confirmed.

Thanks

[HKFella]

The key is in the application, the HK employer needs to make a reasonable case why you as a foreigner should be employed in the position rather than locals (internal or external).

Often an internal transfer can offer the advantage of being able to tailor the local job to require experience or specific knowledge of something that can only be acquired in the same company head office or overseas (where you have worked) - e.g. systems, corporate policies, governance or other standards and culture, products, techniques, training, exposure, even relationship/rapport with senior management..... you get the drift.

[Minnie]

Thanks-I'm sure they will do a good job - but I guess I'm just anxious to know the odds of approval, however these things are never guaranteed!

[HKFella]

If the case is well made out, I would think the odds ought be quite good (as borne out by our experience in June with someone not so senior) moved here from Malaysia and rehired locally. But hard to generalize - much depends on the business, job, seniority, experience, etc. Emigra,.... anyone?

from the information you have mentioned your case looks alright the only other major factors is your salary and your experience for the position in HK.

Please PM me for an evaluation form.

[Minnie]

Thanks for the advice. Bascially the position has been offered in the same way as if I was already in HK. The salary is average for the position and the contact is the same as all the current local employees, so no special expat perks.

I have just been informed that the company are a little nervous about the visa application now, due to the fact that they have not tried to recruit locally - is this likely to be an issue with immigration?

Thanks again for any response!

[KnowItAll]

Minnie, Why not just have them contact Emigra and they can put the application through... yes, for a fee.