what happens after PEP expires?

[ts1978]

I realize no one can know this from personal experience since PEPs last five years - and were only introduced in 2008/9-ish.

But I'd like to know what will happen when mine expires? Is it likely I'd be able to go back to an EP, or would they push for me to apply for PR?

Does anyone know if there is an official position on this? Or care to speculate?

thanks!

[sundaymorningstaple]

Interesting question. I'm of the opinion that if you haven't taken up PR (PEP is supposed to be a stepping stone to PR) within the five years, you might find that getting an EP to replace the original PEP might be difficult. Can't say as I'd blame them. The purpose of granting the PEP is well known and if one abuses that opportunity, then they should rightly expect to have to "leave" Singapore and try to return on their "actual" merits. Which will most probably be very stringently applied I would guess.

But as you have pointed out, a lot of water will have passed over the dam in that period of time. However, the direction that the gahmen seem to be going looks like it's gonna get worse an not better for the next couple of years.

[JayCee]

I was sent an invitation letter from MOM to apply for a PEP 3 months after I arrived in Singapore, at the time the Lehman crisis had just happened and with concerns over job security I applied and received the PEP.

I've got just over 3 years left to run so I'm also interested in what will happen at the end of those 3 years, my guess is that I'll receive another letter inviting me to apply for PR a couple of years from now and if I apply I would presumably get it, and if I don't apply I'll be told to sling my hook. I not planning or hoping to be able to go back to an EP after the PEP ends because I don't know if it'll be approved, so my plan is either get PR or leave, at the moment I am planning to leave and am treating the expiry date as the countdown to when I leave, I don't know the future though so who knows what will happen

[carteki]

Who knows? - I know of a couple that have been here for 7 years (both on P1 visas (PEPs hadn't been issued at that point)) - who have been rejected more than once on their PR apps - and this was before 2009 - and they have a son (not sure if the son was included in the app).

So is the answer "either we give you PR or you go home - no going back to EP?" We'll see in 2 / 3 years time.

[ts1978]

I realize no one can know this from personal experience since PEPs last five years - and were only introduced in 2008/9-ish.

But I'd like to know what will happen when mine expires? Is it likely I'd be able to go back to an EP, or would they push for me to apply for PR?

Does anyone know if there is an official position on this? Or care to speculate?

thanks!

Reviving my own three-year old thread.

My company just applied for a regular Employment Pass with my PEP set to expire soon.

It took MOM only one business day to approve my EP from when we submitted the application documents.

So, it's entirely possible to revert back to an EP from a PEP. Hope that helps.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Yes, it IS possible, provided you meet the current employment criteria which may have gone up considerably from the date you received your PEP.

[ts1978]

Yes, it IS possible, provided you meet the current employment criteria which may have gone up considerably from the date you received your PEP.

I think anyone who qualified for a PEP, even before the criteria were raised, would still qualify for an EP today. If I recall correctly, it was something like an $8K base minimum at the time. I'm not sure if they've changed any of the other requirements around what's an acceptable education level since then.

Anyways, it was a pleasant surprise getting the EP approved in one business day last week I wasn't expecting that.

[Wd40]

No, prior to the rule change, if you were a Q1 pass holder and you stay in SG for 5 years, you can apply for PEP. If you were P2 pass holder and you stay for 2 years, you get the PEP(thats how I got mine).

Now there are chances someone with Q1 pass was earning like 2900 a month and got the PEP and now he wont qualify for Q1. He will fall in the S Pass category and if the company doesnt have quota, he is a goner. Even if his salary is higher than the minimum for Q1, the MoM may still not grant the visa if his salary is not commensurate with his experience

[ts1978]

No, prior to the rule change, if you were a Q1 pass holder and you stay in SG for 5 years, you can apply for PEP. If you were P2 pass holder and you stay for 2 years, you get the PEP(thats how I got mine).

Now there are chances someone with Q1 pass was earning like 2900 a month and got the PEP and now he wont qualify for Q1. He will fall in the S Pass category and if the company doesnt have quota, he is a goner. Even if his salary is higher than the minimum for Q1, the MoM may still not grant the visa if his salary is not commensurate with his experience

Fair enough. I stand corrected.

[NCD22]

Hi all, I had a PEP back in 2010, then left Singapore shortly thereafter (long story) and am thinking about coming back but had forgotten, or didn't know, that I had to cancel the PEP and physically send it back to them (it expired already anyways and since it automatically cancelled after 6 months of unemployment and I had already left the country, is this an issue? I still have it somewhere though...). Any ideas if this is going to be a big issue to apply for an EP possibly in the future?

Thx!