Bringing significant other to SG from USA. Need advice.

[nlux]

Greetings,

I accepted a job in Singapore making a comfortable salary and want to see about bringing my GF
who is very keen on moving with me, no question about it, to SG.
Shes loves Asia and has dreamed of living there.

We recently used the SAT to see what her chances are with an EP or S-pass using a similar job title to what she has now but with guesstimated salary ranges and she was eligible for both passes.

I'm concerned because she has only been out of school for 4 years, after 5 years of study, and only recently landed an upper-management job in her field. While her professional experience is lacking her educational experience is not with several university degrees in STEM. Which we are hoping would be attractive to firms in SG

Hypothetically speaking. On the chances of her not getting work or her EP or S-Pass applications being denied, what would my options be?

I'm aware that as an EP holder I can marry her and bring her in under a DP with my employer, however, it appears that DP holders have a tough time getting work. Kind of stumped.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Strong Eagle]

I have stated this many times before and I will state it again: The vast majority of people who come to Singapore and obtain employment permits have been transferred in by their companies. A handful of people have been recruited externally to Singapore for specialist positions that the companies have been unable to fulfill locally. Virtually no foreigner has been hired by walking into HR asking for a job, in competition with talent available locally.

My review of the many posts that have shown up in these forums over the years, from people who want to come to Singapore to seek work with a company, clearly shows that most have been sadly disappointed. Companies do not want to go to the hassle, expense, and risks associated with hiring an unknown from out of the country. With the exception of a small handful of professions for which there is a shortage and a demand, I judge that most who seek employment do not find it.

It matters not a whit whether your future spousal unit is seeking her own EP or has a DP and seeks a job. She faces the same sorts of problems as anyone coming in cold, looking for a job. She is an unknown, has no Asia experience, and has no network, and for sure, the professional communities in any given profession are relatively small.

This disadvantage can be somewhat offset by virtue of the fact (if you get married and she gets a DP) that she will have an opportunity to build networks through various volunteer organizations and because she will hear of jobs that wouldn't normally see while living overseas or visiting Singapore for a short time.

I conclude with this: It will be very tough for her to land her own EP, as it is for any foreigner, especially in a time frame that brings her over with you (I'd estimate nil on that chance). If she wants to live here with you, you need to get married so that she can get a DP. And once she has a DP, she should be prepared, at least in the beginning, to volunteer to build networks, and to take employment that will be less than her skills and previous employment might warrant.

[bro75]

What is her degree in ? You should look at the job vacancies posted on local company and MNC websites. While it will be difficult to be shortlisted for a Singapore job if you are currently abroad, the postings will give you an idea of what companies are looking for and when your gf is here on a DP, she can hit the ground running and start applying.

[sundaymorningstaple]

bro75, the girlfriend cannot be on a DP. Please don't confuse the issue. Did you bother to read SE's excellent and comprehensive post?

[bro75]

SMS, I have read the OP and SE's post and my reply is an expansion of that. The comment on DP is on the assumption that they will get married.

[nlux]

Thank you for the feedback, guys.

She's applied about 7 jobs in SG since December, still waiting to hear back. It's worth noting that she specializes in volunteer recruitment, training and management for corporations and non-profit entities. Something that seems to have become a big thing in SG recently according to news articles and the amount of vacancies posted on international job sites.

If it doesn't work out for an EP then we will get married and I'll bring her in under a DP and she can go forth and job hunt/network to her hearts content.

[asianshepherd]

Hi all,

First I apologise for hijacking this post but I have a somewhat similar situation and I'm looking for answers. BTW, I'm also new to this forum so forgive me if I misstepped.

I'm a SC and my wife (US) of 8 years (we got married here) are thinking of relocating to Singapore in the next 3 years or so. We both work and live in the UK and have two children who are SC by descent but born overseas. Our reason for relocation is mainly due to my ageing parents. Just to be clear my wife has never lived in Singapore and I personally has been away for the last 20 years.

So my question is: how difficult would it be for us to apply for a LTVP for my wife and would that be the right thing to apply for?

Unfortunately, due to my long absence away from SG I don't have much of an employment history here. We both have postgrad degrees and have full time work which could probably be transplanted here although our organisations do have any offices in the region.

Many thanks for any information and any effort is much much appreciated.