Try to track down Bjammin on Flightinfo. He is a new hire freighter F.O. and can probably answer your question. There is a thread going on over there now entitled Foreign Carrier in the Furloughed section which he has posted on.
As I understand it the upgrade actually goes from Second Officer to Junior First Officer then to First Officer. Not sure of the difference between JFO and FO.
Lots of good info over on Pprune as well. Check out the Fragrant Harbour wannabe section.
Typhoonpilot