Understand.. even me in similar situation.. hope for the best.. Believe our applications will be approved soon. Good luck to both us.. keep me posted once your EP is approved.. cheersKumar12345 wrote: ↑Wed, 17 Mar 2021 4:21 pmSorry due to privacy concerns... can’t share the company details but I am just wondering from where did you hear that Optimum and Nityo are in Mom watchlist?
I saw news last year that MOM placed 1200+ companies on fair consideration framework (FCF) watchlist but they didn’t release the company details. Few of them already exited from FCF list and rest are still in MOM checklist.
Now let’s consider if our new companies is in MOM checklist then by this time Isn’t our EP would have been rejected ?
Current situation is tense for me because I am currently serving notice period and no other new company in Singapore will take interview as my EP already in process.
so here if my EP is not approved in this month then I have to leave Singapore with my family next month with no job in hand.
SINGAPORE EXPATS FORUM
Singapore Expat Forum and Message Board for Expats in Singapore & Expatriates Relocating to Singapore
EP Processing Time Feb 2021 / Mar 2021
Re: EP Processing Time Feb 2021 / Mar 2021
- sundaymorningstaple
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- Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot
Re: EP Processing Time Feb 2021 / Mar 2021
When will people learn. You NEVER turn in your notice until you have an approved IPA in hand. Otherwise you are asking for trouble as you are getting ready to possibly experience. And the old story that the new employer needs you asap so you have to do it, doesn't hold water. You should have been up front during the interview stage instead of trying to BS.
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
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Re: EP Processing Time Feb 2021 / Mar 2021
Hi here's my status as of now. I will update if my status change.
Applied March 12,2021
Status: Pending
Direct Company
1 year and 7 months here in SG.
6 years + experience on IT
Applied March 12,2021
Status: Pending
Direct Company
1 year and 7 months here in SG.
6 years + experience on IT
Re: EP Processing Time Feb 2021 / Mar 2021
Any update for you guys? I've been waiting for myself since 8th Feb.
JK_JK wrote: ↑Wed, 17 Mar 2021 6:22 pmUnderstand.. even me in similar situation.. hope for the best.. Believe our applications will be approved soon. Good luck to both us.. keep me posted once your EP is approved.. cheersKumar12345 wrote: ↑Wed, 17 Mar 2021 4:21 pmSorry due to privacy concerns... can’t share the company details but I am just wondering from where did you hear that Optimum and Nityo are in Mom watchlist?
I saw news last year that MOM placed 1200+ companies on fair consideration framework (FCF) watchlist but they didn’t release the company details. Few of them already exited from FCF list and rest are still in MOM checklist.
Now let’s consider if our new companies is in MOM checklist then by this time Isn’t our EP would have been rejected ?
Current situation is tense for me because I am currently serving notice period and no other new company in Singapore will take interview as my EP already in process.
so here if my EP is not approved in this month then I have to leave Singapore with my family next month with no job in hand.![]()
Re: EP Processing Time Feb 2021 / Mar 2021
And what do you suggest in the case when HR finds out that you've applied for it?
sundaymorningstaple wrote: ↑Wed, 17 Mar 2021 7:13 pmWhen will people learn. You NEVER turn in your notice until you have an approved IPA in hand. Otherwise you are asking for trouble as you are getting ready to possibly experience. And the old story that the new employer needs you asap so you have to do it, doesn't hold water. You should have been up front during the interview stage instead of trying to BS.
- sundaymorningstaple
- Moderator
- Posts: 40007
- Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
- Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot
Re: EP Processing Time Feb 2021 / Mar 2021
Let your conscience be your guide. I used to be an HR & Finance Mgr for a local mid-sized SME here up till I retired at 71+ in 2019. I have always instructed my HR Exec to do a monthly check of foreign EP & S pass holders starting 3 months before the expiration date of the work pass (pre-Covid). If we found one, we wouldn't do anything as help is hard to find, but we would see if we could find out or figure out where the problem was, if any. If they are going to leave, they are going to leave and they'll be no stopping them. In a tight market, if we find out, only a stupid employer would find a reason to terminate. Help is hard to find. Depending on the employee, we might make an effort to meet him half way if he is worth it. Otherwise, we start looking for a replacement so when he makes a move by hopefully giving notice, we will not be caught off guard but will be one step ahead. Oh, and in a troubling market? The employee has already let us know by pending applications (we cannot see the applying company) who is considering leaving so if we need to trim staff, we already know who is looking to go. If more companies HR Managers were that proactive it would stop the two year jump as we call it. Sadly, lots of HR departments are at the whim of MDs who have chips on their shoulders. Maybe I was lucky as my MD and I got along famously.
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
Re: EP Processing Time Feb 2021 / Mar 2021
Your experience speaks! Well yes, I’ve a counter offer from the current company, but I am discussing more of what we can do to improve things further or how else I can contribute towards growth of company too. Let’s see where this discussion will take us all.

sundaymorningstaple wrote: ↑Mon, 22 Mar 2021 10:17 pmLet your conscience be your guide. I used to be an HR & Finance Mgr for a local mid-sized SME here up till I retired at 71+ in 2019. I have always instructed my HR Exec to do a monthly check of foreign EP & S pass holders starting 3 months before the expiration date of the work pass (pre-Covid). If we found one, we wouldn't do anything as help is hard to find, but we would see if we could find out or figure out where the problem was, if any. If they are going to leave, they are going to leave and they'll be no stopping them. In a tight market, if we find out, only a stupid employer would find a reason to terminate. Help is hard to find. Depending on the employee, we might make an effort to meet him half way if he is worth it. Otherwise, we start looking for a replacement so when he makes a move by hopefully giving notice, we will not be caught off guard but will be one step ahead. Oh, and in a troubling market? The employee has already let us know by pending applications (we cannot see the applying company) who is considering leaving so if we need to trim staff, we already know who is looking to go. If more companies HR Managers were that proactive it would stop the two year jump as we call it. Sadly, lots of HR departments are at the whim of MDs who have chips on their shoulders. Maybe I was lucky as my MD and I got along famously.
- sundaymorningstaple
- Moderator
- Posts: 40007
- Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
- Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot
Re: EP Processing Time Feb 2021 / Mar 2021
I wish you luck but remember, it is a two way street. If you to can meet half way or a little better on your side, it's better than jump out of the pot you know than jumping in the fire that you don't know. Oh, and yes, I have rehired several employees who left our companies before, but they were good employees and we couldn't give them what they wanted so we wished them luck. When they wanted to return (sometime a year or two down the road, depending on our needs, and discussions, we rehired those who we wished we could have kept. If you can keep from burning bridges, do so. You must remember this is a very small country and it's hard, if not impossible, to stop the grapevine.
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
Re: EP Processing Time Feb 2021 / Mar 2021
Thank you for the great advice! Really appreciate it! And yes I do agree on sticking if we can go around 60% of what I am looking for non-monetary wise.. But let’s see where that goes, and hopefully no bridges burnt
That said, is it usual ep taking this long? I mean its almost 6 weeks + today.

That said, is it usual ep taking this long? I mean its almost 6 weeks + today.
sundaymorningstaple wrote: ↑Tue, 23 Mar 2021 2:05 pmI wish you luck but remember, it is a two way street. If you to can meet half way or a little better on your side, it's better than jump out of the pot you know than jumping in the fire that you don't know. Oh, and yes, I have rehired several employees who left our companies before, but they were good employees and we couldn't give them what they wanted so we wished them luck. When they wanted to return (sometime a year or two down the road, depending on our needs, and discussions, we rehired those who we wished we could have kept. If you can keep from burning bridges, do so. You must remember this is a very small country and it's hard, if not impossible, to stop the grapevine.
Re: EP Processing Time Feb 2021 / Mar 2021
Hi all,
My EP was approved today:
Applied March 9,2021
Direct Company
Studied and been working 1 year+ here in SG.
Manufacturing sector
All the best to all of you those who are still pending.
My EP was approved today:
Applied March 9,2021
Direct Company
Studied and been working 1 year+ here in SG.
Manufacturing sector
All the best to all of you those who are still pending.
- sundaymorningstaple
- Moderator
- Posts: 40007
- Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
- Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot
Re: EP Processing Time Feb 2021 / Mar 2021
There was something recently as last week in the Straits Times about EPs taking longer to process (this from the relevant government ministry) so, while it is nerve-wracking, just bear with it. Covid is a bitch and has everything screwed up and not just here. I think the article mention either 6 or 8 weeks but again, it's not an exact science. never has been. I've had EP approved in half a day and in a month in years gone by. Depends on what they suspect, or can/cannot verify. A number of years ago, when a fair number of bogus degrees were found 6 months after the relevant work passes were granted, a large number of people were caught and sent packing. I lost two employees due to that purge. Ever since, verification of credentials is now taking place before the issuance of passes. And with covid it's just made matters worse as more and more are WFH and cannot get to universities, schools, etc. to access records to verify data. It is what it is.
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
Re: EP Processing Time Feb 2021 / Mar 2021
Noted! Thank you for the insightsundaymorningstaple wrote: ↑Tue, 23 Mar 2021 2:34 pmThere was something recently as last week in the Straits Times about EPs taking longer to process (this from the relevant government ministry) so, while it is nerve-wracking, just bear with it. Covid is a bitch and has everything screwed up and not just here. I think the article mention either 6 or 8 weeks but again, it's not an exact science. never has been. I've had EP approved in half a day and in a month in years gone by. Depends on what they suspect, or can/cannot verify. A number of years ago, when a fair number of bogus degrees were found 6 months after the relevant work passes were granted, a large number of people were caught and sent packing. I lost two employees due to that purge. Ever since, verification of credentials is now taking place before the issuance of passes. And with covid it's just made matters worse as more and more are WFH and cannot get to universities, schools, etc. to access records to verify data. It is what it is.


Re: EP Processing Time Feb 2021 / Mar 2021
m4yank wrote: ↑Mon, 22 Mar 2021 9:27 pmAny update for you guys? I've been waiting for myself since 8th Feb.
Still the same.. been 6 weeks already
JK_JK wrote: ↑Wed, 17 Mar 2021 6:22 pmUnderstand.. even me in similar situation.. hope for the best.. Believe our applications will be approved soon. Good luck to both us.. keep me posted once your EP is approved.. cheersKumar12345 wrote: ↑Wed, 17 Mar 2021 4:21 pmSorry due to privacy concerns... can’t share the company details but I am just wondering from where did you hear that Optimum and Nityo are in Mom watchlist?
I saw news last year that MOM placed 1200+ companies on fair consideration framework (FCF) watchlist but they didn’t release the company details. Few of them already exited from FCF list and rest are still in MOM checklist.
Now let’s consider if our new companies is in MOM checklist then by this time Isn’t our EP would have been rejected ?
Current situation is tense for me because I am currently serving notice period and no other new company in Singapore will take interview as my EP already in process.
so here if my EP is not approved in this month then I have to leave Singapore with my family next month with no job in hand.![]()
Re: EP Processing Time Feb 2021 / Mar 2021
Re: EP Processing Time Feb 2021 / Mar 2021
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