How long does change of employer take?

I just moved to HK and is looking for a DH to take care of my two kids. Being a working mother, I need someone to start asap.


Naively I thought that I could just ask a DH to work for me the day after she finishes an existing contract or is released by her current employer.


I called the immigration hotline today and learnt that: (i) to hire a DH released for financial difficulties, a whole load of paperwork needs to be completed and the whole process can take 6-8 weeks and (ii) to hire a DH who has finished an existing contract, another load of paperwork needs to be completed to get a new visa for the DH although no processing time is given by the recorded message.


I would appreciate to hear your experience in hiring a DH who has finished an existing contract, which seems the fastest way to get a DH to start working, e.g., how long does it take from submitting the application for change of employer to issuance of visa? how long does it take to apply for extension of stay (so that the DH doesn't need to go back to home country and reenter HK before starting the new contract)? is it better to let the DH go home first before starting the new contract?


Any advice would be appreciated!

I was in the same situation once. I wasn't experienced, so was looking for any DH that was available at that moment. The one I liked was TERMINATED and no matter what she had to go home for 6 weeks first. I found it out in the immigration department when I was submitting documents. I was advised in my situation to look for a DH who FINISHED contract because she could start immediately. The choice was rather limited: I realized that DHs with a finished contract are in demand. For example, I called a DH on Wed., agreed to meet on Sunday, but on Saturday she’d call and say that she had already found a new employer.


Anyway, I found one, took her to the Immigration, then to the Phil Consulate (the same day), the Immigration extended her visa for one month based on the contract we signed, she started working for me the following day and got a proper visa one month later. If you do the same, you’ll have to give her holiday during the first 12 months of working for you.


So, since you need a DH ASAP, look for a finished contract. If she is below 25, check whether she can stay. There was a new regulation regarding age introduced lately.

Nuri,


Thanks so much for the quick and detailed reply and for sharing your experience!


I assume that the DH can start working for me before she gets the new visa based on her new employment agreement with me? Did you submit the application for extension of stay at the same time you submitted the other paperwork (application for visa, application for employing a FDH, etc.)?