Change of Sponsorship of Employment Visa

Regardless a Hong Kong work visa has expired or not, a change of sponsorship application is required if a work visa holder is changing an employer. An application for a change of sponsorship must be filed with Immigration Department before starting a new employment.

The application procedure is similar to a new work visa application. However, if the new employment is in the same field/industry as the previous employment and other factors are similar, the change of sponsorship should be straightforward.

The Change of Sponsorship may involve the following situations:
1. Work Visa to Work Visa due to change of employer.
2. Work visa to Investment visa due to the fact that the applicant set up his/her own company.

The normal processing time for a change of sponsorship application is 4 weeks from the date of submission.

Prism’s Visa Consultant Service Involves:

• Provide consultation service regarding to the documents required for the change of Employment Visa sponsorship application;
  
  Prepare a tailor-made document checklist for the applicant and the sponsoring employer;
  
  Complete all necessary Immigration forms for the applicant;
  
  Review and organize the documents in favor of immigration policy;
  
  Suggest alternative documents if the applicant is not able to get the listed documents;
  
  Letters required for submission to Immigration Department;
  
  Reply on the applicant’s behalf to all enquiries and correspondences from Immigration Department;
  
  Prepare and draft all letters required for submission to Immigration;
  
  Monitor the application process;
  
  Keep both the applicant and the sponsoring company updated on the status of the employment visa application;
  
  Accept the approval and have the Employment visa endorsed onto the applicant's passport.
  

Application Procedure:

• 1. Free consultation regarding to the change of sponsorship application;
  2. Advise the applicant and the sponsoring company on their alternatives and the likelihood of success;
  3. Obtain the applicant/sponsoring company’s signature on the letter of engagement;
  4. Obtain deposit payment;
  5. Prepare a tailor-made document checklist for the Employment Visa application;
  6. Complete immigration forms, drafts and letters;
  7. Review the collected documents to ensure they are correctly presented;
  8. Draft all letters required for submission to Immigration Department;
  9. Ongoing liaison with Immigration Department;
  10. Reply Immigration Department’s enquiries on the applicant’s behalf;
  11. Accept the Employment visa approval and have the Employment visa label endorsed onto the applicant's passport.
  

Documents Required:

• An application form ID(E) 91 with the applicant’s signatures;
  
  An application form ID(E) 990B with the sponsoring company's signatures;
  
  Copy of the applicant’s passport;
  
  Copy of the applicant’s service contract with the sponsoring employer;
  
  Copies of the sponsoring employer's business incorporation documents;
  
  Copy of the sponsoring employer’s financial documents.

Processing Time:

• The visa application process normally takes 4 to 6 weeks from the date of submission.

Remarks:

• At the discretion of Immigration Department, the visa is valid for 1 or 2 years.
  
• No new visa label would be issued if current visa label is valid for more than one year.
• Applicant's Hong Kong Identity Card status would remain unchanged and no further action is required.