Career growth/Opportunities in Singapore compared to USA

medapatii · Post by **medapatii** » Mon, 27 Sep 2010 2:19 am

Hi All,

I am working as a Senior IT consultant with a global IT major, having nearly 5 yrs of work experience. My current organization is sponsoring H1B visa and they are in the process of filing my petition with USCIS.

Now, I've received a job offer from HP Singapore with a decent pay. I really liked the role being offered and the prospect of working with HP. But I am really confused whether I should choose to move to Singapore with this job offer or to move to USA on H1B(at a later time - may be in 6 months).

Could you please share your views on the career opportunities/growth prospects for both these options(Employment Pass in Singapore <--> H1B USA )

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Mon, 27 Sep 2010 6:51 am

Both have their pros & cons. It would more likely be where do you feel more secure and relaxed. Singapore's economy is more likely to support you but at the moment, even getting an Employment Pass would be iffy at best. Of course the employer may want you, but the government may or may not allow the company to hire you. I guess you are just going to have to take a gamble rather than be kiasu about the whole thing.

revhappy · Post by **revhappy** » Thu, 30 Sep 2010 3:52 pm

Chances of getting H1B is actually same as winning a lottery, I am sure you know it.

If you are damn sure that you will get your H1B, then there still lots of factors that you need to consider.

How long do you intend to stay onsite?
Pay packages after tax?
Do you want to settle down onsite? Its probably easier to settle down in SG than the US.
Are you married?Does you wife want to work? Remember H1B spouse will not be allowed to work. Whereas Singapore spouse will be easily allowed to work provided they can find a job.
There are lots and lots of other factors. You need to do your own research for that.

humbledesi · Post by **humbledesi** » Sun, 03 Oct 2010 7:42 am

I am in the same boat currently where I am considering relocating from California to Singapore. There are a lot of factors to consider while making the decision. For me, I will be moving closer to my family, not taking a step back in my career and finances, kids getting good education are enough to make the decision. As for work cultures, they will be different but in the end it depends on your ability to adapt to different environments. Having lived in Northern California for 10 years, it may be a challenge but more of an opportunity to experience something different.

H1B quotas are still open so if your company makes a case for you, you should be fine. Whether they process your green card or not, is a different story!! Good Luck!!!

medapatii · Post by **medapatii** » Mon, 04 Oct 2010 3:29 am

Thank you all for your responses. Much appreciated.

Yes, I am really hoping to settle down(or stay long-term) onsite.
Now after reading your responses(and with a bit of research) I am more inclined towards choosing the Singapore option.

- Staying relatively close to my family(India)
- Secure environment
- Work culture (I guess its relatively same as in India)
- Education/Health Care/Low taxes
- Lifestyle/Culture etc..

But still having doubts regarding the following

- Job security
- Availability of Jobs/ Career Growth/ Salary (Someone pointed out that USA is way better compared to SG in this aspect - i.e. its more or less Stagnant in SG?)

SMS - Could you please elaborate on your point - difficulty in getting the Employment Pass?

If it is that difficult to get an EP Visa, then it would be stupid for me to give up on my H1-B option? (there is no lottery this year - 20K Visas still open, my case will be filed next week)

Please share your views

Thanks

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Mon, 04 Oct 2010 6:59 am

I would guess it just depends on whether you are a senior or call yourself a senior. Here people want titles so they get a mediocre jobs with a fancy title and they are somewhat mollified. The problem is that this country is overrun with run of the mill IT personnel. Unless you are bringing something to the table that is hard to find here, e.g., difficult to find a local or PR with similar real-time qualifications, then, while you might be found acceptable, your employer still has to justify to MOM WHY they need to hire a foreigner instead of a local/PR. This is getting to be a bigger and bigger stumbling block and unfortunately, you have now way of knowing until your potential employer files for you sponsorship for an Employment Pass.

revhappy · Post by **revhappy** » Tue, 05 Oct 2010 2:24 pm

SMS,

Indian+IT+Salary>5k is the perfect combination. I am yet to come across anyone with this combination to have been rejected for their EP. Unless ofcourse there are other issues.

In fact I know Filipinos in my wife's office who get their S passes IT jobs with salaries less than 3k.

I think we are really going overboard here with the "Backlash against foreigners" thing. They may have tightened, but not to the extent that you guys are making it to be. Or may be you guys are just looking at small sample size and not the whole picture.

The OP has IT work experience from the US. I would bet my last cent on his chances of getting his EP approved.

To OP, The toughest part in SG is to get a job and salary that matches your qualifications and needs. The number of opportunities here are definitely less than the US, in fact there is no comparison. You can search the monster.com.sg and compare it with Dice.com for your skill and you will get an idea.

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Tue, 05 Oct 2010 4:04 pm

RH,

Frankly, for all your hype about Indian's and their IT prowess, I would have to think you all are better at marketing than IT. I mean, crap! You would have thought that they could have at least got the sync correct on the video broadcast of the Commonwealth Games Opening the other night wouldn't you!......

You are right though, the op should sell out, jump on a plane and come here for the abundance of jobs to be had currently. Never mind the numbers being bandied about in the news. We should hid the groundswell against foreigners under the carpet like the gahmen do any other unpleasantness that they don't want to face. Let's all just pull the wool over their eyes. Then, IF they have problems we can always say "d'oh, I dunno!" What do you think? Build 'em up like there's nothing at all wrong?

Basically, if we don't let people know what the feelings are on the ground, we may well be doing our readers a disservice and if they come here with full knowledge then they are able to make a fully informed choice. I'd much rather know the truth than somebody feeding me marketing BS any day. Whether it would affect him or not, nobody knows for sure.

NB: I am losing another S Pass engineer tomorrow due to his Pass not being renewed by MOM........

revhappy · Post by **revhappy** » Tue, 05 Oct 2010 4:54 pm

Yeah, I noticed the delay in voice/video

. When I mentioned about the combination of Indian+IT, I never meant to talking high about the Indian IT talent. All I was trying say is that these guys normally get the visa without any hassle, unlike for example Pakistani or Bangladeshi where there could be higher scrutiny due to the countries assessement levels.

medapatii · Post by **medapatii** » Wed, 10 Nov 2010 11:53 pm

Thank you all for your 'helpful' inputs. I've received the In-Principle Approval (P2).

revhappy · Post by **revhappy** » Thu, 11 Nov 2010 10:39 am

medapatii wrote:Thank you all for your 'helpful' inputs. I've received the In-Principle Approval (P2).

Congrats! I am sure you would have got the approval in a day! Didn't you? Now how does it feel in comparison to H1B?

I still remember the day when I had attended the US visa interview at Chennai for paltry B1 visa, I was being sent for a short trip of 1 week to Dallas. The kind of questions that the Embassy officer asked me, after I got the visa I felt I was going to get into a space ship to be sent to the moon

medapatii · Post by **medapatii** » Thu, 11 Nov 2010 12:32 pm

Thanks RH.

Yes, H1B visa process is very very tiresome..
I am so happy to have received IPA in just a 'few' days time!

Thanks again for your helpful answers

ksl · Post by **ksl** » Thu, 11 Nov 2010 2:10 pm

revhappy wrote:
medapatii wrote:Thank you all for your 'helpful' inputs. I've received the In-Principle Approval (P2).
Congrats! I am sure you would have got the approval in a day! Didn't you? Now how does it feel in comparison to H1B?

I still remember the day when I had attended the US visa interview at Chennai for paltry B1 visa, I was being sent for a short trip of 1 week to Dallas. The kind of questions that the Embassy officer asked me, after I got the visa I felt I was going to get into a space ship to be sent to the moon

Hahahahah! I like it

I could tell you a story or two

Calmday · Post by **Calmday** » Thu, 11 Nov 2010 4:38 pm

revhappy wrote: I still remember the day when I had attended the US visa interview at Chennai for paltry B1 visa, I was being sent for a short trip of 1 week to Dallas. The kind of questions that the Embassy officer asked me, after I got the visa I felt I was going to get into a space ship to be sent to the moon

Hahaa yet the southern US border is wide open for drug smugglers and murderers to cross at will.

Post by **Strong Eagle** » Thu, 11 Nov 2010 4:45 pm

Calmday wrote:
revhappy wrote: I still remember the day when I had attended the US visa interview at Chennai for paltry B1 visa, I was being sent for a short trip of 1 week to Dallas. The kind of questions that the Embassy officer asked me, after I got the visa I felt I was going to get into a space ship to be sent to the moon
Hahaa yet the southern US border is wide open for drug smugglers and murderers to cross at will.

So possibly you've figured a way to protect more than 3,000 miles of border? The fences built so far have proven to be a joke.

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