Work Visa Refused

hkdilemma · 28-03-2014, 03:44 AM

I need some advice. I was recently offered a job, managerial position, I took it up, the company is a mnc company with a hub in HK. My visa application was refused only to found out approximately 7 weeks from application date- the immigration asked for more information on the 4th week- 90% of the documents was company's information, and 10% was because a referral letter I provided was missing the dates. The refusal letter was a very generic one, I had to find a visa/immigration specialist /solicitor to find the reason- and they got back to me within 2 days stated that the JD that the company has submitted as to generic, the company hired me for my 6 years solid experience within the industry and also because I held an Asia Pacific regional role- which they did not state clearly during the document submission. I thought it was my fault as u could only provide them non-degree certs, but solicitor said it not the case as my experience is above 3 years and I'm not a fresh grad. The solicitor advice was either an appeal or if I get another job- to re apply a new submission- thankful I found a job recently and the position is much higher (divisional director) and JD is specific with regional experience. Just would want to know, should I take a shot? I'm in total dilemma and really need to start work soon as I resigned my previous position to come all the way it HK only to face a rejected visa and the company does not want to hold accountable for any of what has happened!!! So frustrating!!!

emx · 28-03-2014, 05:23 AM

Originally Posted by hkdilemma:

I resigned my previous position

Why did you do that?

Work visas are not guaranteed, you should have kept your old job and stayed where you were until the actual work visa was granted.

Rob2020 · 28-03-2014, 11:01 AM

> the company does not want to hold accountable for any of what has happened

Sounds like they don't want you as much as you want them.
Time to count your losses and move on.

hkdilemma · 28-03-2014, 06:58 PM

Original Post Deleted

Well to answer why I resigned from my previous position, I did not do it immediately, in fact I was delaying it. The company in HK had gave me much assurance that they are expert in applying visa and that they have done it many times and never failed- therefore I put trust, hence the company is. Suisse based company, been around for a couple if decades and the office in hk is a regional hub. I've worked with many Suisse companies before and they have been very ethical- well this proved me wrong in so many ways.

I did mentioned to the other company about my visa, they would want to give me a letter of appointment but are sceptical of the visa, afraid that the first refusal would lead to a second refusal. Therefore I'm seeking advice from solicitors and visa expert, they adviced me to go for it. Perhaps I'll be in touch with the new company to re-discuss. Hopefully it work.

So in need of lucky right now!!

Sweeneykill · 26-04-2014, 05:32 AM

What most people don't understand about the granting of working visas in Hong Kong is this - unless you have a skill, experience, knowledge or some kind of secret power that no one in Hong Kong has - they are reluctant to grant working visas. For one simple reason - if they can find someone in Hong Kong that can do your job, there is no reason to look for foreigners to come to Hong Kong on a working visa when the locals can supply the demand. Hence why jobs like university professors, International school teachers, etc are the most common for foreigners granted a working visa in Hong Kong. International school teachers often require a specific degree - for example Delia School of Canada requires teachers that have a teaching degree from Ontario as the entire curriculum is based on the Ontario high school education system - for which these teachers are specifically qualified.

Though take note - I'm not am immigration officer or any sort of government official. Just offering some friendly insight into my 13 years in Hong Kong and my endless reading of the immigration laws and their policy.