2013年8月17日 星期六

因「愛」相聚,一起來暢談愛爾蘭吧!



話說大約在8個月前,在Facebook加入了一個群組名叫「[新版] HK Working Holiday Makers @ Ireland (愛爾蘭工作假期)」。其實一直都有在FB上留意大家的留言和活動,但不竟還沒申請WHA,所以一直都沒有出席他們的分享會...

當然,隨著WHA批出及買了機票,要出發到愛爾蘭的感覺實在了很多,同時也不得不開始找資料。恰巧一班計劃2014/15(下年度)出發的朋友仔安排分享會,我此等臨渴掘井的2013水尾當然不會執輸~~~

聽完一些過來人的心得後,對於自己本來已計劃的好像有少許動搖...
不過計劃總是趕不上變化,其實也沒必要每事盡在掌握中,留一點彈性或許會有多一點樂趣~~
一班年青人聚在一起吹吹水、飲飲食食,認識多一些人,總是好事!
若然日後在愛爾蘭有緣再遇,相信也是相當有趣的事!


2013年8月7日 星期三

要走,總要飛




終於買了機票!

一直在 Emirates和 Etihad之間掙扎,兩間Airline其實都是大公司,絕對有品質保證。
Emirates價錢相對貴近HKD700,但勝在上落機時間理想、轉機等候時間短,亦有心目中的起飛日子,所以最後都選擇了它,盛為$5580。由於不知道自己會是怎樣回港,只買了去程機票,所以一定要提醒自己要預留彈藥買回程票回家!

第一次買一張這麼貴的機票,由按確定掣那一刻開始,心裏面終於有要走的真實感。
突然覺得自己好像太大膽了,心裏有少少「餚底」,但同時有種自己將要有番大作為之感。
相信人生每個突破總是伴隨著點不安感,不過這不就是突破的本意嗎?
Breakthrough the comfort zone where we used to live in!

申請WHA鬥智鬥力 Final Round

16/7       第二次遞交

1/8         電郵回覆  – 獲批,2/8 可領取WHA

Dear applicants,
We are pleased to inform you that your Working Holiday Authorisation application has been approved.  As applicant needs to sign and acknowledge it, please kindly collect in person on the above schedule. Please also bring this e-mail as your appointment reference on the above schedule
Thanks for your cooperation.

2/8      領取WHA

2/8     電郵查詢 –  領取後發現WHA上資料有誤

Dear officer,

Thank you for the approval of my Working Holiday Authorization application from your Consulate.
I found that the passport number printed on the WHA is of my SAR passport but not of my BNO passport as I filled in on the application form after I studied it in detail.

Is it possible for me to get a revised WHA with my BNO passport number as I preferred upon my application from your Consulate?
I am sorry for not spotting it before I signed and acknowledged the WHA when I was in your Consulate this morning.

Looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your attention.

2/8     電郵回覆 –  可於5/8 再次領取WHA

Dear Ms Ng,

Apolgosie for the typo, please kindly bring back the working holiday authorisation on next Monday 5th Aug 2013 at 11am.

Sorry for any inconvenience caused for you.

5/8         完滿結束是次申請,獲批編號HK13-99,獲批日期29/7/13 !!



申請WHA鬥智鬥力 Round 3

27/6     第一次遞交  

拒絕接受申請,原因︰
   1)      繳付保險費用支票並非本人的個人支票
   2)      因現時的BNO沒有出境紀錄,需另交舊BNO護照
   3)      銀行e-statement不容易理解,要求有銀行文件證明結餘
須於14天內再約見遞交申請

6/7       第二次申請約見(by CITYU email)  -  附上新保險證明

Dear Sir/ Madam,

I am writing to make appointment to resubmit my application as some documents I submitted last time were not accepted.
The new proofs from the Bank and the Insurance are attached for your consideration.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at XXXXXXXX.
Thank you for your kind attention. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

8/7    電郵回覆  – 不接受新保險證明

Hi,
Regrettably, can’t arrange an appointment as we can’t see any evidence of proof that you have paid the insurance by your own account.

8/7    電話回覆 – 解釋不接受新保險證明原因

8/7    電郵領事館陳情

Dear Officer,

Thank you for your email and telephone call.

As per our conversation, please find the attached transaction history of my saving account which shown the bank deducted me $4500 for the insurance payment and charged me $50 for the cashier’s order.
There were 3 documents not accepted by The Consulate when I submitted the applications last time,
1)    BNO – I was told to bring along the old BNO because there is no stamps on my current BNO passport
2)    Bank statement – A letter of certification from the bank is required, as the layout of the e-statement I provided is not easy to understand.
3)    Insurance official receipt – since the policy was settled by a cheque which is not issued from either my saving account or current account.

I explained I was intentionally settled the payment again with the cashier’s order I paid to HSBC after I got your phone call. However the insurance company did not accept my DOUBLE payment that time because the I had already settled the payment.
During these two weeks I fight with the insurance company without got involve the sales agent, the insurance company eventually accept my cashier’s order and cancel my first settlement, a new official receipt was thus issued with the number of the cashier’s order from HSBC.

I believe that there are certainly some misunderstandings, I have sincerely made every effort to meet the requirement.
I am terribly sorry for the inconveniences that I caused you and am great appreciated for your time, patience and assistance to my application.
I would be definitely grateful if the above clarified clearly to you and hear a good news from your Consulate.
Thank you very much for your attention and assistance.

8/7    電郵保險公司

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Macharlie, the insured person of a travel insurance  (policy no. 900000XXXXXX).
I am applying the working holiday authorization to Ireland.
However the official receipt (no. 2013XXXXXX) issued by your company was regarded as a weak proof from the Consulate of Ireland to show the fact that I have settled the payment by the cashier's order of HSBC (#156XXX).

I am therefore writing to request if your company could provide me another proof instead of official receipt, say the bank transaction history, to confirm my cashier's note was received and transferred to your company.

I would be grateful to have your reply shortly in order to get back to the Consulate as soon as possible.

Thank you for your attention.

9/7       電郵回覆  – 懷疑保險,要求遞交繳交保險費用的銀行證明

Dear Ms Ng,
The transaction day is same as you purchased the bank draft but you need to show us that the insurance company has deposited your bank draft and the amount has been deducted from your bank account.   Can you please show us that transaction?

9/7       再次電郵領事館陳情 – 附上保險公司電郵回覆

Dear Officer,

Thank you for your reply.
In response to the query in your email earlier, I contacted the HSBC1 and the Prudential assurance company2 for proofs.
After communicated with the staffs this afternoon, I cleared the transaction up in the attachment above with the information I have got from both parties , please also read the note written along.

May I draw your attention to the definition of Cashier’s order. Refer to the website of HSBC, Cashier’s order (本票) is one of the CASH management and  “A secure, safe and cheap way to transfer money本票是一種安全可靠而又費用低廉的轉賬方法“, which is not same to Bank draft or cheque, cash is deducted from the saving account of oneself upon the Cashier’s order is issued to its issuing Bank. The receiver of the Cashier’s order may then get the money back from the Bank by presenting the Cashier’s order.

I totally understand the importance of the insurance in this working holiday program, I treasure my life and property more than anyone do especially I have to stay in the country far away from my home.
As a responsible and mature adult, the purchase of an insurance is a must and certainly wise decision to protect myself and my family.
It is definitely naïve and nearsighted to cheat your Consulate with an invalid insurance.
The first settlement of insurance may be somehow an improper arrangement, I did make my every effort to provide proof along the way to dispel the doubts.

Ireland is the tranquil country that I long to live in and experience her culture. She is the country I only think of when I decided to join the working holiday program.

For mercy’ sake, I really wish to have the WHA from your Consulate from the bottom of my heart.
Thank you again for your time and patience, great appreciated for those the patient and gentle lady of your Consulate did for me till now.
Note:
1)      The staff of HSBC, Ms ABC Ho may be reached at 2233 3000  (then pressing short cut key 11#61)
2)      The email reply from the insurance is also attached for reference

Email reply from the insurance
Dear Miss Ng,

Thank you for email.

Refer to the captioned policy, we have received the premium cheque no.004-156XXX to settle the premium and issue an Official Receipt to proof the premium is settled.

Should you have any queries on the above, please feel free to contact me at 3656 XXXX

11/7       按要求電郵保險公司證明PDF

Dear Officer,
As per our telephone conversation earlier, a paper form of proof with the same content as the email reply from the insurance is attached as requested.

Thank you for your kind attention.

12/7     電郵回覆 –  可於16/7約見遞交申請

Dear Sir/Madam,

Please kindly accept our sincerely due to system error your appointment should be on 16th July 2013 at 11am,please kindly confirm asap.
Sorry for any inconvenience caused for you.

Please kindly submit your application together with all necessary documentation (please refer to the attached note), please also bring this e-mail as your appointment reference on 16th July 2013 at 11am.

Please prepare TWO [non double-sided] photocopies of all required documents when submitting your application. If you do not supply a photocopy the original document will not be returned to you.
We regret that we do not provide photocopying services at the Consulate.

P.S.  Regrettably, if applications received which are without any necessary documentation or not in sequence, we cannot be accepted and must be referred back to the applicants.  If applicant can’t make it on the above appointment applicants need to e-mail again and wait for other schedule.                                        
Thanks for your cooperation.


申請WHA鬥智鬥力 Round 2

25/5     申請約見(by Gmail) – 附上護照(BNO)及保險PDF

Dear Sir/Madam,

I would like to make an appointment to submit my application of the Working holiday authorization.
Please find my bio pages of the passport and the evidence of purchase insurance in the attached files above.
I am going to entry to Ireland on 11 September 2013.

Please feel free to contact me at XXXXXX or by replying this email if you have any questions.
Thank you.

20/6     電話查詢(留言) – 因申請後沒有收到回覆

20/6     電話回覆 – 表示沒有收到我的申請,要求再次遞交申請及要附上自己繳付保險費用證明

21/6     再次申請 (by CITYU email)

Dear Sir/ Madam,

As per the telephone conversation with your staff yesterday evening, I realized that The Consulate of Ireland, Hong Kong has not successfully received my previous email below.

I hereby use another email account, my email account in City University of Hong Kong, to request again to make an appointment to submit my application of the Working holiday authorization.
Please find the required attachment above for your reference.

Thanks to the warm reminder from your staff yesterday, the documentary proof of the settlement of insurance by cheque that from my own is also attached for your reference.

Should your Consulate has any questions, please feel free to contact me at XXXXXXXX.

Your early response would be appreciated. Thank you for your kind attention and assistance.

24/6       電郵回覆 –  查詢是否持有特區護照

Hi,

Do you have HKSAR passport?  


24/6       電郵回答 –  有

Yes,  I do

24/6       電郵回覆 –  可於27/6 約見遞交申請

Dear Sir/Madam,

Please kindly submit your application together with all necessary documentation (please refer to the attached note), please also bring this e-mail as your appointment reference on the above schedule.

Please prepare TWO [non double-sided] photocopies of all required documents when submitting your application. If you do not supply a photocopy the original document will not be returned to you.
We regret that we do not provide photocopying services at the Consulate.

P.S.  Regrettably, if applications received which are without any necessary documentation or not in sequence, we cannot be accepted and must be referred back to the applicants.  If applicant can’t make it on the above appointment applicants need to e-mail again and wait for other schedule.

Thanks for your cooperation.

2013年8月6日 星期二

申請WHA鬥智鬥力 Round 1

30/4     第一次查詢(by Gmail) 

Dear Officier,

I am going to apply for the WHA. My proposed entry dated to Ireland is in late September, because the contact of my current job ends on 23/9.

Is it possible for me to apply in May? and may I know how many quotas left at this moment?
I should be grateful if you could give me some advices for my case. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Thank you for your kind assistance.

2/5     電郵回覆

Regrettably, it’s far too earlier to submit your application as holder of the working holiday must entry to Ireland within 90 days of the issued date.

Sorry can’t help.




2013年8月5日 星期一

申請WHA總流程

浪遊前的預警、是惡夢但亦是信靠的開始!



在我而言,申請WHA的過程是一個災難。
一整個月與人鬥智鬥力,甚至有點「坐唔安、食唔落」之感...
不過好事多磨,孟子都有曰:「天將降大任於斯人也,必先苦其心志,勞其筋骨,餓其體膚,空乏其身,行拂亂其所為,所以動心忍性,增益其所不能。」
孤身在異鄉1年,話易不易、話難不難,這個小小困難就當是小小熱身,小試牛刀吧!
羅文都唱少少苦楚等於激勵啦!

先講我申請的大概流程,稍後再逐一細數~~

30/4     第一次查詢(by Gmail) –  由於現在的工作9月才合約約滿,所以查詢可否提前5月申請
2/5     電郵回覆–  WHA批出後90日內要離港,所以對方表示不能太早申請

25/5     申請約見(by Gmail) – 附上護照(BNO)及保險PDF
20/6     電話查詢(留言) – 因申請後沒有收到回覆
20/6     電話回覆 表示沒有收到我的申請,要求再次遞交申請及要附上自己繳付保險費用證明

21/6     再次申請 (by CITYU email)
            24/6       電郵回覆 –  查詢是否持有特區護照
            24/6       電郵回答 –  
            24/6       電郵回覆 –  可於27/6 約見遞交申請

27/6     第一次遞交   拒絕接受申請,原因︰
   1)      繳付保險費用支票並非本人的個人支票
   2)      因現時的BNO沒有出境紀錄,需另交舊BNO護照
   3)      銀行e-statement不容易理解,要求有銀行文件證明結餘
須於14天內再約見遞交申請

6/7       第二次申請約見(by CITYU email)  -  附上新保險證明
             8/7    電郵回覆   不接受新保險證明
             8/7    電話回覆 解釋不接受新保險證明原因
                       8/7    電郵領事館陳情
                       8/7    電郵保險公司
                                 9/7       電郵回覆   懷疑保險,要求遞交繳交保險費用的銀行證明
                                 9/7       再次電郵領事館陳情 附上保險公司電郵回覆

11/7       按要求電郵保險公司證明PDF
              12/7     電郵回覆 –  可於16/7約見遞交申請

16/7       第二次遞交

1/8         電郵回覆   獲批,2/8 可領取WHA

2/8         領取WHA
               2/8     電郵查詢 –  領取後發現WHA上資料有誤
               2/8     電郵回覆 –  可於5/8 再次領取WHA

5/8         完滿結束是次申請,獲批編號HK13-99,獲批日期29/7/13 !!