Visa deferral, two types of

Months after the proposed entry date I provided on my work visa application, my sponsor has just been informed that my visa is ready to be picked up. Because of the months-long delay, I am no longer in a position to immediately enter HK. Two questions arise:


1. How long can I let the visa sit before having my sponsor pick it up?


2. Can I apply for some type of deferral whereby I could enter HK months from now on the same year-long visa?


Bonus question: is there such a thing as a 'transfer of sponsor' application, and how might it compare to starting from scratch in substituting employers?


Many thanks, of course.

Not sure of the first two, but with the 'transfer' question the theoretical answer is that there is no transfer facility. Each employment visa is employer-specific and each employer-sponsor must go through the same process of presenting a good case for giving the job to a non-local. However, I've read that in such 'transfer' situations the overall process is somewhat easier. Either wy please remember that it's the employer who applies for and sponsors the visa.

1) I first entered HK 2 months after the work visa was approved. When I arrived at the airport, they stamped my Visa, and gave me 1 year from the date of entry, not date of visa approval. However, I do not know how long you have before the work visa elapses.

2) do not know. as your employer's HR

3) Sponsorship can be transfered. I have done it twice in the last 2 years. (hot market) The approval process for the transfer is much simpler. On your first visa application, you are asked to supply a lot of personal info. (there was a long form to fill) on my transfers, the only info required from me was a letter of termination from my previous employer. Immigration already has all the necessary info on the transfer applicant. They only need to approve the new sponsor. If your new sponsor is a well regarded company, this process can be very quick. My 2 transfers took less than 2 weeks each.

Oh, by the way TC, both times I received a letter from the Immigration dept., confirming the sponsor on my employment visa has been changed to "so and so", from "xxx" date.

Thanks for your help.


For the record, here's a word directly from the Immigration Dept.


"You may enter HKSAR with the approved employment visa within the validity of the visa

(the visa will be valid for 3 months from the date of issue).


If you intend to defer the trip to HK, you may try to put up the request in writing

and provide the details including your full names, date of birth, application reference

for consideration. The request is subject to approval."

Another word from the Immigration Dept.


"The applicant should write the letter requesting the deferral instead of the sponsor, if in need.


If you plan to send us the request, you may ask the sponsor to liaise with us for not collecting the visa until we have the decision on your request of the deferral."