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I Want to Change Jobs With a Significant Reduction in My Base Salary – How Will this Impact on My Hong Kong Employment Visa Change of Sponsorship Application?

January 22nd, 2023

Posted by / in Employment Visas, Your Question Answered / 7 responses


 

QUESTION

I currently hold a Hong Kong employment visa with a company where I am receiving a monthly salary of HK$50,000 (fixed salary, no bonuses), and have been working with this company for the past 4 years.

My contract, and visa, are due to expire soon so I am in the process of looking for a new job.

I’ve received an offer from a company where my base salary would be substantially lower at HK$20,000 but bonuses in the form of royalties from products sold will be included.

With this arrangement, providing I can perform well, I have the chance to make considerably more than the salary at my old company and therefore I am leaning towards taking this offer.

My question to you is, how will the Hong Kong Immigration Department look at this?

Will the fact that the base salary is much lower be a problem in terms of them granting me a visa to work with the prospective new company?

My job role will be essentially the same between both old and new companies, and it’s a highly specialised job where my specific skills and experience fit perfectly (and its highly unlikely that a suitable candidate would be found among the local workforce).

How would the employment visa application form be filled out so as to best describe this situation?

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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.

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RESPONSES
  • JC

    19 May 2023 pm31 9:58pm
    01

    On changing sponsorship visa, do you have to finish your notice period first before you can apply for transfer of Sponsorship? Or can you start applying for a transfer of sponsorship visa once you handed over your resignation? Many thanks!

    • The Visa Geeza

      24 May 2023 am31 1:32am
      02

      You can apply prior to resignation.

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