I'm in the wrong business

[sundaymorningstaple]

Saw this a little while ago at some accounting firm who is doing double duty in the corporate and Employment pass application fields. I think I'm going to go into business and quit the company I'm currently in. Just think of all the regional Asians who are blindly paying these people (whether they are successful or not) just to fill out forms that any O level graduate could fill out.

Work Visa and Immigration Service Fees & Cycle
Employment Pass S$800 per applicant
Entrepreneur Pass S$2,500 per applicant
Dependent Pass S$500 per applicant
PR Visa (Individual) S$2,800 per applicant
PR Visa (Family) S$3,800 per applicant

[gailwynand]

It's not just the "regional" people who do this. For those busy running a business there's often a bit of the "leave it to the accountants" mentality even if it is more costly and inefficient in the end.

[ScoobyDoes]

Saw this a little while ago at some accounting firm who is doing double duty in the corporate and Employment pass application fields. I think I'm going to go into business and quit the company I'm currently in. Just think of all the regional Asians who are blindly paying these people (whether they are successful or not) just to fill out forms that any O level graduate could fill out.

Work Visa and Immigration Service Fees & Cycle
Employment Pass S$800 per applicant
Entrepreneur Pass S$2,500 per applicant
Dependent Pass S$500 per applicant
PR Visa (Individual) S$2,800 per applicant
PR Visa (Family) S$3,800 per applicant

I'll go halfers with you

[sundaymorningstaple]

[Barnsley]

Who could set up a company that does the form filling for a price?

It does seem like the system is be ripe for some err, lets say manipulation by some folk employed by ICA/MOM.

I am amazed its even allowed

[sundaymorningstaple]

There is an electric bicycle shop downstairs here in Enterprise Hub. In their upstairs office, they sublet to a group who are doing just that. There are a number of them around fishing for suckers who think that paid for form fillers give them a better chance of success. I was told by the same immigration officer who gave me my PR years ago, that the main reason I got rejected the first time was because of my wife insisting that I use a lawyer to fill out everything. Seems ICA has no place for lawyers at all, which makes them just like immigration officials around the world. They are a law unto themselves.

[Barnsley]

If you worked for ICA/MOM and know this then surely you could fill your boots by setting one of these form filling places up.

Maybe even get a few accepted to give some credibility....

I am guessing that there are a good number who would like to have someone fill the forms in for them for "peace of mind" so the money to be made could be quite substantial.

[Max Headroom]

I dunno - it seems a sure-fire recipe for an endless stream of very disgruntled customers. A bit stressy eh.

[rdueej]

R.i.k.v.i.n has been around for a long time, assisting people incorporating companies and setting up work visas. I guess the ones you mentioned target even greater fools.

Searching this forum often provides better answers than the reports from these $$ per hour consultants.

edit to add: strange, the company I mentioned was censored automatically. the actual name does not contain any dots.

[ScoobyDoes]

Searching this forum often provides better answers than the reports from these $$ per hour consultants.

If you're going to be searching the forum you'd equally find a number of Numpties and Muppets that appear to not know which way to even hold the form so in their case, assistance and embellishment will be money well spent.

[sundaymorningstaple]

^This, but then that's thievery, innit? Taking something from somebody, fully well knowing they don't have the wherewithal upstairs to fill out a form, let alone to get PR or even an LTVP.

[ScoobyDoes]

^This, but then that's thievery, innit? Taking something from somebody, fully well knowing they don't have the wherewithal upstairs to fill out a form, let alone to get PR or even an LTVP.

Not really......in this case, if you're not clever enough to work it out yourself, you deserve the matching penalty. But then, these people shouldn't be applying for an EP.

If it's a matter of time then that's different.

[sundaymorningstaple]

[the lynx]

Who cares, I want to make money anyway.

[Newtosing2014]

Hi guys - does anyone know if there is any regulatory framework which restricts who can / cannot pass themselves off as an "advisor" / "expert" when it comes to these types of applications? I have some questions I want to engage an agency to help with but want to make sure they have the correct accreditations (to the extent any are required). Also, any other recommendations other than the R.i.k.v.i.n mentioned above? Thanks in advance.