Russian martial art instructor's immigration headache...

I am a certified Russian martial art instructor, the only one in Hong Kong.


I have registered my business and am trying to grow it here, as I do this, I have tried to apply for a visa via an investor application, that got rejected.


I then tried with employer-employee and that just got rejected today with a generic letter.


"Under existing policy, a person seeking to enter the HKSAR for employment should possess a special skill, knowledge or experience of value to and not readily available in the HKSAR.( Only instructor in HK, Helloooooo!!!)

Besides, other criteria to be considered include whether the job can be filled locally and whether it is satisfied for the employer to bring in an expatriate staff and whether the remuneration package and other fringe benefits is broadly commensurate with the prevailing market level for professionals in Hong Kong"


I know for an absolute fact that I am the only certified instructor in town and I wish to remain in HK however the unthinking drones at immigration are making this whole ordeal quite frustrating.


Know a good consultant? Any tips? Any advice at this point is welcome...


Thanks in advance

Sure, I have some advice and tips, whether you will follow them is another matter.


First, take the time to read again the letter you received, particularly the words "...of value to...". The fact that you believe that you are the only qualified instructor is irrelevant if Immigration considers that your skills are of no value to Hong Kong.


Next, try a change in attitude. The fact that Immigration do not instantly comply with what you apparently consider to be the right to live here does not make them "unthinking drones". It is their decision, not yours - live with it. Hong Kong Immigration are in fact by far the most efficient that I have encountered anywhere.


Finally, for someone who claims to be a martial arts instructor, you seem to have a very low annoyance threshhold. I only hope that you are calmer in your day job than you are on here.

I wrote these lines while being sad. Every time this happens, the city I dreamed of coming to and living in seems to slip away again.


My annoyance threshold is quite high but I do humbly recognize that I am an imperfect human being so I do confess that I also wrote these lines while frustrated.


Frustrated of coming here on my own money and putting over 25k (USD) in my business, registering it and putting my heart into it 24/7 for half a year.


Frustration of having a dream of coming to live here and to serve this city as best I can. I love Hong Kong and if it was threatened tomorrow, I'd be the first in line to sign up to defend it.


I know immigration won't immediately comply, I don't expect they will, that lesson has been taught to me three times already and the last thing I think is that I'm entitled to anything.


I want to thank you though, for that haughty "Of value to" comment, it refreshes another lesson I may have lost track of:


When you're down (or feeling down), there will always be someone to look down on you and kick you further but in this case, it's probably what I needed so thanks for that.


Time to bite the bullet, suck it up and get back on my feet for another round…

FYI. I Got the visa :)

Well done and congrats.