Information on getting work in HK

Aldhissla · 03-09-2008, 07:41 AM

I'm 18 years old and desperately want to move to HK.

Can someone tell me any jobs or skills that I can learn that are in demand in HK? I understand it's very difficult to work unless invited by a company, or if no resident can do your job.
Also, my friends mother is an English teacher there - would it be possible to have her take me on as an assistant in the school?

I have discussed things with the relevant parties, and I am able to get a dependent visa through marriage. I don't mind what sort of work I obtain in HK, as long as it is enough to pay for a $4,000 a month flat in the area. I am prepared to go to any lengths to be able to live in HK; my reasons for moving are not just "because I want to".

Any advice is appreciated, the HK website is very unhelpful and confusing on this.

KnowItAll · 03-09-2008, 09:22 AM

At the end of the day, when you move to any country, no matter how rich or poor it is, you have to convince the Immigration department that you have skills / talents which are not easily found locally.

You don't have to be a rocket scientist (although that helps) to do this.

Difficult to do this when you're 18 and presumably do not have a degree.

Aldhissla · 03-09-2008, 09:50 AM

How would a dependent visa affect the possibilities of finding work? From other research, I can get into HK, but will still need to apply for a working visa in order to work. Will the dependent visa make immigration officials more likely to allow me to work?

KnowItAll · 03-09-2008, 09:55 AM

A dependant's visa allows you to work. However there are a load of requirements including the fact that your parents need to be residents here. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region - Immigration Department ( his/her unmarried dependent child under the age of 18; and )

Depending on the country you're from, you might want to look at the working holiday scheme.

By the way, there is NO substitute for spending a few hours on the Immigration Department

Claire ex-ax · 03-09-2008, 09:55 AM

A dependant's visa will allow the holder to work, unless stated otherwise. But do you qualify for one?

filishiaginder · 03-09-2008, 10:07 AM

If you can get here on a dependent visa, you can always do private english tutor if you're up to it.

another way of doing it would be coming here on a visitor's visa and look for a job while you're here. you might get lucky that your employer would sponsor you to come on a work visa.

PDLM · 03-09-2008, 10:20 AM

If the OP is 18 they don't seem to meet the requirement of being "under the age of 18"...

chimo · 03-09-2008, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by Aldhissla:

I have discussed things with the relevant parties, and I am able to get a dependent visa through marriage.

If you have no Chinese, no degree and no working experience then don't expect a comfortable office job. I am sure you will be able to find work in the service industry that caters to expats like at a Starbucks in Central or something like that.

And, yes, you can always do English teaching/tutoring.

Aldhissla · 03-09-2008, 11:32 AM

So I'm 18, and hold a British passport (which means I can spend 180 days in HK as a "holiday", right?) and that means I can work without my parents being residents, if I were to be on a dependent visa?
Yeah, I'm more than willing to tutor English or work night shifts in Starbucks, whatever I have to do to get enough to afford a flat I'll be sharing.
If I tutor English privately, does it make a difference to any visa's required?

Thanks for all the information guys, I was beginning to think it's impossible to move without going to university for 4 years getting a teaching degree, but this thread has me slightly more hopeful..