When I first touched down in Hong Kong, I went straight to the Immigration Department and submitted my application for employment (well, not straight, but within 48 hours). I didn't hear back for one week, so I called up to bug them, and was told that I would have to go to Immigration personally to sort it out. They were pretty annoying as they asked why did they have to employ a foreigner. Shessh... It is not that my field of expertise is available for study in this part of the world. All of us were either foreigners or foreign-trained locals. It is a blessing we are not asking for expat rates already!!
So yesterday I dutifully went across the bay and after waiting for the whole afternoon, got a visa. On one condition : I had to leave the country and reenter.
I was so surprised. This was closing time, I had 48 hours before my first clinic and I had to leave the country and come back. I rushed to check with Malaysian Authorities to see if I required a visa to either Macau or ShenZhen. Macau didn't need another entry permit, so it was the logical choice. I had to figure out how to get there, and what currency I needed etc.
My boss and HR were not happy and complained to Immigration. So Immigration called up at 6pm, when I was busy sightseeing in the shopping mall to tell me they are cancelling my visa that I got that day. They will pass my case to another officer to start a new process and I would need to come again tomorrow.
I was well pissed off. I waited in the clinic for them to call, and in the end, we called them and was asked to go to Central in 45 minutes to do the other visa. Yea right I will get there in 45 minutes!!
So I dutifully made yet another trip to Central. Honestly, I have been to Central 5 times in 10 days I should consider living there! They told me that I would need to apply for a fresh visa, and my 20-hour-old visa will be cancelled and I will need to pay a new fee for the fresh visa. I was livid! This was terribly annoying as I not only had to pay for the wrong visa, and was not given an apology, but was required to pay for a new visa that they could not guarantee I get it the same day. I almost cried! The man who dealt with my case looked rather worried as I was very near to tears.
I stormed out after declaring that I will not work in Hong Kong ever again *dramatic exit eh?*. If I stayed there another second I would have bawled my eyes out and rolled on the floor and made such a big fuss. The guy tried to call me back to the counter, but I refused to look at him. He kept on calling that I finally relented and went back in. This time, he promised that I would get my visa in 2 hours, right after lunch. So this was ok, and all I had to do was to sign the form and they will do everything else.
Since I was promised a visa, I relented and went out to scout around. I took the tram (the one that goes in the street, the old-fashioned kind) to Sheung Wan, which is the area where you can get a ferry to Macau. There was the Western Market there, and they had the loveliest cafe with a gorgeous chandelier inside. Very quaint, I like.
Got some sugar in a street which I suspect is some kind of wholesale chinese herbs and dried foods area. Posted my siblings their awesome kawaii diaries eventhough it cost a lot, all sibling love I tell you!! =D Ain't I the best sister ever? Sending them things eventhough I am making no money, have no visa and was having a shitty day. And if i didn't get my visa that day, my dad was going to make me go back to Malaysia.
I got a call around 3pm, saying that my visa was ready and that I was to bring the money. i resigned to the fact that I would have to pay again anyway. So I went along, I didn't even stop for bubble tea eventhough I really really wanted it. I didn't expect a call that early, as the boss already had words with them.
I got there, and this lady Immigration officer (LIO)came to the window.
LIO: " I am sorry for the whole complication of your case, due to the special circumstance in which this case was handled, we will waver the second application fee and process your visa free of charge."
Me: "Oh.. Okay... Thanks for the consideration."
I should have said more, but then my boss had already said a lot of things I won't mention here. I wish I had more guts. Kudos though, to them for being able to still sort things out. I admit, we were quite a pain, and they did take 1.5 weeks instead of the usual 6 weeks.
So I am the proud owner of a working visa, and it says "NO FEE' on the bottom.
I never ever want to go through this again. I won't even wish this on my greatest enemy. So Lamby, you're safe.
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