Half Way Through the Process, is it Possible to Cancel One Hong Kong Employment Visa Application to Start a Second One Instead?
Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Your Question Answered / 6 responses
It sometimes happens that 2 job offers emerge in quick succession and you prefer to accept the 2nd one but the visa application for the first one has already started. So what happens in a situation like this?
QUESTION
I am currently in Hong Kong and about to sign a contract with a company who will sponsor my work visa since I came here basically to be with my boyfriend.
However, there might still be a chance to get an opportunity with another job I have been waiting an answer from.
My question is if it is possible to interrupt the visa processing and change it to another company before it’s issued.
I would really appreciate your advice.
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The Hong Kong Visa Geeza (a.k.a Stephen Barnes) is a co-founder of the Hong Kong Visa Centre and author of the Hong Kong Visa Handbook. A law graduate of the London School of Economics, Stephen has been practicing Hong Kong immigration since 1993 and is widely acknowledged as the leading authority on business immigration matters here for the last 24 years.
Jenny
What happens when the immigration department already approve your right to work with a company, and you decided to go with the other company?
For example, I have received approval to work with company A from immigration department 3 weeks from now, but I got a new offer now with another company which I want to go for.
The Visa Geeza
See: https://hongkongvisasherpa.com/cfo/change-of-employer/
But they’re not going to be too happy with you. ImmD see job hoppers as wasting their resources.
Murray
Many thanks for the helpful answer. Does the above also apply where I’m trying to transfer my visa from one HK employer to another? (ie, I’m already working in HK under work visa as opposed to applying for a visa first-time)
The Visa Geeza
You can only have on active application ongoing at the same time.
Stephen
This covers a question I recently asked also – thank you. With regards to writing to withdraw the application already in process before lodging a new one, is it me at the ‘new’ employee or the ’employer’ that does this? Once the request to withdraw has been sent what is the turnaround time to this being acknowledged and how are we informed? While we await confirmation is it safe to go ahead and lodge the new application? In my situation I have decided to stay with my current employer and move to HK from the U.S. (I am a Brit FYI).
The Visa Geeza
It’s YOUR visa so you should drive the bus. It takes ImmD c 10 days to acknowledge withdrawal in writing. You can file the next application about a week after you withdraw. Should be enough time for ImmD to update their records and open the door to any new application.