Direct hire is taking WAAYYY too long

[sharrie_t]

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.

 

[sea princess]

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?

 

[rani]

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

 

[City Jammer]

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.

 

[HappyV]

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...........

 

[sea princess]

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.