PEP processing time (personal employment pass)

[sundaymorningstaple]

For the record, applying for PEP is not just a formality. When PEP first came out it was to be a stepping stone for EP holders to take a tenative step to PR which also has a lot of baggage that goes along with it, like NS for male dependents. It was rather abused as it was originally for 5 years and non-renewable. Sadly, like every thing the government does here to help people, they, in the end, just abuse Singapore. Therefore, the program was shortened to 3 years non-renewable. Even now, it is still being abused as not a stepping stone, but more as a 3 year LTVP where you can have up to 6 months of unemployment between jobs/position if necessary without having to leave the country. The vast majority still don't take up PR so now, with the economy heading south at warp speed. There is a upsurge up PEP applications as large companies start shedding headcount, especially of senor personnel. MOM & ICA are both aware of this and getting PEP isn't just a skate in the park, and they are going to be looking strongly to see if these people are desirous of gaining PR (e.g., been here 5~7 years and feel like they can/want to stay for the duration, or are just looking at a way to avoid being bounced out of the country due to anticipation of redundancy/retrenchment due to the economy. I hope all of you have a Plan B for when that happens.

[LuluLily]

@lululily any luck ?

I check every day and it's still pending, my friend. How's yours doing?

[pepapp]

I haven't been able to call MOM - have been trying over the last 3 days and either the call just doesn't go through, or I'm on hold for several minutes and then the call drops. Any luck for you?

@lululily any luck ?

I check every day and it's still pending, my friend. How's yours doing?

[LuluLily]

I haven't been able to call MOM - have been trying over the last 3 days and either the call just doesn't go through, or I'm on hold for several minutes and then the call drops. Any luck for you?

@lululily any luck ?

I check every day and it's still pending, my friend. How's yours doing?

We haven't tried calling again since our last call (about a week ago) because we get the same reason from them every time. And judging by the updates I'm getting here, it's the same - backlogs and will expedite, etc. We're going into our 10th week now and still pending.

[LuluLily]

@pepapp
@Sonny_76

Any luck?

[kozizi]

For the record, applying for PEP is not just a formality. When PEP first came out it was to be a stepping stone for EP holders to take a tenative step to PR which also has a lot of baggage that goes along with it, like NS for male dependents. It was rather abused as it was originally for 5 years and non-renewable. Sadly, like every thing the government does here to help people, they, in the end, just abuse Singapore. Therefore, the program was shortened to 3 years non-renewable. Even now, it is still being abused as not a stepping stone, but more as a 3 year LTVP where you can have up to 6 months of unemployment between jobs/position if necessary without having to leave the country. The vast majority still don't take up PR so now, with the economy heading south at warp speed. There is a upsurge up PEP applications as large companies start shedding headcount, especially of senor personnel. MOM & ICA are both aware of this and getting PEP isn't just a skate in the park, and they are going to be looking strongly to see if these people are desirous of gaining PR (e.g., been here 5~7 years and feel like they can/want to stay for the duration, or are just looking at a way to avoid being bounced out of the country due to anticipation of redundancy/retrenchment due to the economy. I hope all of you have a Plan B for when that happens.

I am on EP, it expires in October. While my company will initiate the renewal process soon, I've been contemplating whether it makes sense for me to get a PEP instead. I've already put in a PR application, so the intent to 'stay' is there.. Only thought holding me back is what if, after 3 yrs of holding a PEP, I do not get a PR (high chance of that happening, I'm Indian) nor am able to switch to an EP - then what... Any suggestions ?

[sundaymorningstaple]

You buys your ticket and takes your chances. It sounds like you are planning on doing exactly what I'm talking about. Then you get to go home? What happens when you put in an application for PEP and it doesn't get past pending for the remainder of 2020? I reckon all PEP and PR applications are on hold till further notice (e.g., will remain pending). As PNGMK mention in another post, we are also expecting to see a shakeout of the multitude of EP holders here as well. I think I'd seriously think about a Plan B in additions to what you are going to do in any case.

[singaporeflyer]

@pepapp
@Sonny_76

Any luck?

Why are you rushing for it? Wait patiently and you will receive it.

[LuluLily]

@pepapp
@Sonny_76

Any luck?

Why are you rushing for it? Wait patiently and you will receive it.

Because it's been 10 weeks. The timeline mentioned in the website is 8 weeks.

[singaporeflyer]

@pepapp
@Sonny_76

Any luck?

Why are you rushing for it? Wait patiently and you will receive it.

Because it's been 10 weeks. The timeline mentioned in the website is 8 weeks.

The timeline in the website is in normal cases/situation. Now we are in the middle of the pandemic and circuit breaker and surely there will be delays in processing.

[LuluLily]

Why are you rushing for it? Wait patiently and you will receive it.

Because it's been 10 weeks. The timeline mentioned in the website is 8 weeks.

The timeline in the website is in normal cases/situation. Now we are in the middle of the pandemic and circuit breaker and surely there will be delays in processing.

Thus my question to the two users who are also expecting.

[pepapp]

@LuluLily - still nothing for me. 9 weeks and counting. In fact the website times say 3 weeks for online applications and 8 weeks for manual applications.

I did finally get through to them last week and they gave me the same response (i.e. "will expedite")

Because it's been 10 weeks. The timeline mentioned in the website is 8 weeks.

The timeline in the website is in normal cases/situation. Now we are in the middle of the pandemic and circuit breaker and surely there will be delays in processing.

Thus my question to the two users who are also expecting.

[pepapp]

By the way @sundaymorningstaple - where are you getting this information from? That MOM is looking for people who are here for 5-7 years?

MOM & ICA are both aware of this and getting PEP isn't just a skate in the park, and they are going to be looking strongly to see if these people are desirous of gaining PR (e.g., been here 5~7 years and feel like they can/want to stay for the duration, or are just looking at a way to avoid being bounced out of the country due to anticipation of redundancy/retrenchment due to the economy. I hope all of you have a Plan B for when that happens.

[sundaymorningstaple]

The same place we get all of our information. Anecdotal evidence based on 14 years on this board and 25 year in HR, the last 14 before I retired as the HR & Finance Mgr of a medium sized SME. You will not find anything in writing in these regards as both ICA & MOM play their cards very close to the chest and have for all the years I've been here. It is just like the misinterpretation of the MOM app online to see if you are qualified to apply for a specific type of work pass here. Almost everyone reads what they want to read and not what it actually says. The app is to see if you are qualified to apply for (not necessary actually be approved for the actual pass. The app is there to save you time, if you don't meet the qualification to apply, there is no way they will consider you to actually obtain the EP. It's just telling you not to bother applying if you cannot make the application minimum entry requirements. But a lot more going into the determination as to whether or not you get one approved or not.

We don't make any guarantees, but give you the wisdom, or not, of our combined accumulated data. You are free to interpret that information however you would like. We get lots who come here looking for confirmation of their preconditioned opinions and get upset about the answers we give (as you are doing). That's up to you. This is a free site, you are not charged and we are up front to tell you it's our opinion. We do know that MOM and probably ICA as well, monitor our site as I have been invited to be on two panel discussions (CNA but bowed out the the 2nd due to conflicting schedules - still working back then) and also invited to a 20 minute interview with one of the Directors at MOM on how to potentially speed up the appeals processes (this before they moved into their current premises) which turned out to be a 2+ hour luncheon next door to the old Maxwell Rd office with the Director and two of his senior staff members.

We are not always right, but over the years, you will find we are pretty accurate. You can take it or leave it. The choices are entirely yours. This is why I always advise to make a Plan B if what somebody thinks doesn't particularly look feasible to us. Forewarned is forearmed. What we don't do here is blow smoke.

SMS

[pepapp]

Thanks for the detailed response. I think it was a little presumptive of you to assume I was getting upset at your answers. If you look at my note, it was simply asking the source of your information, which you've now provided.

Quick word of advice - speaking of preconceived notions, I've seen a lot of these and general negativity/borderline inappropriate comments from you and others on this forum, so would suggest checking those.

Regardless, don't want to digress from the topic of this post so suffice to say that I appreciate all the insight as you clearly have a lot.

The same place we get all of our information. Anecdotal evidence based on 14 years on this board and 25 year in HR, the last 14 before I retired as the HR & Finance Mgr of a medium sized SME. You will not find anything in writing in these regards as both ICA & MOM play their cards very close to the chest and have for all the years I've been here. It is just like the misinterpretation of the MOM app online to see if you are qualified to apply for a specific type of work pass here. Almost everyone reads what they want to read and not what it actually says. The app is to see if you are qualified to apply for (not necessary actually be approved for the actual pass. The app is there to save you time, if you don't meet the qualification to apply, there is no way they will consider you to actually obtain the EP. It's just telling you not to bother applying if you cannot make the application minimum entry requirements. But a lot more going into the determination as to whether or not you get one approved or not.

We don't make any guarantees, but give you the wisdom, or not, of our combined accumulated data. You are free to interpret that information however you would like. We get lots who come here looking for confirmation of their preconditioned opinions and get upset about the answers we give (as you are doing). That's up to you. This is a free site, you are not charged and we are up front to tell you it's our opinion. We do know that MOM and probably ICA as well, monitor our site as I have been invited to be on two panel discussions (CNA but bowed out the the 2nd due to conflicting schedules - still working back then) and also invited to a 20 minute interview with one of the Directors at MOM on how to potentially speed up the appeals processes (this before they moved into their current premises) which turned out to be a 2+ hour luncheon next door to the old Maxwell Rd office with the Director and two of his senior staff members.

We are not always right, but over the years, you will find we are pretty accurate. You can take it or leave it. The choices are entirely yours. This is why I always advise to make a Plan B if what somebody thinks doesn't particularly look feasible to us. Forewarned is forearmed. What we don't do here is blow smoke.

SMS