Singapore PR chances 2021

[s.srivatsan]

Dear gurus and guides,

Having read a number of posts on this forum about this very topic, I found some responses very helpful, informative and deep. I seek your wise counsel on my own case:

Indian male (31) with 10 years in Singapore. Currently on EP.
Working in retail banking and client service with a global heavyweight bank
Earning annually about $62k basic + $15k annual bonus
Undergrad: engineering from NIT Trichy, India
Postgrad: engineering from NUS, SG (2012 master's degree, no tuition grant availed as I fully self funded)
Last year gained a certificate off being a blockchain expert (FinTech stuff) to align myself with Singapore's future growth (digital innovation and service hub) but yet to gain any hands on experience or project work in this field despite my efforts to penetrate.
Tax payer for 9 years
Been winning customer service recognition awards (EXSA) for past 4-5 years now for championing the customer service spirit at work.
Also minor involvement in Singapore cultural scene (supporting artist in music performances in Hindu temples and student/participant in Indian classical music houses). Not much for charitable donations apart from a couple hundred each year

Spouse: Indian female (31), currently on dependent pass, joined me in 2020 Jan.
Undergrad and postgrad#1 in art history, Indian College. Now doing postgrad#2 in NTU, self funding, no MOE subsidy/scholarship etc. Studying in her dependents pass basically. Her work experience is varied, from teaching to corporate communications.

We don't have any children yet but likely in a couple of years.

Apart from my ethnicity and passport putting me at a disadvantage, anything else to tailor about my story and other suggestions from you will be gratefully considered.

Plus specifically: how to put this qualitative info about myself into my PR application (form seems fairly straightforward and requested info very specific)

Also, will my wife having lived in Singapore for less than 2 years make her ineligible for PR even though I'm including her in my PTS scheme application?

Many thanks!

[Lisafuller]

Most significantly, your low salary is a huge concern, especially because your spouse is not working so you are expected to sustain both of you on just one salary.

[the observer]

Recent approvals for Indians that I know personally of are those that have families, ie more than 1 kid, and those that has contributed to nation building, ie paid a major tax contribution via home purchases, ie 20% stamp duty on some multi million condos. These are my acquaintances. It could be a coincidental criteria.

When demand is more than supply, it’s about what you can offer on the table.

On the other hand, I believe the gahmen has to balance the books, ie keep to its promise of maintaining ethnic ratios. That means for every 1 Indian, they have to find 6-7 Chinese to approve of, subject to some minimum standards.

[s.srivatsan]

Most significantly, your low salary is a huge concern, especially because your spouse is not working so you are expected to sustain both of you on just one salary.

Thank you for the input - yes it will be a slightly tight budget if we become PR - but only until my wife gets a job here of course. Naturally, being a PR in Singapore boosts her employability in the country. Anyway, I don't think the government would consider such things.

So I guess I'm looking at whether my positive attributes apart from my ethnicity, passport and income, would being given more weightage i.e. the fact that I've spent a third of my life here, taxpayer for most of that time, paid full fees (both me and my wife's Master degrees), employed with a big bank, cultural participating and integration etc. I'm an optimist, yes.

[s.srivatsan]

Recent approvals for Indians that I know personally of are those that have families, ie more than 1 kid, and those that has contributed to nation building, ie paid a major tax contribution via home purchases, ie 20% stamp duty on some multi million condos. These are my acquaintances. It could be a coincidental criteria.

When demand is more than supply, it’s about what you can offer on the table.

On the other hand, I believe the gahmen has to balance the books, ie keep to its promise of maintaining ethnic ratios. That means for every 1 Indian, they have to find 6-7 Chinese to approve of, subject to some minimum standards.

I guess what I can offer is basically intangible stuff - not so much monetary, but more along the lines of addition to the local cultural scene. In terms of monetary contributions, I never paid stamp duties or big ticket realty related bills in Singapore. BUT, I did pay a full $33,000 for my own Master's degree in 2011 and another $30,000 for my wife's Master's degree this year. No tuition grants/scholarships/service-obligations availed. My annual contribution towards nation building, given my income, has totaled about another $20,000 I guess. So... it's not zero or a negligible figure at least, although I dunno how my competitors fare...

[Lisafuller]

Most significantly, your low salary is a huge concern, especially because your spouse is not working so you are expected to sustain both of you on just one salary.

Thank you for the input - yes it will be a slightly tight budget if we become PR - but only until my wife gets a job here of course. Naturally, being a PR in Singapore boosts her employability in the country. Anyway, I don't think the government would consider such things.

So I guess I'm looking at whether my positive attributes apart from my ethnicity, passport and income, would being given more weightage i.e. the fact that I've spent a third of my life here, taxpayer for most of that time, paid full fees (both me and my wife's Master degrees), employed with a big bank, cultural participating and integration etc. I'm an optimist, yes.

Its good that you are choosing to remain so optimistic, just don’t get your hopes up. Best of luck.

[the observer]

Recent approvals for Indians that I know personally of are those that have families, ie more than 1 kid, and those that has contributed to nation building, ie paid a major tax contribution via home purchases, ie 20% stamp duty on some multi million condos. These are my acquaintances. It could be a coincidental criteria.

When demand is more than supply, it’s about what you can offer on the table.

On the other hand, I believe the gahmen has to balance the books, ie keep to its promise of maintaining ethnic ratios. That means for every 1 Indian, they have to find 6-7 Chinese to approve of, subject to some minimum standards.

I guess what I can offer is basically intangible stuff - not so much monetary, but more along the lines of addition to the local cultural scene. In terms of monetary contributions, I never paid stamp duties or big ticket realty related bills in Singapore. BUT, I did pay a full $33,000 for my own Master's degree in 2011 and another $30,000 for my wife's Master's degree this year. No tuition grants/scholarships/service-obligations availed. My annual contribution towards nation building, given my income, has totaled about another $20,000 I guess. So... it's not zero or a negligible figure at least, although I dunno how my competitors fare...

Well good luck. You do write a good story, but cover letters aren’t asked for anymore.

So in the end, your competition are your fellow countrymen vying for the same few slots.

[s.srivatsan]

Well today I'll be adding one data point to the group: I received my rejection today. Guess living here for 10 years with taxes for 8 of those years doesn't get me far within my ethno-national bucket.

[sundaymorningstaple]

It doesn't get anybody very far. Income Taxes are not a contribution towards nation building, neither is stamp duties, COE. As mentioned before, there are approximately 30K PR given out every year. They are granted by demographic guidelines. Of the the major races, Chineses account for 76% of the population, Malays 15% and Indians 7.5% and the balance by any/all other races that are not of those three. That means, in essence, that the roughly 10K Indians here on work passes and applying for PR annually are all vying for the approximately 2250 slots available for ethnic Indians (which also would include Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, etc, etc.) The the government here has their choice of the pick of the litter every year. Timing also plays a big part, but honestly, trying to figure that one out is a piss in the wind.