Immigration...to chase or not to chase....

Hi - just looking for some advice - we have put in an application for a direct hire from the Philippines - the helper was in HK but broke contract as she was unhappy - before she left she told me that I should call Immigration to speed application times up - however from looking at other posts, I am not sure whether this will speed things up or slow things down. I am also not sure who or how to contact the relevant department (our acknowledgement shows just a fax number).


Can anyone offer me any advice? - I ask only because I leave soon to the UK to visit my sick father and would like to sort this out before I go (it has been 4 weeks since application already).


Thanks in anticipation.

You can of course TRY. It doesn't hurt. However, most cases, cases that get "speed" up process is usually those who have a desperate reason like medically, or pregnancy, or elderly who is very ill, ...etc. You can try to reason with the immigration why your file needs speeding up. As you can understand, EVERYONE who applies would like their DH to arrive as fast as possible. So unless you have a strong case, you can try to speed things up, whether it will or not is up to the immigration.


You need to have the file number before you can "chase".


Terminated contracts helpers are usually faster than the brand NEW ones(never been to HK ones).


My friend who has a newborn, and a 3 year old, and the helper gave her one month notice..... chased the immigration 2 times with her new helper's file, the helper arrived in 4 weeks.


Last time she was pregnant, and the 2 year old... she went to the immigration everyday to beg .... and her helper came in 4 weeks.


A friend said her helper ran away, and she got a new one, because of her case, her new one came in 3 weeks.


It can't slow things down. They will just tell you to WAIT, but won't actively do anything to your file to "slow" it down.


So you can definitely TRY! good luck.

Thanks for your reply - where should I go at immigration to beg - there seems to be so many areas - enquiries or the domestic helper area? Or alternatively where should I call?

I am keen because my father is terminally ill in the UK and if I get called away at short notice, it would be great to have our helper to assist my husband with the kids here.

Thanks again.

DH section

I phoned then to chase up our last helpers visa, it was taking a long time and I'd been left without a helper for 2 weeks. Got hold of them in the morning, explained I was at home with 5 kids, 1 disabled and hadn't been out the house for 2 weeks as I couldn't lift my son by myself, they phoned back in the afternoon to say they;d done it that day, helper arrived a few days later. So providing you have a valid reason it can be they can be helpful.

Thanks cd - sounds like you had an extremely valid case for urgency - what number did you call if you can remember? I find it hard to get through to an actual person on the main line.