Work Visa renewals

[controlledrest]

The company knows very well what the immigration department has decided re visa renewals and issues. They are using this to shed the non-PR based and HKG pilots. Just another example of lying by our bosses. How can one make an informed decision on VSS without all the facts? Disgusting but expected mistreatment.

[852pilot]

WeelardPassord

Really!? Where do you get this numbers from? I can say 2/3 did even pass KA initial test and that’s why they went to CX.

KA is “safer” than CX, according to LOSA. PERIOD!

[Gnadenburg]

WeelardPassord

I trust you mean Local & PR?

KA was the better airline option for highly experienced pilots who could upgrade quickly. Even now without a job, KA was the better option as they are far wealthier and more experienced than if they’d taken the CX path with slow command upgrades. Pilots with previous airbus experience could upgrade in a year and be check and training by their third year in the company- about the time a CX pilot moves into the RHS from doing whatever an SO does?

Local pilots too. They were put into the RHS from day one. It was brutal with MPL. Yet they’ve coped and are well positioned with whatever eventuates. Local KA F/O’s are well ready for command with whatever comes from the ashes of HK.

I actually feel sorry for any CX pilot who feels a superiority which your post indicates- because you may be poorly prepared if dumped onto the aviation trash heap.

[skankhunt42]

so are you saying that Cathay, when they decide to close Dragonair, should have sacked cx pilots on a visa and replaced them with locals/pr holders from Dragonair?

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the real issue is Cathay made a lot of people redundant, the vast majority of whom were PRs. However, the job was not made redundant, the routes and assets were simply painted green like the old British empire with their colonies. I don't think anyone can justify from a business or an immigration standpoint that retraining a 777 pilot (especially a NonPR) and put them on an ex KA 321 flying an ex KA route when there is a "readily available workforce" makes sense. Getting immigration on side seems to be their easiest way of getting their old jobs back, the pilots on work visas at other airlines are just collateral unfortunately.

Leaving the immigration politics aside, let's imagine CX sacking all the Captains saying they weren't needed anymore but at the same time they were going to upgrade half the FOs to fill the gap in the left hand seat, that's pretty much what's happening here. Now if all this happened in my home country I'd be outraged, but then again the politicians there have at least some accountability to the general public.

[pfvspnf]

Can get visa if marry a Chinese ?

[CodyBlade]

pfvspnf

You get a non permanent HKID. No asterisk.

[LLLQNH]

Could be wrong or it might have changed as it's been a number of years, but I don't think this is correct. From simply being married to a Hong Kong Citizen/PR Holder you get nothing other than a dependant visa. Then after the 7 years of presence/residing in Hong Kong you can apply like anyone else for PR. You are right that you still wouldn't get the asterisk.

I'm not sure how helpful a dependants visa would be given the current predicament? Every indication seems to be that the gov have indicated preference must be given to those holding PR?

[Dragon Pacific]

All you need LLLQNH is a visa that allows you to work. A dependant visa allows that. There is one pilot exKA taken on by GBA for their first course starting 7th June who has such a visa.

[Dragon Pacific]

PS. There is a story that Flt Ops were advising those with a work visa to get married to a local.

[Jnr380]

You get a visa, he/she gets residence in proper country, win-win situation for both parties

[TheGreenDragon]

Any other Ex KA guys going to GBA? I know the former DFO is running the show, but who will he hire? I'm guessing not many ex B scalers methinks?
rumours of HK25k/month?

[Oddball77]

What? 25k pm for housing?

[Rie]

I wouldn't be surprised if GBA are matching UO's new COS 21 + 5% to attract people. If they don't get enough applicants because the PR are picky about pay they can open up the visas to South East Asia and the Sub Continent.

[lucille]

TheGreenDragon

The implausibly of this rumour takes the cake.

[Agent Blake]

Was anyone else here astonished by the lies from that Cargo article in the SCMP ?

[controlledrest]

Anyone managed to renew their work visa recently?

[Memorylapse]

Good luck to those receiving their news this week - certainly not going to be an easy time for a lot of people.

[volare_737]

What news are you talking about ?

[Jim-J]

Clue is in the threat title... :rolleyes:

[BuzzBox]

The decision on the Australia bases is due to be announced tomorrow too.

[HKGDTT]

I still wonder how HR managed to justify to IRD the new Head of Customer Support who as per the hub joined two weeks ago from EY... So absolutely no local or intra company personnel could fill the position? Yet hundreds of pilots are about to get the visa renewal update that we all know what it will be... Oh Cafay...

[Curry Lamb]

It’s Hong Kong lah. You pay the right people the right money, and voilà!

Jetstar Hong Kong being a classic example. Freebies to Paris, all expenses paid :ok:

[Jamesd03]

Is there news on the visa's expected this week?

[ToCatLady]

Memorylapse

Some of you really are sad little :mad:

The fact some here are clearly full of joy to see others suffer is so disappointing. Hopefully CX do the right thing and let these clowns apply for an SO position right at the bottom of the list. Hope they've kept their notes from the last time they failed the SO interview, but if not, head over to the CX wannabees forum on here. Does the '3 failed interviews and no more' rule still apply? that will surely reduce the amount of "suitable" candidates immediately! You are suddenly so desperate to join CX I am sure you'll be delighted to join as an SO brushwhinger!

Of course we have those that ALWAYS chose KA not CX (afterall every aspiring aviator in HKG grew up wanting to fly for KA right...) and the very thought of joining CX was sickening no more than 12 months ago! to those whom this may apply please take a long hard look in the mirror and ask yourself are you really that embarrassing?

Regardless of what happens in June I am sure every single one of us at CX can't wait to have you onboard and will greet you with open arms. First round's on you.....

[Jnr380]

HKGDTT

If you’re still wondering, CX management and the government meet every few weeks, they talk about how they’re willing to trade say 15 front line crew visas (flight/cabin/engineering) for a visa that can be filled by a local.

This is all hush-hush and CX will never admit do it but all senior management knows it’s going on.

get use to it guys and gals, you’re nothing more than a trading card to the company. Expendable and Dispensable for a more “valued” card. (I.E the head of customer service)

[BabyYoda]

ToCatLady

You really are a sad little :mad:

The fact that you clearly full of joy to see others suffer is so disappointing.

Most ex-KA drivers are great pilots and great blokes. We are keeping their routes, their planes.
Redundancy should have been seniority-driven. Last in first out. Some KA would have had to go, some CX would have had to go. Some locals, some expats (most of which would have been on a work Visa).
As a pax, I would definitely trust to fly with an ex-KA Captain over a 500h SO who joined less than 2 years ago (local or expat).

What's the point of having a LIFO rule if you disregard it when times are bad? When else would you have redundancies if times were NOT bad?
​​​​​​
If CX wanted to sort the visa problem, they would offer a job to the ex-KA locals and PR. The fact that they don't means that they DO NOT CARE about any of us. But that's something we knew all along.
​​​​​

[Rie]

LIFO was company specific. Just because Dragon had the Cathay name didn't mean they had combined seniority lists. In a place without real unionisation and workplace law why would they ever combine seniority? It would only have ever made it a headache.

You have hit the nail on the head about their care about us. There is none. We are a number, just not bound by seniority anymore after COS18.

[AndyBrown350]

Jnr380

what exactly is a proper country captain? and how exactly you contributed to be born in a "proper" country? white people privilege

[Oasis]

That, in itself, is a pretty racist statement

[Jnr380]

Not exactly white privilege, but look where people are trying to immigrate to:
- EU
- UK
- USA
- CAN
- AUS
- NZ

these are the proper countries.

how many people do you know of say “I wish I can live in CN, or South Africa or DRC”?

[Jamesd03]

Let's change the vocabulary from "proper" to "Western"? It'll get your point across less controversially.

[bringbackthe80s]

Just wanted to inform the polite above that the reason people try and often succeed with immigrating to the above mentioned countries, is because their immigration policies are very, very lax compared to the rest of the world.

There is no such thing as immigration as you intend it in most countries in the middle or far east, or oceania and others. You would simply not be able to even approach the borders.
I can promise you many people would NOT choose Europe or America if other places were available.

[pfvspnf]

nigeria is open to all , we welcome the benjamins

[Jnr380]

Not necessarily western countries, places like Thailand, Indonesia (Bali in Particular) and Japan are also to a lesser degree a preferred settlement country

[Stone Temple Pilot]

ToCatLady

Your post, IMHO, takes the price as the lamest and most arrogant post on PPRUNE for a while, and I praise that Cathay still has sensible employees like BabyYoda to add some well-informed and mature comments to bring you off your high horse and down to earth.

In my almost 2 decades in KA, I did not come across anyone who had wanted CX, but "had to go with" KA instead...in particular experienced expat pilots made a conscious choice of steering well clear of CX after the 49'ers.
Look at the cadet course that had to go to CX temporarily. Not a single pilot wanted to stay with CX - to the major disbelief of all the CX managers - but went to KA at first opportunity.
We never wanted to be "on the Hub", to have Cathay smeared all over the fuselage, to "go beyond" and be "part of the team" - while we were clearly NOT really part of the team (not even in the crew room as it turns out, interpreting your attitude!).

Cathay was, is and always will be toxic!

KA was a brilliant company with brilliant pilots until CX got its hands on it.
The rest is history.

If KA had been terrible business, no future in our airframes and routes, yes, fair enough, it was time to cut everyone loose and get rid of the company for not really being on the ball.
However, that ain't really the case is it now?

We now have our 50-odd aircraft (oh, yes, plus the freighters that were conveniently handed over to CX ages ago as "there was no money in cargo") and routes, being handed over on a silver platter to CX for junior non-PR 777 drivers to fly.

It is a relief, in this case, to know that according to you, ToCatLady, from what I gather, CX pilots are clearly much better at doing our job, since all the KA pilots are the ones who couldn't pass the SO interview.

Have a safe flight to Kunming in the 321NEO at FL276.

Cheers!

[Border Reiver]

Stone temple expressed it very well above. The arrogance shown to the CX freighter guys at the turn of the century by the "proper" CX crew meant a job with CX was never considered. KA was a dose of professional friendly sanity until Cathay came along.

[MENELAUS]

What was always interesting is the amount of Barbie jet pilots who wouldn’t have given the freighter guys (some it would have to be said marooned on the jumbo through no fault of their own) the steam off their proverbial; looked down their noses at them at despatch and downroute and were quite happy to pee all over the seniority system when it suited them in order to get on the prized fleet. These same individuals are now tripping over themselves to get on the freighter.
The same lack of courtesy/ disdain was quite often evinced with our KA brethren in despatch, with some, not all thankfully, just choosing to ignore them or fail to even acknowledge them. Shameful.

[CRWCRW]

Anyway, how goes the work permit situation?

[MENELAUS]

Not well, one would have thought. Then again it’s just the immigration department doing what they always had the remit to do. And HKG has never had a glut of pilots, PR, local, or otherwise, to deal with.

[Memorylapse]

What news are you talking about ?

Vol’s, did you check the news? Seems like you might be heading back home. They will be replacing you with PR A320 Captains at HKE. Sorry bud, the writing was on the wall.

[SW1]

better get your jabs sharpish

[VforVENDETTA]

WOW. They have at least twice as many pilots they could possibly use. Most are sitting at home getting paid with no work. The rest are on part time rosters and part time pay & benefits for 5 months now. And they just announced today they're going to start pilot recruitment again? What are they smoking?

Always expect the bizarre with this incompetent bunch and you won't be disappointed. I wonder how many they expect to be lost to no visa plus daily resignations to be sitting their pants like this. Anybody have an idea how many are already out of work circulation due to no visa? Or do they expect to hire the few hundred out of work locals and PRs to pay them also without working so they can go back to immigration to restate their case for visa renewals. Talk about a cash bleed...

[HKGDTT]

New post on aviation jobs website ( aviation jobs . me ) : observe the requirements. Danny Lee on his twitter also confirmed AUS being closed.

I guess CX knows immigration will announce the cancellation of visas for non PRs soon? On the other hand... spending more money on training instead of pushing to keep the already qualified crews? Unbelievable.

[Oasis]

I'm trying to make sense of all of this, but the fact that CX is hiring Ex-ka etc local crew of the street must mean that the visa issue is about to be sorted, otherwise, what would be in it for CX?

[controlledrest]

My guess...CX destroying the lives of most based crew, have shed a bunch of HKG crew off the 777 who took the recent payout (who were also still receiving proper housing) and CX expect to loose a bunch more as their housing allowances move to POS18. Visa renewals are a big problem. By taking on ex KA pilots they get highly experienced operators for bottom dollar, with a start date (and therefore having to pay anything) at the company's sole discretion, ready for the boom which will happen within about 6 months as populations reach herd immunity.

[Bueno Hombre]

HKGDTT

While there are few passenger flights it might be a good idea to transfer resources to training , especially on the very excellent Cathay Pacific simulators, which can be zero aircraft flight time ,to first flight with passengers, no problem. The flight simulators should be booming and instructors should be booming so we can get local pilots up to scratch.

[Rie]

Zero aircraft time to first flight would never happen. The HK CAD is so stuck in the past that they still think base training is vital to any type rating. I cannot see them ever allowing a proper MPL program for cadets.

[Bueno Hombre]

Oasis

Off the street sounds bad, but they were put on the street by ill informed Cathay/ Dragon Managers.

[Curry Lamb]

Avoiding a big, embarrassing, expensive court case? Or even worse, getting booted out of HK and closing shop, for not playing by the ImmD rules.

[Bueno Hombre]

Rie

Yes. We know that almost from the beginning of aviation in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong CAD, lacking in its own expertise, relied almost completely , on the advice of the perceived expert, Cathay Pacific Airways. Of course Cathay Pacific would give advice that was tainted by their own interests. Perhaps that situation still continues until now. Means to say that it is, in fact, Cathay Pacific that is, perhaps deliberately, stuck in the past.

[lucille]

Everywhere else in the world, nationals are employed preferentially. It is also true that expats are terminated in order to create positions for the unemployed nationals.

This is the risk we all understood when we chose to became expat “mercenaries”. High reward = high risk. We all knew that eventually the dice wouldn’t roll in our favour and it was time to find a new casino to try our luck in.

It surprises me that with so many unemployed HK National pilots that the government has not yet forced this issue. It will be inevitable.

As for PR, the HK government must surely be asking itself what value is it to HK. What is it that a PR holder contributes that a non-PR holder doesn’t. That someone with 6 years and 354 days of living in HK has lesser value than one with 7 years and 1 day makes zero sense. With Beijing exerting more control every day, I suspect these questions are being asked.

[AndyBrown350]

It doesn't make sense the WIN-WIN situation, "she/he" gets a visa to live in a "proper" country and you get visa to work and live in a :mad: place?

[mothy1583]

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3136306/coronavirus-hong-kong-airlines-slash-hundreds-more-jobs?module=lead_hero_story_1&pgtype=homepage

Well, this won't help things. Wonder if CX knew about this when they posted the Job Vacancy ads last week? Hope the pilots and cabin crew can find work elsewhere.

[Rie]

The old private browsing trick is not working anymore. I guess Danny had to get paid this week. Less info on the standard but same idea.
https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/173938/Hong-Kong-Airlines-said-to-be-mulling-50pc-layoffs

Hong Kong Airlines is considering laying off 50 percent of its staff due to the prolonged impact of the pandemic on its business, according to reports.

It was understood that the management of the airline will be looking into two options in adjusting its operations to try to stay afloat.

The first option would be laying off half of its workforce - affecting around 1,000 staffers, while the second option would be grounding all A320 flights.

According to Hong Kong Airlines’ official website, the airline currently owns 32 aircraft, of which 12 of them are A320 airliners.
The airline had twice announced mass layoffs last year, slashing around 650 jobs.

[Farman Biplane]

COS22 will be offered by CXHKE to these unemployed pilots. Never miss the opportunity in a crisis…..

[Curry Lamb]

A coordinated effort in making space for Greater Bay Scarelines, their AOC is ready and expansion plans shall be announced soon!

You read it here first :ok:

[Fly747]

Yes Curry. I believe their first cohort of pilots started with them today. I hope it will turn out to be a good choice for those who got in on the ground floor. If nothing else they’ll get a rating and currency out of it and get paid more than at HKE.

[JMock]

cheers CL
but why Scarelines
that CX superiority complex is not a badge I’d be polishing right now

[Oli777]

HKA just advertised for pilots, now they're half folding (again) wtf, hire or fire make up your mind!

[schweizer2]

When did HKA advertise? I think you are confusing HKA with HKE......

[doublelift]

Oli777

The was Hong Kong Air Cargo (RH), technically is a different company with HKA

[LLLQNH]

Everywhere else in the world, nationals are employed preferentially.

I have to correct this statement, although I get what your trying to say the way in which you are saying it might be misunderstood as racist.

In the USA, UK (insert other generic western nation) Nationals are most certainly not employed preferentially to non nationals, once you have the right to live and work without necessarily being a nationally or having a passport then everyone is treated equally.

The BIG difference is that in most western nations (apart from the USA where some Australians were sponsored by airlines to come and work) airlines do not sponsor work visas for pilots because they have enough available domestically and don't need overseas workers.

FYI In the USA when the furloughs started they did not terminate the employment of the Australians on company sponsored work visas ahead of American nationals. I am well aware of what happened at Singapore and Korean, so there you have it some countries do it one way and others do it another.

[Donblock]

Farman Biplane

Unfortunately those whom will be let go, don’t have or won’t have a working visa. Either can you change employer on your correct employment visa.

[Mill Worker]

It is worth mentioning that many Based Pilots have asked (for years) to maintain their visa (being as they were being taxed they may as well be taxed legally), but the Company always refused to do this. Had the Company done this at least they would now have the ability relocate to HK.

[main_dog]

Darned right Millworker. I first asked back in ‘08 or ‘09 when we went “on-shore”... cannot.

[LLLQNH]

Rumour doing the rounds:

IMD and CX have reached a compromise. Hiring is open at CX & HKE to see how many unemployed PR pilots are interested in flying again. Every pilot that Cx/Hke hires off the street in turn IMD will give Cx/hke one work visa. So if true looks like it might save some work visa holders jobs, fingers crossed.

[Farman Biplane]

In seniority order, maybe, IAW Company Policy…

[Fly747]

Why would they want more pilots when they’ve got too many already?

[BuzzBox]

How many pilots do you think will return to HK from the closed bases? My guess is they'll lose quite a few who either can't or don't want to move back to HK.

[Busbitch]

All the ones I know who are only going back to get their IR & AR renewed and collect a cheque till they can go work somewhere else ASAP. Almost every very single pilot I know at CX wants to leave.

[Dilbert68]

That sums it up nicely.

[MPPCAG]

ToCatLady

What drives this stupid superiority complex at CX? KA B scale had a better contract, a better leave system that actually worked, more money and 25 years house purchase scheme. I couldn't have given a toss where I flew to it was all about the time off and the money. Why would anybody aspire to make bunks for 3 years and wait 12 years for a command?

[Busbuoy]

"KA B scale had a better contract, a better leave system that actually worked, more money and 25 years house purchase scheme."

You do realise that's why KA was shut down in favour of the less-entitled at CX.

[Backupnav]

Do you think that is the reason why KA was shut down. Are you that ignorant?

[Piet Lood]

Make that 17 years to command. Could be more.

[main_dog]

Jeez boys, really? KA vs CX willy-waving eight months after the former were so brutally demolished?

Nothing to do with who had better pilots or a better contract, rather a top-level corporative decision based on aircraft, slots, predicted evolution of the pandemic, perceived brand value etc. An imperfect decision of course, but there you have it. Several hundred KA families lost their income and face highly uncertain futures. More and more CX families are joining them, be it the smaller number who lost their jobs at the same time, or the several hundred who are losing their jobs on bases right now or risk doing so due to visa issues.

It’s bloody carnage in our industry, with no quick end end in sight at the moment, especially here. Those who have lost and are losing their jobs deserve the sympathy of those holding onto theirs (albeit on drastically slashed Ts&Cs). Here’s hoping there’s light at the end of this bloody long tunnel.

[Busbuoy]

No waving of anything here, just observation.
If KA's package was better overall then presumably their cost/unit work was higher. Closing down KA was administratively easy and saved money in the long run. Once expat benefits were eliminated, base closures were inevitable for the same reasons.
No malice, no judgement, just the way I think it was.

[main_dog]

Perhaps, though bear in mind flight crew costs only run to around 4% of total outlay. I doubt respective crew costs were the deciding factor? But (going back on topic), the decision did lead to the current visa issue. Still no news there, except for crickets...

[main_dog]

GMA update…

[Rie]

It is very good news that the future is a little more promising for a least six months for those on visas. You just have to wonder what was offered in return.

[Rie]

How does Danny get news faster than my effort to log into my email? For those interested without access:

The government has told Cathay it will extend the work visas of its expat pilots, but not its foreign cabin crew, according to an internal memo. Photo: Winson WongHong Kong immigration officials will renew the visas of all of Cathay Pacific (https://www.scmp.com/topics/cathay-pacific)’s expatriate pilots, but its large contingent of foreign cabin crew will be denied extensions permitting them to remain based in the city, according to memos seen by the Post.

The decision leaves the airline’s foreign cabin crew at risk of losing their jobs, with the airline saying it would offer the same voluntary redundancy package to affected staff that it offered to others in late April.

In its memo on Thursday, Cathay expressed regret that some employees would have to leave the company as a result of the decision, but said it would lodge appeals on behalf of certain cabin crew, particularly those with Japanese and Korean language skills.

Since late last year, the aviation industry has encountered resistance from the Immigration Department, which has only been willing to offer short-term visa renewals for foreign staff of up to three months.

Authorities have attributed the hardline stance to rising unemployment among skilled aviation workers in the city, with the shutdown of regional airline Cathay Dragon last year seen by many as a significant factor.

The Post understands freighter pilots – who have played a key operational role at the airline amid the Covid-19 crisis – would get three-year visa extensions, while passenger crew would only get six to 12-month extensions.

[852pilot]

Rie

very good indeed!
Now we can submit an injunction and jurisdiction review against ImmD’s decision.

[G Merch]

Do your best

[LLLQNH]

Ha don't make me laugh this is Hong Kong. Injunction & jurisdiction review that's the best thing I have read on this thread

[Bueno Hombre]

main_dog

We night ask what does Main Dog mean by "total outlay". Not total operating costs we might think . Outlay?

[Rie]

Just had word from a Captain at UO that the same goes for them. 6 months for the suffering normal pilots and 3 years for Training Captain Gods.

[doublelift]

The recent recruitment must be a deal with immigration department. It surprised me that CX is willing to save the expat with expense of taking up locals pilots.

[LLLQNH]

Easy solution,

Thanks for coming to the interview unfortunately you were unsuccessful in our recruitment process, sadly we are unable to offer feedback we wish you the greatest success in your future aviation career.

[852pilot]

doublelift

Sounds like rehire all local/PR in 6mths time and no work visa renewal after that.
unless things pick up like pre2019.

[doublelift]

LLLQNH

justification to immigration will be needed in this case. And cx can hardly justify how come a pilot become unsuitable suddenly in less than a year. And noticed that the fleet with local supply, airbus and 777, have the visa renewed in a shorter period (only 6 months to 1 year) I fully expect Cathay have to take up all the local pilots within 1 year to trade for the visa renewal, that is the deal with ImmD

[BuzzBox]

S22

The based pilots aren't feeling 'incredibly important' right now, I can assure you.

[S22]

Of course not sorry I didn't mean it that way. Just amazed at their mendacity.

[jetjockey696]

HKG will renew expat pilots visas

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3137646/job-losses-loom-hong-kong-plans-renew-visas-expat-cathay?module=lead_hero_story_5&pgtype=homepage

[Curry Lamb]

So for some it’s 3 years, others 6 months and cabin crew none.
Smells like pure discrimination in the workplace to me - WILL be sending an urgent email to the Equal Opportunities Commission.
All of this is more ammo for the inevitable court case against the Director of Immigration, who is now in bed with CXit.
The ICAC might also be interested to investigate whatever under the table deal took place.

[Freehills]

Uhm, job function is not a protected category, or you could complain that cabin crew are paid less than pilots.

[Xwindldg]

Curry lamb

p###ing into wind comes to mind

[Dragon Pacific]

Curry, it has nothing to do with discrimination, it is all about how “readily”,to use ImmD terminology, the visa holder can be replaced by a local. Cabin crew can easily be replaced so that’s simple.
They've obviously used the arguement about type rating and training qualifications to give longer for those who have type ratings not held by many of the currently unemployed pilots. You’ll note that 330 and 320 rated pilots have only been given a stay of execution of six months as ImmD would appear to expect that unemployed locals from KA and HKA are employed over the next six months to fill those slots.

[Curry Lamb]

I feel you on the discrimination issue. But I’m afraid mr Director of Immigration has been royally :mad: over by the CXit “managers”.

Many of the ex Dragon colleagues, ex CXit colleagues flew freighters at some point in their flying careers, including 74’s. It certainly doesn’t take 3 years to do a conversion course, or a TRI/TRE upgrade for that matter, so 6 months extension should have been more than adequate.

The immigration department’s GEP rules are plain and simple, many readily available (read qualified, experienced) unemployed local pilot licence holders to do conversion courses if needed.

I insist that by twisting the above rule, the Commissioner whored himself out to favouritism if not corruption, and a judicial review will be needed to address this. A judge will decide and set a precedent for future cases, not necessarily all aviation related.

To be continued …

[Oli777]

Curry's on a mission, she's had her latte coffee & sold her 1 bitcoin! To the court house!
Albeit noble and logical, common sense will not prevail in these matters when the government and CX are the defendants.

[controlledrest]

Curry Lamb

I agree with your sentiment, but a judicial review will never happen. Hong Kong no longer has the rule of law, it is the rule of Peking.

[carolknows]

Don't forget about the influencer online who recently posted a statistic show-down of her numerous flights and destinations of the month while plenty of our lads struggle to hope to fly. :=

[Curry Lamb]

I suppose with the shortage of pilots in the US these days, having a flying licence could be seen as “Highly Skilled”, so worth a shot for all ex KA brethren and HK SAR passport holders:

Revived US bill proposes special status for Hongkongers threatened by national security law
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3139244/revived-us-bill-proposes-special-status-hongkongers-threatened-national

Entire article is too long, but this is a quote, defining the main point:

“The current bill is meant to provide multiple pathways for Hongkongers to apply for entry into the US. To that end, the co-sponsors added an additional one for “highly skilled” applicants, defined as those with graduate or undergraduate diplomas from accredited US schools or owners of companies with more than 50 employees or US$50 million in assets.”

[ecam5]

What are the status on the visa extension for 320/330 crew, imm department extended 6 months from June 2021, are those visa’s expiring now or renewed ?

[Rie]

It should be coming up in the next few weeks. I thought they were extended End of June/Start of July so expecting Feb to be the decider.

[Cury Lamb]

No more extensions, and the 12 months and 3 years given to cargo crew non PR will also be reduced, as appropriate punishment - watch this space.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/828x1423/11feb739_9b6f_47cd_817c_5b6d0150bcbe_1d19e780026d9d51d4d2a31 886c387c648528334.jpeg
“Sources also said mainland China officials were piling pressure on Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s government to punish Cathay Pacific, the city’s flagship carrier, especially after Beijing health experts had earlier identified aircrew as a potential risk area in their trip to the city.”

[Rie]

Turns out a few of the SO's and UO crew I know have been given their renewal paperwork to be submitted to the Immigration Tower already. Should find out the situation soon. Most are expecting to go with MPF to help them survive.

What's the go with GBA? All is quiet yet they took a fair few crew...

[Posterizing]

Rumour is that cathay has struck a deal with the immigration department where each ex dragon pilot they rehire will allow for 3 expat visa renewals.

[Cury Lamb]

Rumour is that cathay has struck a deal with the immigration department where each ex dragon pilot they rehire will allow for 3 expat visa renewals.

Very UNLIKELY. The Immd has specific rules&regulations, any ‘special - under - the - table’ deal will not fly in a courtroom, which the ex Dragon guys may very well bring to light, should there happen to be any such non PR renewals.

The extension was only granted for a specific time period, which is now fast coming to an end for the 320/330 non PRs.

It’s also not applicable any longer to the rest, with only 2% of pax flights going, and most cargo flights cancelled. Plenty of foreign cargo companies keeping hongkongers fed.

CXi (not exactly the most popular company in HK right now) doesn’t need anywhere near the current crew numbers, and certainly can’t justify this to the party animal director of immigration.

GBA is waiting for CXit to finally close shop, before making their entrance, that day seems to be very near, unfortunately.

[ecam5]

Did anyone try renewing their work visa lately, the 6 months extension to 320/330 pilots should be up these days.

[Ecam321]

Did anyone try renewing their work visa lately, the 6 months extension to 320/330 pilots should be up these days.

Everyone I know in HKE has had their visa extended but still only for another 6 months.

[Smogville]

What is the point of HKE? Is there still a place for a subsidiary that only does a handful of flights a week to the same destinations as we do? They should just fold the purple brand like they what they did with Dragon.

[ToCatLady]

The brazilian Immigration Dept wouldn't accept this

[HKBoy]

I agree in Brazil they will not be very happy. How are they going to pay for all the ex-wifes?
I have even heard they are upgrading people, in case they close shop at least they are employable somewhere else

[Rie]

The brazilian Immigration Dept wouldn't accept this

Deals were cut as always. But mumbles suggest a changing of the guard over at UO coming up. Maybe the Brazilian mafia will be disbanded. Wouldn’t be surprised if it is considering the number of senior ex-KA trainers coming into the mix.

[Asianexpress]

What is the point of HKE? Is there still a place for a subsidiary that only does a handful of flights a week to the same destinations as we do? They should just fold the purple brand like they what they did with Dragon.

I think they may of shut down the wrong operation, the Red team were resilient to the chaos that is China ops. Good luck to the Princesses in green dealing with it now.

[Dingleberry Handpump]

I think they may of shut down the wrong operation, the Red team were resilient to the chaos that is China ops. Good luck to the Princesses in green dealing with it now.
Get over yourself. There’s nothing to it. It’s just a pain in the arse.