looking for guidance

[mahesh]

Hi Guys,
I am looking forward to some advice from you people, I and my wife, are thinking to move to Singapore. Presently we are in Dubai and I am working as project manager is an adertising media related company. My wife is working as sales and marketing consultant for medical equipment company. I am an India and she is Malaysian. Does she being Malaysian gives her some upper hand while applying? We are looking for job or I am even interested to opt for higher studies. My question is, does Singapore goverenment gives citizenship to foreigners after getting PR and how long it takes? How long does it take to get PR? Is it possible to apply for PR without getting job?
Thanks in advance guys!
Cheers

[mahesh]

can any one please help me out..........

[awe]

if wife is malay-she can have better idea..

without job-how is employment pass or PR ?

[Strong Eagle]

I don't think you or your wife's ethnic background is either a help or a hindrance. Some might say being Malaysian is a hindrance but I believe the evaluations are done on the basis of skills, education, and experience.

First, in order to work in Singapore, you must have a company that is will to apply for an EP for you. Companies will almost always look for locals first because it is easier. Only when they cannot find the needed skill will they go through the hassle of applying for EP's. So, your best bet is to use the contacts you already have to see if you can get sponsored here. Same for your wife. People who come over here on a social visit pass to look for work are often disappointed... again, you need to have special skills or experience.

You can also apply for an EP by starting your own business. See the Ministry of Manpower website for information. In this case, you need money, business experience, and a good plan.

With a couple of exceptions (neither of which apply to you or your wife from the description you have given), you cannot get a PR until you have been an EP for several months or longer, and have proven that you are a productive person who pays taxes.

One you have become a PR, I believe you can then apply for citizenship, but Singapore authorities will force you to renounce your other citizenship formally... this is not a step I would take lightly.

[jpatokal]

I don't think you or your wife's ethnic background is either a help or a hindrance. Some might say being Malaysian is a hindrance but I believe the evaluations are done on the basis of skills, education, and experience.

Don't forget race and religion, which I suspect are more important that nationality. If they don't matter, why are they asked on the application forms?

[Strong Eagle]

I don't think you or your wife's ethnic background is either a help or a hindrance. Some might say being Malaysian is a hindrance but I believe the evaluations are done on the basis of skills, education, and experience.

Don't forget race and religion, which I suspect are more important that nationality. If they don't matter, why are they asked on the application forms?

It would be an interesting experiment, wouldn't it, to file virtually identical EP applications, but switch out pictures of whites, blacks, Malays, Indians, etc., and see what happens. Ditto for religion, as you mentioned.

I have no proof, only empirical evidence... but I am convinced that being white when it comes to getting an EP is about the best color to be... and I'm a white saying that. Doesn't seem entirely right.

And I agree, there should be no questions regarding race and religion. As a matter of fact, I see those dumb questions on the most arcane of documents... who could bloody care what race I am when I open a bank account? This is the kind of stuff that was common in the 50's America

Sidebar: Now the US government collects race data for affirmative action purposes. Since they have discovered that all humanity in all likelihood emerged from Africa, I am now proud to call myself of black ancestry, going back several thousand generations, whenever I check a box.