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Work Visa Rejection & Appeal

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  1. #1

    Work Visa Rejection & Appeal

    I recently had my initial work visa application denied. There is definitely some information on this forum, but it can be tricky to find. So, hopefully this thread will help future applicants who are going through something similar.

    In my case the following transpired:

    My future employer made the initial application via a Visa Agency beginning April. Around 20 days later Immigration requested more information from the employer. About 2 weeks after that (almost 5 weeks exactly from initial application) we got informed that the application was denied.

    I freaked, I panicked, I went through the stages of grief. As with most accounts the reasons were to do with salary and appropriate proof to justify hiring an expat for the job. Luckily my job is very specialised. We wrote reconsideration letters mentioning all the details again to make things very clear. My employer also showed more proof that they have been looking locally, but could not find a satisfactory local applicant. After a couple of weeks we resubmitted.

    16 days later (including weekends) we got the happy news that my working visa has been approved along with my wife's dependent visa.

    Now, I am sure there are many different cases. Although technically it always boils down to similar reasons etc. Please use this thread for supplying more info to those who are facing a denial. Hopefully, the information can put them at some ease.

    Cheers


  2. #2

    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Posts
    10

    Thanks @Khoisan-X for starting this thread. I've recently filed a reconsideration for my visa application which was rejected on 30 May. It's been over three weeks since the reconsideration submission and I'm still waiting for a decision from the immigration department. I know it's very difficult for a refusal to be turned around but I'm still hoping that maybe I can be one of the very few lucky ones who finally gets approved.
    @Khoisan-X, did you get a new reference number or some sort of acknowledgement from the immigration after you submitted the appeal? My online application status still shows "Application refused" even after I submitted the appeal. If you don't mind, may I also ask if the unofficial minimum salary for GEP visa is still HKD20,000 a month?

    Last edited by Katniss; 29-06-2018 at 04:31 PM.

  3. #3

    Hi Katniss!

    Very sorry to hear that you have to go through this.

    In my case, I did not make use of the online status check function once. My initial refusal letter had a reference number at the top which I quoted in my appeal submission. Another officer was then assigned to my case (they never assign the original officer if you submit a reconsideration). I did not get any acknowledgement though when we submitted the reconsideration request. Maybe you can give Immigration a call and politely ask them if your case is being processed?

    Yes, 20 000 HKD is the magic minimum number for sure!

    Best of luck. Please post in this thread once you hear back from them!

    jamie4314, Katniss and shri like this.

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Posts
    10

    Thanks for the prompt reply and information! Will definitely keep you posted!


  5. #5

    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Posts
    10

    Just adding another data entry, my visa has finally been approved!!!! Flying to HK this friday and gonna start working next Monday! So excited!


    This is my second attempt on visa application. My first application was rejected in March because the salary was too low and it was an entry level position (Im a fresh grad). So I looked for another job with another company, but the position is entry level as well cuz Im a fresh grad with no working experience at all but the position requires my proficiency in a foreign language. The salary offered was slightly lower than the unofficial minimum (20k) but was then raised for the appeal.

    Submission: 2/5/2018
    Application refused: 30/5/2018
    Appeal submission: 6/6/2018

    Had not heard anything from them and HR reached out to them a couple of times but in vain until HR finally managed to call them and talked to an officer on 3/7/2018. HR was told that the application was still in progress. Got issued a new reference number. Immi didn't ask for additional documents but HR submitted docs mentioning the package again with all internal benchmarking

    Phone conversation: 3/7/2018
    Additional documents submission: 18/7/2018
    Visa approval: 24/7/2018

    So initial submission to appeal to approval took a total of 2 months + 3 weeks.


  6. #6

    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Posts
    10

    So what I wanna say is I think prior work visa application refusals will not affect your future application because the application is considered case by case. Supposedly, I have two refusals on record when I submitted the appeal, so I dont think the refusals affected my appeal at all.


  7. #7

    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Wanchai
    Posts
    5,063

    Congrats both


  8. #8

    Congratulations!!

    As far as I know, you do not have 'red flags' due to refused visa applications. Only when you mess up with renewals or stay in the county illegally etc.

    See you in Hong Kong!

    Katniss and MABinPengChau like this.

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Katniss:
    Just adding another data entry, my visa has finally been approved!!!! Flying to HK this friday and gonna start working next Monday! So excited!


    This is my second attempt on visa application. My first application was rejected in March because the salary was too low and it was an entry level position (Im a fresh grad). So I looked for another job with another company, but the position is entry level as well cuz Im a fresh grad with no working experience at all but the position requires my proficiency in a foreign language. The salary offered was slightly lower than the unofficial minimum (20k) but was then raised for the appeal.

    Submission: 2/5/2018
    Application refused: 30/5/2018
    Appeal submission: 6/6/2018

    Had not heard anything from them and HR reached out to them a couple of times but in vain until HR finally managed to call them and talked to an officer on 3/7/2018. HR was told that the application was still in progress. Got issued a new reference number. Immi didn't ask for additional documents but HR submitted docs mentioning the package again with all internal benchmarking

    Phone conversation: 3/7/2018
    Additional documents submission: 18/7/2018
    Visa approval: 24/7/2018

    So initial submission to appeal to approval took a total of 2 months + 3 weeks.
    Hi Katniss.

    If I may ask, how much was the initial salary for your application that got denied? I'm waiting for my visa approval and the salary for me is 15 000 and I'm afraid that might be the reason why I will get denied.

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Posts
    10
    Quote Originally Posted by StinaLilleke:
    Hi Katniss.

    If I may ask, how much was the initial salary for your application that got denied? I'm waiting for my visa approval and the salary for me is 15 000 and I'm afraid that might be the reason why I will get denied.
    Hi StinaLilleke,

    My initial salary was 18k.

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