My story, any advice?

[bunty8767]

Hi All,

I am an IT professional with 5 1/2 years of experience with a Masters degree in Computer Science from a reputed institute in the United States. Graduated with a perfect 4.0 gpa and also worked in the US for a couple of years before returning to my home country in 2006. In March this year, I decided to move to Singapore and applying for the EPEC seemed like a good starting point. I got my EPEC in the middle of April and then the Long Term Social Visit Pass in principal in mid June.

Between all this, I did some job search and was able to secure a job with a company in Singapore who applied for my EP being very confident looking at my credentials. The EP got rejected the first time, so they applied again and it got rejected again. So the third time, they applied using an agent and it got rejected again (3 strikes). They finally put in an appeal for it baffled by the rejections.

When the appeal was put in, I decided to come to Singapore using my LTSVP to see if my being here makes any difference. Today, wondering if my paying a visit to the MOM would get me some info, I went there and was able to get an interview. I told the officer the whole story and then the officer went inside to check what was going on. The officer came back and said "You do not meet our criteria" . I tried to get more details out but I was just pushing my luck there. I then asked the officer, what should I do? The officer simply told me "You should look to work in a different country".

Is that it? So I pack my bags and head back? I have come across so many people here who had less or no work experience as well as lower level of qualification and still got an EP in weeks, can anybody shed some light on why "I don't meet the criteria"? I am being hired as a "technical consultant" , is that not considered requiring foreign talent? Is trying with a different company even worth it? Has anyone come across this reasoning before?

If this is it then there's no point trying, if there is still a little bit of hope, I'll try again. Any advice would be appreciated.

[asksaurav]

Dude my story is the same as yours but my EP was approved ..
So the difference is probably last year things were a little bit easy. This year singapore is completely closed..My pr was rejected too and I assume my EP renewal will be rejected too which is coming up in 2 months time..Looks like time to pack my bags and go back..

[serve_the_servants]

I think with the elections being so close, they try to boost the rejection numbers to unlimited heights in order to reclaim the faith of Singaporeans.

I decided to let go 2010, and try to come to Singapore in 2011, as I have the same credentials as you. My LPR was rejected in less than 3 months (2 masters, 1 honoured, top50 university).

What you didn't share is the reputability and size of your applying company, this can make a huge difference too.

Hopefully you manage to turn it around, don't give up.

[observer]

Perhaps the reason is as simple as there are many/enough Singaporeans with the equivalent credentials as you.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Probably a combination of both.

[PrissyMissy]

Why do some many positions in IT get advertised on international sites if this is going to be the case. Rather scary.

[Mad Scientist]

Why do some many positions in IT get advertised on international sites if this is going to be the case. Rather scary.

This is two part. Reruitment agency or companies post it to get the best talent in the market . They can employ you BUT MOM is the one that approve your employment pass with several criteria that they employer and employee must meet
Nowadays the criteria is more stringent. No one really knows the exact criteria they are after per se partly is due to election looming and partly to balance the socio economic and political spectrum

[x9200]

I guess it depends on the position but in majority of situation the employers hope to get someone cheaper than what they would need to pay to SCs or PRs.

[PrissyMissy]

So all in all it is a risk at the moment? Especially if you are leaving your current employment prior to ahving EP approved!

[sundaymorningstaple]

perxactly!

[ttujess]

When are these elections???

[PrissyMissy]

I agree - when are these elections.

Can we be sure things will "return" to nomal after that?

For those that have been here a long while - is this normal around the election time?

[sundaymorningstaple]

Yes, it's normal during the run-up to the elections (latest guess is before Feb 2011) which they will call for when they feel the time is right. Normal? What is normal? That is a relative term is it not? As the electorate gets more and more savvy, they expect more and more from the government. As the gahmen here are primarily a nanny state but still have "elections" they have to ensure that they don't p*ss off the electorate and maybe give a frustration win to the opposition (who aren't credible but, sometimes the population votes with it's emotion and not with it's brains. So, the work in the kopi shops is that Singaporean are fed up with "foreigners" taking their jobs. Frankly, that is not what foreigners are supposed to be doing but in recent years, that is exactly what has been happening. The population is fed up as to what they perceive as a sort of favouritism of foreigner workers over local ones (with good reasons, frankly) but unfortunately, foreign "talent" in concept are supposed to be coming into Singapore to transfer technology or training the local workforce in new stuff and not just be economic migrants.

So, whether it will go back to the same old same old after the elections is anybodies guess. I doubt it will go back to the status quo, but will moderate slightly. At least I hope it doesn't go back, as the abusers of the system have screwed it for the long-timers as well. So needless to say, we aren't too happy about the way things were before either. There shouldn't be "competition" by foreigners at all, Foreign Talent should be head and shoulders above the rest and obviously so. If they are "competing for the same jobs, they they are economic migrants and should be kicked out. This island is small and crowded. Economic migrant? Go to Aust, NZ, Canada or the US where there is plenty of space and opportunity. My 2¢ worth

[x9200]

Me likes the expression nanny state very much.