Wait...what does filling out an I-9 have to do with opening a JFK base?
The only reason they are not opening any bases, giving out base slots is that they do NOT have enough people to man HonG Kong much less let anyone go on a base.
It will be years before CX awards more than 1 or 2 guys to go on a base. They keep dangling the carrot so we won't leave.
Many of us have or are resigned to being career F/O's on a base. Cat A and Easily senior enough to be hkg based captain, there is no chance I would ever go back to Hong Kong. Did my time.
Sad thing is, when I joined there was a JFK base on the 74 pax and freighter. One could expect to eventually be a captain on a base...no more. Ah well. It is what it is.
Make ones bed now lie in it.