Hong Kong Job Market - An Overview

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China is widely seen as an attractive place to live and work.

How to improve your chances: 
Professional training or recognized qualification in areas such as law, banking, accountancy and finance, advanced manufacturing, engineering, biotechnology, computing, healthcare and architecture, planning and construction may increase your chances of finding an employer in Hong Kong


Will English be sufficient in Hong Kong?
For those who only speak English and who have relevant experience, there may be opportunities in areas such as teaching, media, hospitality, IT, banking and finance. 


Language requirements: 
Chinese and English are the official languages of Hong Kong. English is widely used in the government and also in the legal, professional and business sectors. However, Cantonese is increasingly being used as the language of business and fluency in Cantonese is a distinct advantage for many jobs. 


English may be sufficient for jobs with large multinational companies but knowledge of Cantonese is beneficial. 

Where can I work?

• Major industries: service industry (accounts for more than 90% of gross domestic product (GDP)), especially financial and professional services.
• Major companies: Bank of China (BOC) Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific Airways, Cheung Kong, China Mobile, China Netcom Group, China Unicom, CLP Holdings, Cnooc, Henderson Land, Hutchison Whampoa, Jardine Matheson, Sun Hung Kai Properties, Swire Pacific.
• Search for more companies: Kompass, Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (includes a searchable database of member companies), Wikipedia - List of Companies in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Business Directory. The websites of professional bodies such as the Law Society of Hong Kong  may also include contact details of member organisations.

What’s it like working in Hong Kong?

• Average working hours: Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm (or longer, depending on the business), with an occasional half-day required on Saturday.
• Holidays: there are two types of public holiday in Hong Kong: statutory and general holidays. Statutory holidays must be provided to all employees. General holidays include every Sunday, all statutory holidays (12) and an additional five holidays. 
• Tax rates: maximum salary tax is 17% (2009/10). You can check with the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department for up-to-date rates and breakdowns.
• Working practices and customs: fairly formal work environment, conservative dress code, long working hours, business networking after work - business lunches/dinners are common.

How do I apply for a job?

It is essential to research companies thoroughly when applying for jobs and to spend time on each application to make sure your skills and experiences match the vacancy requirements. Ideally.

Newspapers and the internet are an important source of graduate vacancies, and online applications are increasingly common. Networking is also widely used as a means of finding out about opportunities. Approaching any contacts you already have in the country can be productive. It may also be worth making speculative applications to employers. Recruitment agencies are widely used, but overseas applicants will need to be able to convince agencies of their long-term commitment to living and working in Hong Kong.

What are the next steps?

• Please visit www.alhamza.pk and fill up Online Assessment Form if you have not got yourself assessed yet. If you have already been assessed and given positive evaluation, you are now requested to register your application with us for professional services.

VISIT Canada for Tourism or seeing Family / Friends

Enjoy visiting Canada and its beautiful sight-seeing places. Get tips on the best 25 destinations in Canada, some of them are:

• Ontario

• CN Tower, Bata Shoe Museum,  Distillery Historic District, Niagara Falls

CN TOWER

• Manitoba

• Le Plateau,  Notre-Dame Basilica (Basilique Notre-Dame),  Jean-Talon Market 

Le Plateau 

There are many other beautiful destinations in Canada. We will provide the list of them while preparing your application.

Please read the below important information about eligibility and take an appointment time to visit our office with supporting documents.

Visiting Canada: Who is eligible

To visit Canada, you must:

• have a valid travel document, such as a passport;
• be in good health;        
• satisfy an immigration officer that you have strong ties, such as a job, business, home and family, that will take you back to your country of origin;
• satisfy an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit; and
• have enough money for your stay. The amount of money you will need can vary with the circumstances of the visit, how long you will stay and whether you will stay in a hotel or with friends or relatives.
• a letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada in case of seeing Family or Friends..

How your application is processed

After you send your application, it will be reviewed at the visa office to ensure it has been completed correctly and that it contains all the required documents. A visa officer will decide if an interview with you is necessary. If an interview is required, you will be notified of the time and place.

If your application is refused, your passport and other documents will be returned to you. You will also receive an explanation why your application was refused. If you sent fraudulent documents, they will not be returned. If your application is approved, your passport and documents will be returned to you with your visa.

Types of Temporary Resident Visas

• A visa may be for single entry or multiple entries purpose. 
• A Single entry visa allows you to enter Canada only once. 
• A Multiple entry visa allows you to enter Canada from any country as often as you wish during the validity of the visa. 

Email your details on info@alhamza.pk or info.alhamza@gmail.com for further information

For more information, please visit www.alhamza.pk

Canadian Skilled Immigration - Keep your File ready for July 2012 Policy

 

The new occupation list for the Canada Federal Skilled Worker Category is likely to be announced somewhere between June 25 and July 1, 2012. Many people are waiting to check whether their occupation will be mentioned in the open occupation list and Lucky will be the applicants who will have all forms and documents and who are ready to file position when the new list is announced! They will be among few to do in-time lodgment of the application at Centralized Intake office, Nova Scotia, Canada, within the first few weeks of the announcement of the list. 

Consider these facts as regards acceptance of application under Canada Federal Skilled Worker Program:

• Irrespective of which occupations will find mention in the new open occupation list, the number of occupations and quota per occupation will be limited. Last year, worldwide quota for each open occupation was just 500 applications.
• Preparation of file - complete in all respects - can take up to 2-3 months; thus, if you wish to wait for occupation list and THEN file your application, the quota might get over by the time you ready you forms and documents.
• Even if your occupation is not listed, you must have a file ready from immigration viewpoint and use it for filing for Canada next year or any other immigration destination or program! Key requirements - for the majority of the immigration destinations and programs are almost similar.

ALHAMZA CONSULTING (www.alhamza.pk), Pakistan's most trusted immigration consulting company, in business since 1998, is pleased to offer assistance in getting your file ready - in time for filing - for dispatch in all respects by June, 2012 end.


Here is how the offer will work:

• Our team will accept your mandate to complete your file in all respects
• Our experienced and expert Immigration Consultant will start suggesting you and prepare your file along with all Immigration Forms. 
• If your occupation is listed in the July 2012 announcement, you will pay the balance fee and we will file your application. 

What happens if your occupation is not mentioned:

• If your occupation is not mentioned, you have advantage of having a complete file with you and our team will discuss the alternate worldwide immigration options (for eg: Australian Immigration, New Zealand Immigration, Hong Kong Immigration etc) and programs that you may consider.  
• If keen only for Canada, you may use the same file to lodge in your application for Canada Federal Skilled Workers program next year - 2013. 

Your efforts will NOT be wasted:
The effort that you undertake in completing the file now will never go waste as you can even use the prepared file for visit visa applications (we also assist in Visit Visa applications for UK and Canada) or for alternate immigration programs and destinations.

What Immigration Consultants Can Not Say - Avoid Crooked Immigration Consultant

People may give you false or misleading information in order to take advantage of your desire to visit or migrate to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Hong Kong etc. Becoming a victim of fraudulent activity could mean you lose your life savings or your identity or have your visa cancelled.

Warning signs to look out for:

• Never get impressed if the Consultant is Canadian or Australian or New Zealand Immigrant or Citizenship or having office in these countries. Always consider the experienced one.
• Whether the amount is paid for Office Fee or Consultant's Fee, no receipt is provided
• the fee seems extremely high – If any Immigration Consultant asks huge fee with no logical reasons behind or provides lame excuses like he has to pay for his licensing fee in Canada or Australia or New Zealand or he is different from other consultants or he is a Canadian Citizen or Australian Citizen or New Zealand Citizen, you are not advised to take his services. 
• no office address is given and you are asked to meet at a café or other public area
• only a post office box or mobile phone number is provided
• only residential address with residential phone number(s) given.

What Immigration Consultants Can No Say:

• I can guarantee that you will get a visa

Fact:
- Only authorized officers from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship can issue you with a visa.
- No-one can guarantee you will get a visa. Avoid internet sites and advertisements by anyone who claims they can 'guarantee' a visa.
- A visa is only issued if your circumstances meet all the visa requirements.

• This is a 'once in a lifetime opportunity', or your 'only' chance to travel or migrate

Fact:

- Visa officers do not telephone or email people offering 'deals'.
- There may be a number of visa options.
- The department will only contact you in relation to a visa application you have already lodged.

• Only I can pay the department's fees. Give me the money and I will pay the department's fees for you.

Fact:
Make sure you know how much the visa application charge is. 

• I have a special relationship with the Immigration department

Fact:
- No-one has a special or privileged relationship with the department.
- The department treats all applications in the same fair and reasonable way.
- Your application will not be given special attention or guaranteed approval

CHOOSING AN IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT

• Ask for recommendations from people you trust. Talk to several potential advisers before choosing one.
• Ask about their training and experience:
  • ask for references
  • find out how long they have been in Immigration business.
• Discuss what services they will provide and the fee. Get this information in writing.
• Ask for Assessment and relevant questions. 
• Be careful of anything that sounds too good to be true.

ONCE YOU HAVE CHOSEN AN IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT 

• Make sure you get a written contract—read it carefully before you sign it. Make sure that all the promised services are listed and the fee is clearly set out.
• Do not leave original documents or photos with the consultant.
• Do not sign blank application forms. If the consultant has forms or documents for you to sign, do not sign them unless you are able to read them. If you don’t understand them, bring someone with you to translate. Make sure to get copies of any documents that are prepared for you.
• Any time you make a payment, get a signed receipt.
• Make sure your consultant updates you on your application on a regular basis.

If you are interested in taking assistance in Skilled Migration or Business Migration, Al-Hamza Consulting will help you. We have more than 14 years of Immigration Consultancy experience and we charge very nominal charges. Please feel free to contact us for further details.