Approval chance and absence from Singapore

[SGexpat888]

Hi,
I have applied once early 2020.
Application submitted just at start of covid peak (poor/unlucky timing).
Rejection 3 months later (roughly September).- i had only been in the country 1 tax time at that point

I am considering applying again, most probably in another 6-8 months time. (by then it will be my 3rd tax year)
Just a few queries:
- If i have been out of the country for months at a time(say 8-12 months)
but still on EP and paying tax in Singapore as usual. Would this have any impact on my application?
- If i make the application, but then need to leave while it is pending, is there any negative ramifications on the application?
- i.e. do i need to be in the country while it is processing?

As for my profile i fall in the "other" category, self employed 33yo male. hence i understand it is not ideal.but i am really just curious as to the application/pending process conditions as above
Thanks in advance

[sundaymorningstaple]

I reckon you have already set yourself up for a fall again. You applied before having been here for at least two years and that is why you were more or less promptly rejected. Anecdotal wisdom suggest a wait of two years from date of rejection before reapplying and then ONLY if your profile has changed considerably, e.g., promotion with a 20~30% salary increment or marriage to a local - you did not indicate your marital status nor your ethnicity or your salary. In other words, no information at all. Guess we need to be.....

But you are probably too young to remember this guy.

[lot286]

3 months is a clear signal. Embrace it. Understand it. Change. The re-apply

[SGexpat888]

Thanks for the prompt honesty.
Salary has gone up by 15% the past year (even during covid).
33yo single australian male, UK born
Noted re 2 years. so 2 years from rejection date would be late next year (instead of early)
I am already the highest position within the company.

my last EP renewal was for 3 years. so i'd assume that it'd be ok to apply towards the end of its validity? (that would be 5 years total in singapore by that stage)

[sundaymorningstaple]

Which is just about right, considering being a Caucasian doesn't put you on the flavour of the month list. Wish you luck, but pushing the envelope sends the wrong signals as does the dude who waits till he's been here a decade or more before making the 1st application (usually a telltale sign of possible redundancy, etc.

[SGexpat888]

Kindly noted

So as for applying then being outside the country- was there any issue with this?

(Excuse the edit, I misread the above while half asleep)

[sundaymorningstaple]

In theory, no. But in practice, if they think you are, as you say, Self-Employed, if they find out you are spending so much time back in Aus, then you might just have even worse problems if they think you are doing a fiddle (which it looks like). And yes, they can check with ICA on duration of time out of Singapore, vrs in. I wouldn't want to be in your position, frankly speaking. My opinion only.

[SGexpat888]

I understand
I wouldn’t be applying without having Singapore as my main residence
Just as with covid times things are a little challenging, hence spending time with family etc until things stabilise

No fiddles to be played

[sundaymorningstaple]

There are a few of us on here who have been around a couple of years and have seen A LOT over the years. What we do is aggregate anecdotal evidence collected here and by our virtue of having lived through many different phases of Singapore (hence my avatar). We tend to tell it like we see it. Not airbrush to give things smooth edges, but to let people know where we are coming from. Covid is a trying situation and sadly we don't have any guidelines to help at the moment even though a number of us have weathered SARS, and the other one as well as a number of recessions including the Asian Financial Meltdown of 1997-98 and again in 2008.

Again, your main residence will possibly be where you spent the most time during the year.

You have a PM.....
sms