Current EP Situation

[Lisafuller]

If I wanted to make money in Thailand I’d just go for investment properties. Bought and sold in PH and saw a pretty great return.

My business partner and I were trying to build a boutique project management company that spanned multiple countries in Asia, so that we could put our exit strategy in place and sell it off to a big computer manufacturer. Unfortunately, the 2008 recession bunged that idea up.

I see, what’d you end up doing in the end?

[Lisafuller]

Well said Myasis, the EP has always been about the employer, not the employee. I was my employer’s first experience getting an EP rejected… even the appeal was rejected. In the end, they had to go to MOM and explain why they couldn’t just hire a local to do the job. Had they not been able to do that, I probably wouldn’t be here today.

Just out of curiosity, what was the explanation? Must have been a very special position.

I worked for a US subsidiary of the same company for over a year prior to moving over. They postulated that since I was already familiar with the products, the distribution network & the systems, it would take a year to bring someone up to my level - that got it over the line. But it still took a month for approval and they only gave me a 12 month EP to start with. No red carpet treatment, that’s for sure!

Interesting, seems like the approval was definitely a blessing since you’ve been here for so long.

[malcontent]

Just out of curiosity, what was the explanation? Must have been a very special position.

I worked for a US subsidiary of the same company for over a year prior to moving over. They postulated that since I was already familiar with the products, the distribution network & the systems, it would take a year to bring someone up to my level - that got it over the line. But it still took a month for approval and they only gave me a 12 month EP to start with. No red carpet treatment, that’s for sure!

Interesting, seems like the approval was definitely a blessing since you’ve been here for so long.

It was definitely one of the more stressful moments in my life because there was no plan B. Moving here was the only option for my SO and I due to things outside of our control. To this day, I still have no idea what I would have done had it not finally been approved!

The fact that my SO and I are still together today is really all that matters, not sure I would call it a blessing, but it was a hard fought outcome.

The fact that I was able to carve out at least as good of a career as I would have had back in the US, a blessing… or at least a consolation.

The fact that I have been able to adapt and survive here despite the extraordinarily high cost of living… that has changed my outlook on life in many ways, but has not been without struggle and sacrifice. Maybe the silver lining is that I have become less materialistic because it’s not worth spending the money here! Blessing? Maybe!

[Lisafuller]

Sometimes the best things come out of being put in unsure/uncomfortable situations. Even if it was stressful, at the end of the day when you look how far you’ve come you can’t help but be in awe.

[the observer]

Points based system to be introduced, just announced for Sept 2023.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapo ... nt-2538966

Coincides with the coming influx of HK expats and whatnot.

[malcontent]

C3. Diversity

Malaysian Chinese = 20 pts ?

[the observer]

Just wondering how much higher rentals and house prices will go to.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... down-looms

And this…

“We’ve had more applications from Hong Kong in the first two months of 2022 than we had in all of 2021,” said Tom Evans, director of marketing and communications at Tanglin Trust School in Singapore’s leafy “one-north” neighborhood.

Additional points, the types that would leave HK include those that are risk averse, and Europe doesn’t have the safe haven factor now does it, especially with N word being uttered every day.

*n for nukes, in case I get misunderstood