Fiancee relocating to Singapore. Advice needed...

[Petar B]

Hi all,

As the message title goes - I need an advice and thank you all in advance!

My situation is the following - me and my girlfriend got recently engaged and very shortly after that she received a job offer from a technical institute in Singapore to work as a scientist. She is expected to leave for Singapore next month. My company has an office in Singapore but the office that I work in is directly connected with the office in Kuala Lumpur and it seems that the best offer I can get is for KL (with the option of distance working). I know that the salaries are quite different in Malaysia compared to Singapore but this is the subject of another topic.

As there is not enough time to get married and do all paperwork again I am wondering:

If I accept the KL offer how often will I be able to cross the Singapore border and for how much time will I be able to stay? For example if I spent 1 month in Singapore and then a couple of weeks in KL will I be allowed to go back to Singapore?

Is there a chance to get a LTVP with only engagement and some sort of common-law marriage?

Or should I start looking for a job in Singapore - my company's office or another employer?

My bio - I have Bachelor degree in Sociology, Master degree in Marketing and more than 7 years of experience in the market research sphere, 2 of them as a team leader.

Thanks for any advice that I may get from you folks!

Best regards,
Petar

[BBCWatcher]

For example if I spent 1 month in Singapore and then a couple of weeks in KL will I be allowed to go back to Singapore?

It's unlikely you would be permitted to do that for too long. What you describe means you would spend the majority of your time in Singapore. ICA would eventually decide you're de facto living in Singapore. You're not permitted to do that without the appropriate pass or citizenship.

Is there a chance to get a LTVP with only engagement and some sort of common-law marriage?

It's not totally unprecedented but fairly difficult. From what I've heard there has to be some governmental recognition of the union.

Or should I start looking for a job in Singapore - my company's office or another employer?

Or marry, or be prepared to spend much more time apart than together.

[Petar B]

Thanks for the feedback, BBCWatcher!

By your third comment I judge that your opinion is it will be quite difficult to find a job in SG? Please let me know whether I have understood you correctly.

[x9200]

Yes, I think with your education/employment profile it may be difficult. I believe there are plenty of local, Singapore guys that can do the job you currently do.

Unless your SG company can do some reasonable justification transferring you.

[Petar B]

Thanks, x9200!

I realize that a transfer within the company would be the best way in my case.

[BBCWatcher]

I realize that a transfer within the company would be the best way in my case.

That'd be ideal for a variety of reasons.

Note that even if they have a position they can offer you they have to post the job to Jobs Bank, meaning they have to give citizens and permanent residents of Singapore a fair chance first, ahead of you, unless there's an exception. One exception is if the company has fewer than 25 employees. Another exception is if they pay you at least S$12,000 per month (fixed monthly salary part).

[x9200]

Another exception is an inter-corporate transfer for staff holding senior position or high level of expertise.

Note, that for any job-pass application your pay has to match your qualification and experience. MOM typically verifies this, especially for more common professions like yours. In other words, you should not count on being competitive to the local employees by the level the wages you are going to accept.

[Petar B]

@BBCWatcher, the company has offices all around the world and the employees are more than 25 even in the SG office, I think...Plus the salary you mentioned seems far too high so I doubt that my case qualifies in the exceptions. Our HR teams are currently in discussion so I will see what they will come up with.

@x9200, I am not sure I understand completely why I won't be "competitive to the local employees by the level the wages" I am going to accept.

BTW, thank you guys for the information and support

[x9200]

@x9200, I am not sure I understand completely why I won't be "competitive to the local employees by the level the wages" I am going to accept.

Example, average salary for a position with your background and experience = 7k (just a number, I have no idea if correct); the company offers you 5k, no local guy will accept it because it's too low, but you may consider to get your foot in and be with your fiance. This will not fly.

[Petar B]

Oh, I understand what you mean now. Thanks for the explanation!

[BBCWatcher]

So if the company doesn't qualify for an exception then they have to offer the position through Jobs Bank. If a Singapore citizen or permanent resident is qualified, he or she must be offered the job first, ahead of you.

If there is a legitimate business reason for the position to require a rare skill, such as fluency in a particular language not widely spoken in Singapore, then the Jobs Bank listing should describe that requirement and is less likely to be filled locally.

[Strong Eagle]

I've never seen any large MNC denied an intra company transfer. MoM is not stupid. They don't want to piss off major employers. So long as the MNC is employing Singaporeans and has Singaporean managers, no one at MoM is going to be closely looking at the reasons the foreign "specialist" is needed.

[x9200]

Even for SMEs I don't think this would be any major issue providing the salary matches the position and there is some justification behind.

[BBCWatcher]

I've never seen any large MNC denied an intra company transfer.

Assuming the company is willing to state (truthfully) that Petar qualifies for the "senior position" exception, this company probably won't be denied either. I agree. If the company isn't willing to make such a representation to the Ministry of Manpower, or to pay their inbound employee a fixed monthly salary of at least S$12,000, or to reduce the size of their company to fewer than 25 employees before Petar arrives, then...this position is going to have to be advertised in the Jobs Bank. Which isn't necessarily (or even likely) fatal to Petar's aspirations to move to Singapore, but we are trying to explain the process in reasonably complete fashion.

[Strong Eagle]

I've never seen any large MNC denied an intra company transfer.

Assuming the company is willing to state (truthfully) that Petar qualifies for the "senior position" exception, this company probably won't be denied either. I agree. If the company isn't willing to make such a representation to the Ministry of Manpower, or to pay their inbound employee a fixed monthly salary of at least S$12,000, or to reduce the size of their company to fewer than 25 employees before Petar arrives, then...this position is going to have to be advertised in the Jobs Bank. Which isn't necessarily (or even likely) fatal to Petar's aspirations to move to Singapore, but we are trying to explain the process in reasonably complete fashion.

BBCW...you're full of shit. I've contracted into many Singapore MNC's, and I am familiar with many more through a partner/supplier relationship. None of these companies has ever been excessive in bringing in foreign talent. And none of the companies has ever had issue, nor had to justify salaries, nor the position, or the reason, for bringing in a foreigner... seriously... more than once I've asked myself... why did you bring in that cretin from the UK... and you miss the whole point that I made in the first place... MoM is not going to f*ck with MNC's that hire locals and are a significant contribution to the Singapore economy... it's not going to happen. They ask for an EP, they will get it... without all the crap you have posted like, "Assuming the company is willing to state (truthfully)". You're ignorant of the realities.

I'll state it again... you're very much a pedant... once in a while you might listen to folks who have actual, on the ground knowledge.