PEP processing time (personal employment pass)

[Addadude]

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.

Not that SMS needs any defending, but the 'negativity' or 'borderline inappropriate comments' that you are talking about are more the result of sheer jadedness than cynicism. I've been a member of this board since 2006 and I have seen the same questions, the same expectations, the same search for loopholes come up time and time again regarding EP, PR and PEP applications. SMS as a moderator has doubtless seen countless more than me. When the same questions are asked time after time, and the same answers are provided, and the the same angry responses to those answers are received from the people supposedly looking for advice, then yes, the forum veterans will be jaded and some of their replies can be interpreted as 'negative'. Or 'blunt'.

If people out there are really seeking honest feedback and advice, simply using the search function would literally answer 99% of their queries. But, judging by the repetitiveness of the questions (just look at this thread for example), these advice seekers can't be bothered. It's annoying to say the least.

[pepapp]

@LuluLily - keep us updated as I think yours is the earliest application date

[LuluLily]

@LuluLily - keep us updated as I think yours is the earliest application date

Hello! Thanks for checking in. It's still pending as of today We called last week and same chat - call next week and they'll expedite. Guess yours is still pending too?

[Arbor]

Hi all,

I've been researching the forum to find a similar loophole to the one I'm into, but couldn't find any. Since the core of the issue is the PEP processing time, I thought of requesting for advice here instead of opening a new thread. Hope you won't mind.

Spaniard, APAC Creative Director. Been working in SG since 2018. Due to massive staff cuts, my company canceled my work permit on the 8th of June. I applied for PEP on the 4th of June. But while it will take 8/10 weeks (expediting note has been sent twice), i only have an STVP until the 8th of July.

MOM's officer (through appointment) has advised me to overstay and pay the fine while I wait. And I find this advice to be extremely risky and bizarre. left the building kinda tripping. I booked a flight to Spain on the 6th just in case, but: IRAS won't have enough time to wire the money resulting from my taxes before the 8th of July, and ICA repeatedly says that I'm a MOM's problem. My lease ends in October (either to leave or renew) If i leave the country borders are closed for me to return, even once the PEP is granted.

So basically, I'm in a catch 22, where SG Government's institutions are asking me to leave the country and stay in the country all at the same time. I think this is crazy!

Do you guys happen to know what would be an overstaying penalty like if i follow MOM's advice? Or where can i call for help other than ICA, MOM, and my Embassy (none have provided a clear path so far)? Any other advice?

Thank you.
Arbor

[veezzee]

How did you manage to get the appointment with MoM officer?
What did they say about expediting timelines for PEP because yours seems to be a genuine case of concern and urgency. Did they commit to a timeline for processing your application?
ICA usually used to extend the STVP by another 30 days days atleast as far as I’ve heard from people in the past. Did you try for the extension and what was their answer especially given the situation where there are not much scheduled flights to go out of SG

[Arbor]

Hi Veezzee.

How did you manage to get the appointment with MoM officer?
I requested an appointment through the online form. I did the same with ICA (highlighted MOM's advice to overstay and my fears about it) but in that case, the appointment was rejected.

What did they say about expediting timelines for PEP because yours seems to be a genuine case of concern and urgency. Did they commit to a timeline for processing your application?
They have rushed the officer in charge twice already. But they can't guarantee that it will be processed in time. Hence the overstaying advice.
Just to mention, I asked him at least 4 times to confirm what the officer was saying, to overstay. And repeatedly said yes. I don't think I've had any good sleep after that appointment last week.

ICA usually used to extend the STVP by another 30 days days atleast as far as I’ve heard from people in the past. Did you try for the extension and what was their answer especially given the situation where there are not much scheduled flights to go out of SG.

ICA keeps stating that is a MOM's problem and that the STVP has been issued by MOM, so they will have to figure this out. My ex-company tried to request for an extension, but MOM only provides them for those who have no flights available to return home. I do have a few flights and booked one just in case. So by the book, I'm not eligible for this type of extension.

[veezzee]

I think you are doing the right thing with MOM by trying to expedite it.
However with ICA I would suggest to go visit in person. I am not sure if they are allowing walkins wrt the covid situation. Usually 9/10 times they are considerate for genuine cases which seems to be so in your case

Also, on the side note which form did you fill up to get MoM appointment, since there are no Appointment slots being released on the online portal. My Pep application is coming to 8 weeks next week and I have a feeling I might need to get it escalated to get some attention as well.

[LuluLily]

Hi Veezzee and Arbor, maybe good to share with you our realities with our PEP application, it was applied April 3rd. It's been almost 12 weeks now and still pending.

We call MOM almost every week to follow up because they would advise us to call the following week (if it hasn't been approved by then) so they can expedite. And so the following week arrives, we call them to follow up and they would advise calling the following week again so they can expedite.

What I'm trying to say is, I'm not sure that there is an 'escalation' process that will help fast track the application since we're all waiting and we've also done our due diligence by following their advice every time we call.

This is our reality and I am truly very sorry to hear about your case Arbor, but maybe think about a Plan B in case this does not turn out to your favor. I sincerely hope that there is a way for you to stay in Singapore without having to exit especially in this very trying time. If you have email trails where the MOM agent advised you to overstay, maybe that can help you later on in case you really did decide to overstay and wait for your PEP result. But given what we are going through right now, it seems like there is no guarantee that even if you wait for 8 weeks, you will get the result on the dot. Maybe consider that as well.

[LuluLily]

However it ends up, I do wish you well.

[kranperry]

Hey folks, perhaps this has been asked before (and if it has, please point me to the answer)

My current EP and wife's DP are both expiring 9-Sep-2020.

I applied for a PEP on 15-04-2020. It's still pending in processing. Meanwhile my employer tried to renew my EP and is unable to do so as I have an application pending.

Thoughts on whether I should cancel PEP application and let my employer apply for EP renewal? Or wait it out with PEP

Also, I was planning to wait for PEP to be approved before applying for DP for my wife based on PEP. The processing time for that states 3-5 weeks. Is it advisable to apply DP already right now (even though PEP is still in processing) given that her DP will also expire on 9-Sep.

[sundaymorningstaple]

What ever time you think they are telling you on the website is about 1/3rd of what it is going to be during this Covid-19 pandemic. I reckon it's going to get worse before it's gets better. Hopefully you also have a Plan B.

[Arbor]

I think you are doing the right thing with MOM by trying to expedite it.
However with ICA I would suggest to go visit in person. I am not sure if they are allowing walkins wrt the covid situation. Usually 9/10 times they are considerate for genuine cases which seems to be so in your case

Also, on the side note which form did you fill up to get MoM appointment, since there are no Appointment slots being released on the online portal. My Pep application is coming to 8 weeks next week and I have a feeling I might need to get it escalated to get some attention as well.

I've been trying to communicate with ICA on a daily basis. They recurrently state that this is MOM's problem. When I requested an appointment, detailing all the particulars of the case, the appointment was rejected by ICA in a few hours.

I booked the MOM's appointment through e-service. I took the earliest (6 days I believe) but there were more slots available. You can try and have yours at https://service2.mom.gov.sg/appointment ... ction=Make
The place was really busy with people waiting, took an hour and a half to see the officer but they were quite efficient and nice. I'm still quite shocked about the situation I'm in, considering that this country is the most efficient place I've ever lived (or seen). It just makes no sense.

My Plan B swings in a limbo. I do have a flight to avoid overstaying but If i leave, i have 2 options: leave SG for good, or leave and wait for my PEP and then return and hunt for a job (my headhunter actually called me with an offer but the company needed someone right now, and since my PEP wasn't ready, i had to turn it down). The return part is unclear since borders are closed, even for PEP holders without employers. If i leave though, my money after taxes (2020&2021) will remain in SG since IRAS won't have enough time to wire it. Also if i leave and can't return before the end of my lease i will be screwed too, since i won't be here to move out.

The entire thing is Kafquesque. Utterly frustrating. I'm exhausted.

[LuluLily]

I booked the MOM's appointment through e-service. I took the earliest (6 days I believe) but there were more slots available. You can try and have yours at https://service2.mom.gov.sg/appointment ... ction=Make
The place was really busy with people waiting, took an hour and a half to see the officer but they were quite efficient and nice. I'm still quite shocked about the situation I'm in, considering that this country is the most efficient place I've ever lived (or seen). It just makes no sense.

Did your trip to MOM and being able to speak to a live person help expedite your PEP application?

[Arbor]

I can't really tell LuluLily, since I haven't seen any outcome, unfortunately.
It did felt different than all the phone calls since those chaps are customer service's, while my interview was with an actual MOM employee (by the phone everything sounds pretty scripted).

[pepapp]

Hi all - wanted to provide a quick update because this forum has been very helpful. My PEP was approved on Friday last week after a little less than 11 weeks. I did set up an appointment at MOM that week and voiced over the fact that they had indicated it would be expedited for a few weeks. I'm not sure if that's the reason it was approved, but the person I spoke to was talking directly to the officer who processes applications while I was there. Good luck to all and stay positive!