PR application by Ex SPR

[dpk001]

My wife and I were first generation SPR. During financial crisis, my employer transferred me overseas. I tried renewing the REP while overseas but ICA did not allow it at the time as I was outside Singapore. I am now back in Singapore on EP. Neither I nor my wife have withdrawn the CPF. My questions are
1. Are we eligible to apply for PR again and if yes, is there a reasonable chance of success?
2. Assuming we are eligible, how long should we wait before we apply?

The primary reasons for applying for PR again is so that I can start a business here and settle the family.

We'd be grateful for any pointers. Thanks.

[PNGMK]

1. Yes
2. As soon as you have one tax return would be a good start.

Also I don't agree with this statement: "ICA did not allow it at the time as I was outside Singapore" - if you had shown (based on my direct experience) that you were overseas as the result of a temporary company transfer you should have been able to renew your REP.

Did you formally cancel PR then? It sounds like you did which I also don't understand.

[dpk001]

Thanks for the reply PNGMK.

I had written to ICA asking if I could renew the REP while overseas and also applied online and got a rejection. As I was overseas when REP expired, I ceased to be a PR. Subsequently, the ICA requested me to surrender the NRIC citing regulation 13 of the National Registration Regulations.

[PNGMK]

Thanks for the reply PNGMK.

I had written to ICA asking if I could renew the REP while overseas and also applied online and got a rejection. As I was overseas when REP expired, I ceased to be a PR. Subsequently, the ICA requested me to surrender the NRIC citing regulation 13 of the National Registration Regulations.

For others reading this I recommend in future you go via your local Singapore consulate or High Commission. The consular officer can "recommend" to ICA that your REP is renewed (essentially they vouch that you are working overseas, employed and plan to return I think). This has worked for me twice but I admit it was back in the dark ages.

[Ccaymmud]

The rejection was probably due to the fact that you were not in Singapore more than 90 days in a year.
AND
When you were overseas, you probably were not on the Singapore payroll, hence not considered to be an expat from Singapore (many companies did that during the crisis to reduce costs).

They are pretty strict on that in the recent years. Their rationale is that there's no reason for you to keep your PR when you're not interested to stay in Singapore anyway.

File at least 1 tax return and stay mostly in Singapore (like at least 10 months) and you should be fine, based on my experience.