Processing time for helpers

[Pandarin]

Hi,

I asked an agency and they said the processing time to hire someone directly from Philippines will take about 10 weeks before she can start work.

Does anyone know if the processing time is the same or is it shorter if I hire someone who is already in HK and has completed her contract?

 

[rani]

Yes it's much shorter if someone is already here and finished contract. Immigration will accept the paperwork a month before her contract ends. So if you time it well, as soon as her contract ends her new visa will be ready and she can start work right away.

If you hire someone new to HK, yes the processing does take longer to get all the docs for a helper to exit the Philippines.

 

[Pandarin]

Yes it's much shorter if someone is already here and finished contract. Immigration will accept the paperwork a month before her contract ends. So if you time it well, as soon as her contract ends her new visa will be ready and she can start work right away.

If you hire someone new to HK, yes the processing does take longer to get all the docs for a helper to exit the Philippines.

Hi rani,

Thanks a lot for your reply! If the helper is already in HK and finishing her contract, does she still need to exit HK and come back in to activate her new visa? Most helpers would anyway have some annual leave and a one way trip back to Philippines sponsored by the previous employer right?

 

[rani]

No she doesn't need to exit. Immigration gives Helpers a 1 year extension, so basically she needs to exit within the first year to go home or elsewhere. So she will get 2 one year visas.

If you need her right away, you can ask her to delay her annual leave to later in the year - xmas etc.