Direct hire is taking WAAYYY too long

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expatmom

Registered User
I am rehiring my ex helper from a long time ago. She is in the Phillipines. She told me to process the paperwork through an agency. I signed and paid everything on the 26th of June. There was a delay in processing because she had UTI and had to do another medical test. The agent only managed to submit to HK immigration on the 20th of July. They told me I would receive a letter from immigration last week. I have not received such a letter to date. I am sooooo frustrated beyond belief at how long it is taking.

My question is, is it normal that it's taking this long to process? I've already waited 7 weeks and by the time immigration issues the visa, it could take another 4-6 weeks. This means I would have waited 3 months just to hire direct. Is such timing normal?
 
the papers were submitted to immigration on 20th july - so yes it would take 4-8 weeks from hereon.

the seven weeks delay at your end was due to re-tests and all. sometimes the agencies are a bit lax and you have to keep chasing them. but in this case your ex-helper was not well so am not sure if it's anyone's fault.

i am sorry did i miss something ? - where's the delay ?
 
we confirmed ours mid Jun, our agent submitted pretty much the next day, and our visa just got approved yesterday. So yes 3 months in total is quite normal, also put into account you had a 4 week delay before submission to immigration as well.
 
If you need her urgently, once you receive the acknowledgment card from Immigration with the Case number simply fax a letter to the Director of Immigration requesting they expedite the paperwork. They will do their best to speed it up.
 
2 years ago the government changed the helper levy, so there was a rush in applications which are now being renewed. hence there is a bit of an overload at immigration side - so i was told to wait closer to 8 weeks
 
they do expedite if there is a good enough reason. our helper's visa came in 4 weeks. but then i was expecting, my husband travelling a lot AND we went and met the immigration officer plus called them up once.
 
Our helper's visa was ready within a week, expedited. I was having a complicated pregnancy and had a doctor's letter stating that, they did it really fast. This was just in April/May...
 
Nicolejoy
I have been reading your posts and was really pleased to see they sped things up for you :)
I am looking to hire someone direct from the Phillipines also. She has worked here previously, I have spoken with two previous employers that are have since re-located either back home or to another country. she gets great references and I am really happy to give it a go.
I have skyped her and talked to her on the telephone!
My questions are:
1. How long would a direct hire take from the philippines
2. Do you think it's ok not to use an agency (i have read posts here saying use an agency?)
3. Would I pay for her airfares here to HK
4. Any other bits of information would be super.
I have had a helper for almost two years I haven't been happy with, so I am pretty keen to get this one right! I have my second child due in three months, so I was hoping they could start prior to this. Is that realistic?
 
Sea Princess,

How long ago was yr helper in HK? I believe if she's worked here previously you should be able to do the paperwork yourself. However, would confirm with the Philippines Consulate.
http://www.philcongen-hk.com/labor/main.htm

The paperwork takes around 6-8 weeks to process.

You will need to go to immigration and get the Domestic Helper pack. It includes all the immigration forms and the Green Employment contract (4 copies). There's also an OFW form from the Consulate that you need to download. Complete all the forms and courier them to your helper to sign. There should also be a list of supplementary documents you need from her. Photocopy of ID card/ Passport copy/ copy of Old HK Visa.

Once she's completed all the papers, you take the 4 copies of the green contract/ your ID card copy/ her Id card copy/passport copy /OFW form to the Consulate to get chopped. This takes a week. Once the papers are ready take them to immigration. For immigration you need a few more documents. Proof of income and address. It's pretty chaotic at immigration. Would recommend putting all the papers in an envelope and dropping it in the box or handing it to the mail room counter.

Your only obstacle maybe at the consulate. If she's been out of HK for too long they may ask you to use an agency. Agencies charge approx $3200 and this includes one-way airfare to HK. You'll know within a week if you have to go this route.

Yes, you do need to pay for her ticket to HK. If you do a direct-hire purchase her ticket on Cebu Pacific online and email it to her.

Good luck!
 
Seaprincess, you should check with Philippines consulate as we went through processing the application ourselves only to be told at the consulate we MUST use an agency.
 
Hi Rani ans Sharrie_t
Thanks for the detailed information, fantastic. She left in october 2008 from memory? It sounds like the agency option might be an easier option considering I'm pregnant and the idea of waiting all day long at immigration is not very appealing! So really I would be looking at least 2 months by the sounds of things?
Any recommendations of reputable agencies?
 
Yeah I wouldn't wait at immigration either just pop the papers into the drop in box. When I hired our second helper she had never worked in hk. We had
to go thru a agency. She found an agency in Manila that had a hk office. She went in signed all the contracts n immigration papers. They hv the papers already there. The documents were then sent to hk for us to sign
 
I interviewed and hired a new helper myself but paid an agency to do the paperwork plus her airfare. They submitted the documents to HK Immigration on 2 Aug. I called the Immigration Dept with my file reference on 18 Aug and they approved the visa on the same day. So if you give them a ring, I'm sure they'll speed it up.
 
It was my understanding that all direct hires fro the Philippines must now be processed through an agency. The Philippine consulate is notorious for making money from their expatriate workers...........
 
Hi Cityjammer and Happy V
Thanks for the update. I will look into agencies. She mentioned she used one previously when she was here and they have an office in Manilla, so might go down the same path as you rani?
Thanks for the valuable information.
 
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