Change in rules - Does DH have to wait for visa

Posted by seks (119 days ago)

IS there a change in rules now whereby the DH has to process her visa in her own country if she has finished her contract, and is changing employer? I am waiting to hire an Indo and wish to know if she has to return to her own country whilst the papers are being processed. Please could someone advise. Thanks!

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Posted by Peggie Wong (119 days ago)

If she has finished her contract, she can process right away while she is still in HK as she has 2 week to look for a job.

From my experience, if a helper has completed her 2 year contract, she can find another employer and if the new employer wants her to start immediately without going back to her place of origin, the new employer must write a letter to the Immigration Department stating the reason, it could be granted. That was my case 8 years ago.

Nowadays, rules have changed and they can just go over to China or Macau and return and start working.

I am speaking about helpers who have finished their contract but for those that breached their contracts, it's another matter and they must definitely have to go back to their country of origin and wait for the papers to come through.

Your case with an Indonesian helper (I hire PDH only) could be different as I always hear stories that some agencies and the Indonesian Consulate are quite harsh with these helpers. Anyway, it's just heresay and hopfully it's the same treatment - at least from HK Immigration.

Good luck to you!

Posted by JustThinking (115 days ago)

Do you know what the situation is if the helper is leaving her employer because they are leaving HK permanently? We are in the process of employing such a person and she has told us she doesn't have to leave and that the visa will will take 2 to 3 weeks. This seems to be very short compared to everything else we are seeing. We are not using an agency as we found her ourselves and she comes highly recommended.

Any advise would be appreciated.

Posted by Peggie Wong (115 days ago)

If her previous employer is genuinely leaving HK and terminated the helper's service, then she can process her papers in HK without any difficulty and can start working for her new employer as soon as her visa comes out. From what you have written, I think your potential helper knows what she is doing and save you some money by processing everything herself without the need of getting an agency.

Posted by Peggie Wong (115 days ago)

Here's a thought - most of my friends would rather find a reliable agency to help with the process and pay a small amount for hiring a new DH for the first time, even if the helper herself is in HK. There must be a reason!!

But I also have friends who just let the new DH do the work and there was no feed-back of any problem.

There are also cases where the DH took the employer's papers & just disappear as in-between they must have found a better deal. (I think)!

Posted by FKKC (106 days ago)

seks,
Did you process the papers smoothly for your Indonesian helper? Did you need an agency to help you or did you went direct? Please give us a feed-back. Thanks.

Posted by mixeymum (106 days ago)

yes I am hiring a maid direct too without an agency...seemed to me as I didn't find her through an agency, that as the maid has to go to immigration herself anyway, then the fee for the agency was basically to hand you the forms and then to give them to the helper and cause more hassle by having both the helper and the employer having to go to the agency! do let us know if it is a different case...I'm just getting my helpers medical done at the moment. thanks

Posted by seks (89 days ago)

FKKC
I am still waiting for the visa and understand it will take 3 weeks, but the DH did not have any reference/release letter but has finished her contract.... so I am a little anxious.

Posted by FKKC (89 days ago)

Keeping my fingers crossed for you. The helper should have asked her previous employer to give her a release letter in order to find another job smoothly.

Hopfully her previous employer has notified Immigration that the 2-year contract has finalized then there shouldn't be any problem unless it is not the case.