Job Discussion Forums

[aineoc]

Hi,
was just wondering if anyone knew about claiming travel expenses to interview for net scheme. I am travelling from Ireland to London for it.
Thanks loads
Aine

[anninhk]

I think you do get reimbursed if I remember correctly, but there is a maximum so you might not get all of it.
Make sure you have all the proof, too, as they won't do it without it.
I also think it came a few weeks after the interview.

[Smoog]

afaik, you can't claim travel expenses to the interview.
You can claim your travel expenses to HK (to a maximum of $5000HK) if you are offered a job but that's a way down the track for you.

[hkteach]

Check the letter you received from EMB regarding your interview. Information about reimbursement for travel expenses should be included.

I've never heard fo a maximum of 5000HKD for your ticket to HK when you travel here to take up your position. You can claim the oneway fare from your home country or 50% of a return ticket (the other 50% claimable on completion of your two year contract).

[catbells]

I don't know of any travelling reimbursements if you're travelling from the UK to London for the interview either. Let me knowi if there are. All I got was a short e-mail to notify me of the interview. It is quite costly, considering that I also need to fork out the hotel bill for one night aswell.

[briandwest]

If memory serves, previous posts on this subject stated that it is not possible to claim travel expenses to the interview.

To clarify claimable expenses on taking up a PNET position, you can claim:
1. Economy class air tickets for the NET and his/her family to HK by the most direct route from country of origin.
2. Traveling baggage expenses up to the following maximums: HK$1,300 for single teacher; HK$5000 for married teacher accompanied by spouse and/or children
Check out 'Passage' and ' Baggage Allowance' sections of the Letter of Appointment for exact details: http://www.west-web.net/pnet/#NETSchemeLetterofAppointment

[atatat]

We can claim up to 1000HKD but I guess you'd get reimbursed only if you're hired. I received my cheque half a year after my interview date.

[misutabiru]

This morning, the recruiting company that arranged my interview (CEC Network) gave me a form to fill out and send in to get a maximum reimbursement of HK1000. I am hoping to fanagle a second reimbursement to make up for the increased expenses incurred by having to stay over the weekend for my SNET interview on Monday. Has anyone here done that before? It makes sense in my mind, but I am not sure how the EMB will see it.

[11:59]

Good luck with getting those travel expenses reimbursed. I once had difficulty getting a single paperclip from an EMB representative (an ATT, I think) to neatly put together a whole host of papers they had given me.

[hkteach]

To misutabiru
"It makes sense in my mind, but I am not sure how the EMB will see it."

Aaaahh, the optimism of one who has yet to experience living and working in Hong Kong.

It actually works like this......ANYTHING that makes sense to you or seems the logical way to do something is the opposite to how it will be done here. Bureaucracy rules.
You will encounter this in your dealings with HK Immigration, the accreditation office who verify your qualifications (they want evidence of your teaching prac. even if it wasn't recorded when you did your training 20 years ago) the cable tv provider (who STILL won't update their records re. my visacard so they can take payment - and after 7 months of phone calls to their "customer service" department. WHY?? because it's not company policy) and of course, the EMB who insist on NETs showing their original documents or filling out the same forms year after year to verify their status, when they have all this info on file already.

Don't hold your breath waiting for the extra reimbursement.

[11:59]

[misutabiru]

Ah...that is kind of what i figured. I am really going to love this place! I have been in the western hemisphere for the past eight months and things just make too much darn sense here, it's enough to drive a man crazy. Give me Asia any time.

That said, I am enjoying Toronto immensely. It's kind of like the U.S., but nicer, cleaner, friendlier...what's wrong with these people??

[aineoc]

hi, just to let u know that u can claim expenses from london interview up to 1000 HK dollars. certainly makes it worth going to! I am very happy about my great weekend in London!

[11:59]

I don't doubt for a moment that you can claim the travel expenses, but, as I said, good luck with getting the expenses reimbursed.