spass/epass rejected - reapply 3rd time --- PLEASE HELP!

[ngthuthao93]

Hi everyone,

My name is Thao, 23 years old- I'm from Vietnam. I graduated from college in US in May 2015. I'm currently working in the US. My company which I used to intern offered me a position Account Executive/Product Support Specialist in Singapore. The salary is $3000. However I got rejected for Spass- even though my HR said they provided all information such as I am the only one who have training from US who could deal with specific products problems raised by clients there blah blah blah... The first time - Rejected without any explanation (But my employer updated my certificated degree to appeal). My company appealed- This time they said the rule has been more strict? (My company has raised my salary to $3300 to apply for EPass/Spass for this time)

My company will appeal ( or reapply) the third time for me. My HR in the US is so freak out right now. The office in Sing has only 8 people - The country manager is foreign. We also have another EP in the office. I guess I should be the only Spass in the company so it should be enough?. But Why? What could be the reason and is the any chance for me? My company is doing a big training for me here in US and they even included it in the application. Im about to move to Singapore on June 1st -- But, I don't know what to now now.

Any thought would be so helpful. Thanks alot!

[fullhouse3010]

I think urs company can't apply spass for you because there is a quota for spass whereas ep does not have any quota. From what I know, EP is applicable to university graduate in Singapore like NTU, NUS and SMU. For private uni in Singapore, if one got his EP I think that is rare and considers himself lucky. I do have friends who have many years of working experience in Vietnam or elsewhere and got a job offer in Singapore. He does get EP because he is considered skilled workers I guess. SPass's quota has been changed, making many companies refuse to hire foreigners nowadays. So, as u mentioned if your local office has only 8 people. The chance of you getting Spass is pretty low provided all 8 of them are Singaporean.

Hope this helps to clarify your doubt a bit about Spass and EP application.
All the best though.

[Barnsley]

Hi everyone,

The salary is $3000. However I got rejected for Spass- even though my HR said they provided all information such as I am the only one who have training from US who could deal with specific products problems raised by clients.

I am pretty sure that MOM cannot correlate your salary with your apparent worth to the company.

Upping salary after failed Spass application is almost always a non starter after reading many threads on here as its been used as a popular way to get passes in the past , then the employee has to payback the difference to the employer.

[sundaymorningstaple]

In all probability, OP no longer meets the prevailing criteria for an S pass (on an educational front) OR his income does not correlate to his claimed experience level. The last 7 renewals I've done in the past two months, 5 were given only 12 months (2 to 3 yrs requested) and the note with the approval letter that due to more stringent criteria, they no longer qualify and were being given 12 months to help the employer to find a replacement or give them time to upgrade themselves if possible but telling them in no uncertain terms that this was their final renewal with their current qualifications. The other two were rejected on renewal. all have been with us for 3 to 8 years.....

Good Luck. You are going to need it.

[ngthuthao93]

Thank you guys so much!!!

My company said they did apply for Spass last time - I think this time they would resubmit for Epass - as we mentioned they will increase my salary - so it would somehow make MOM correlate my salary with my claimed experience? I do have only one year of experience but I interned there 2 summers + 1month intense training so I hope they do keep that in mind.

Actually, our Singapore office only have 7 people at this moment - 2 Expat and 5 local I guess - So do you think if they resubmit Epass would there be a chance for me?

They are also will include a "certification" from my training and knowledge of the unique products and technology they use.

I've been training here for a month and ready to relocate to Singapore -- so I don't know what should I do now -- My boss said they have included both people in Singapore & US office to help but since I failed twice the chance probably too slim

[ngthuthao93]

I think urs company can't apply spass for you because there is a quota for spass whereas ep does not have any quota. From what I know, EP is applicable to university graduate in Singapore like NTU, NUS and SMU. For private uni in Singapore, if one got his EP I think that is rare and considers himself lucky. I do have friends who have many years of working experience in Vietnam or elsewhere and got a job offer in Singapore. He does get EP because he is considered skilled workers I guess. SPass's quota has been changed, making many companies refuse to hire foreigners nowadays. So, as u mentioned if your local office has only 8 people. The chance of you getting Spass is pretty low provided all 8 of them are Singaporean.

Hope this helps to clarify your doubt a bit about Spass and EP application.
All the best though.

Do you think if my company appeal for an Epass = would it work?

[ecureilx]

I've been training here for a month and ready to relocate to Singapore -- so I don't know what should I do now -- My boss said they have included both people in Singapore & US office to help but since I failed twice the chance probably too slim

Coming from US, if your boss has offered you, say 6,000$ per month or higher, you won't be in this soup.

[ngthuthao93]

I've been training here for a month and ready to relocate to Singapore -- so I don't know what should I do now -- My boss said they have included both people in Singapore & US office to help but since I failed twice the chance probably too slim

Coming from US, if your boss has offered you, say 6,000$ per month or higher, you won't be in this soup.

Hi - I only graduated last year ...

[ecureilx]

Hi - I only graduated last year ...

You are missing the point.

Singapore wants to control cheap foreign Labour. At 3k, and being sent from US, you will be seen as cheap Labour, which means your company should pay and train A Singaporean instead.

If you had been offered 6k or more, you may be seen as "talent"

[ngthuthao93]

Hi - I only graduated last year ...

You are missing the point.

Singapore wants to control cheap foreign Labour. At 3k, and being sent from US, you will be seen as cheap Labour, which means your company should pay and train A Singaporean instead.

If you had been offered 6k or more, you may be seen as "talent"

I see what you mean - I will discuss with my boss and see how things go. Bit I think 6k might be too much...

So you guys all think that should be because of the income problem? I havent discuss the salary increase yet but hopefully if they increase the salary and reapply for Epass, I will get good result -- Otherwise, i don't know what to do

Thank you guys so much!!!

[JR8]

Out of interest what do you earn now (roughly)?
Then go to Numbeo and compare the costs of you current standard of living in the US city vs what it would cost in Singapore.
That'll give some idea of the costs for a like for like relo (no raise, no promotion etc). But most people require a material hike on top of their existing package to make the upheaval of relocating worthwhile.

[ngthuthao93]

I see what you mean - that totally makes sense though. However my situation is - I have not officially worked at the company A that has an office in singapore before the training ( i only interned there 2 summers ) - then I worked for different company B in the US. Then, I wanted to move to Singapore and it's just on time that the company A has a position in their singapore office - then I apply and accepted the offer.

They put me in an intense training hopefully that I would be helpful in Singapore because the Singapore is developing and they need someone who understands the products from US.

So out of all responses, I think the income is likely the problem why I did not get the pass.

I will talk with my boss and HR. Thank you guys so much. If you do think of any reason and what I should do in this situation, please let me know.

Very much appreciated! Have a good night!

[PNGMK]

Your US office could fly you in an out on a regular basis with no major problem. Are you a US citizen? I'm thinking the Singapore / US Free Trade Agreement may have some value here.

[ngthuthao93]

Your US office could fly you in an out on a regular basis with no major problem. Are you a US citizen? I'm thinking the Singapore / US Free Trade Agreement may have some value here.

No I'm not...I am from Vietnam - I wanted to move to singapore since it's closer to home -- and don't know why it happens Too bad =.=

[BBCWatcher]

Well, this setback means you could nail down U.S. citizenship if that interests you. You need at least five years of U.S. residence to naturalize.