Is there a best time to apply for renewal of REP?

[echoytx]

Hello there, I am on my second 5-year renewal of REP now. The second year of being granted PR I was posted overseas by my Singapore employer and have since remained overseas. My pay has been in SGD with regular CPF contribution and tax contribution too until 3 years ago when the company stopped offering me tax equalization. CPF has always been kept up.

I renewed my REP while overseas 5 years ago. I was rejected first and upon appeal, granted another 5 years. I know I was lucky then! It is time here again and I have made plans to travel back to Singapore and will submit the online application while in Singapore. And wait for the result before leaving.

From what I've been reading here on this forum, it seems my chances are dire. I can however always ask the company to consider relocating me back to Singapore should my rejection be based on the time I spent in Singapore.

Is it worth the try? If I do ask my company for relocation back, how much time will ICA give to me to allow such move to be completed?

Thank you in advance for your advice!

[sundaymorningstaple]

I think I would seriously start looking at a Plan B if I were you, unless you are a gambling man who enjoying losing. It doesn't look good and you would have known this after gaining your last renewal.

[PNGMK]

You'll get one year.

[echoytx]

You'll get one year.

hey thank you and that’s what i’m hoping for. if it still doesn’t happen in another year then i would also accept that my life won’t be here anymore

[jamie9vardy]

hey thank you and that’s what i’m hoping for. if it still doesn’t happen in another year then i would also accept that my life won’t be here anymore

You can't have your cake and eat it too.

I’m afraid you may not even get the one year renewal as you were absent throughout your second five-year.

Good luck nonetheless!

[echoytx]

hey thank you and that’s what i’m hoping for. if it still doesn’t happen in another year then i would also accept that my life won’t be here anymore

You can't have your cake and eat it too.

I’m afraid you may not even get the one year renewal as you were absent throughout your second five-year.

Good luck nonetheless!

Thank you!
My leaving of Singapore wasn’t really my choice at the time but after all these years and building a life outside, it indeed no longer makes sense to call myself a PR here. But with my employment continues to tie back to Singapore home office, and CPF contribution etc... i would be grateful to have the luxury of this option.

[PNGMK]

You'll be given a limited time to get back or put your affairs in order. It will be short. A year at most maybe a few months.

[echoytx]

Thank you all for your input.

I understand that I am not required to withdraw my CPF should I let the REP expire, unless I voluntarily renounce the PR status. But, do I have to notify my employer of the change of this status? And are contributions to be stopped?

Right now my company continues to contribute towards my CPF and so do I.

[PNGMK]

Incidentally I renewed my REP today in 5 minutes online. There's no way any human was involved. The databases obviously had my data and it all lined up for an approval.

[singaporeflyer]

Thank you all for your input.

I understand that I am not required to withdraw my CPF should I let the REP expire, unless I voluntarily renounce the PR status. But, do I have to notify my employer of the change of this status? And are contributions to be stopped?

Right now my company continues to contribute towards my CPF and so do I.

You surely need to let your employer know on your residential visa status.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Hey PNGMK, it's been 10 years already? Crap, I better go have a look at mine as I remember the two of use were some of the last to get the old 10 year REPs. I'm planning on making a FL run in November. Thanks for the heads up. Wouldn't that have been a pisser to get to the airport and find that out!

[sundaymorningstaple]

Bloody hell, I'm getting older, faster than I want. my 10 year one expired in 2015 and I got a 5 year one this last time so it's good until Oct 2020.

[Bongy21]

Me too, I renewed my REP last 1aug, for about 5 mins and its approved.
Its quite fast.

[bro75]

REP does not equal PR. You can remain a Singapore PR as long as you do not exit Singapore with a expired REP. But because of the realities of the workplace, it might be difficult to keep the PR as many types of employment require foreign travel and not being able to travel will prevent you from being employed. Renewal of REP is also contingent on residency and meaningful employment in Singapore. For you, the best outcome would be that you would be given a 1 year REP where you can start employment in Singapore and after proving your intention to stay, you will be given a new 5 year REP.

[echoytx]

hi guys, just an update that I have been granted a one-year REP. It is the best outcome I had realistically hoped for really. Now it's time to open that conversation with my employer.... Thanks all for your advice!