When to apply for EP after getting IPA or after getting DP card?

[asiaexpat1990]

Hello,

My husband's employer has applied for his EP and my DP. My employer has agreed to relocate me to Singapore as well and will be applying for my EP.

The question is, can my employer apply for my EP once I get the In Principle Approval, IPA (For the EP + DP applied by my husband's employer)?

Or do I need to wait to enter Singapore and do the whole bio-metric process to receive my DP card and only then my employer can apply for my EP?

Please help!

[sundaymorningstaple]

An EP application will take precedence over any LTVP or DP application Your employer should apply now so when you arrive you will have the IPA in your hands and can proceed go to you new employer for final details, etc. At the same time, your husband's employer should continue with your DP application as it may well be approved much faster than your EP. This is not a bit issue as it happens quite often.

[asiaexpat1990]

Hello, sundaymorningstaple!
Thanks a lot for your reply. Quick question though - I'm being told (by my husband's company's visa as well as the visa consultants) that you cannot have two applications for one person at the same time. So if my husband's employer has applied for my DP already, this was done last week, can my employer apply for my EP now?

[sundaymorningstaple]

I think you misunderstand. You can have as many as you want but one an IPA has been issued, the only thing that will not screw it up is a higher level visa, e.g. an EP trumps a DP or LTVP+. However if applying for the same type of pass after an IPA has been issued will definitely throw a spanner into the works.

[asiaexpat1990]

You can have as many as you want but one an IPA has been issued, the only thing that will not screw it up is a higher level visa, e.g. an EP trumps a DP or LTVP+.

Thanks. Just checking if I got it right.
So that means once I get DP IPA, I can apply for EP IPA. While waiting for EP IPA to get approved, I can enter Singapore on DP IPA?

[sundaymorningstaple]

As long as you have the IPA, from either, you are good to enter Singapore. Again, if the EP hasn't been IPA'd when you get here. You are okay with the LTVP but you will still need the IPA for EP before you can work. (On a side note, If you have the EP IPA, read it carefully. It should say you are able to work with the IPA until you can get the physical pass issued.) Once you are given the EP the DP will automatically be cancelled, no issue on that.