Have an EPEC, can I ship my belongings by sea???

[dogwoodandpeartree]

Im moving from Tokyo to Singapore at the end of May and Ive already managed to secure an EPEC and a few interviews for potential jobs..wahoo! great!

My question is, clearly, because Ive applied an have been granted an EPEC, my intentions are to relocate to Singapore and apply for an EP there. Even if I DONT secure a job or EP before my one-year is up, I'll still be staying there for that allowed 1 year.....right?

My question is, regardless of how long it takes me to find a job and secure an EP, I will be living in Singapore for the minimum of 1-year, granted to me by my EPEC. Ive been lucky enough to secure a place to stay, but will I be able to have my belongings shipped over, even though I dont have an EP, PR, Citizenship, etc? I mean, if Im going to be spending a LONG time in Singapore, with the intention of acquiring permission to stay through my EPEC, does that mean I have to come empty handed until I can get the EP??

Does anybody know of any channels I can use to get my things here? I have an apartment-full of belongings to ship, complete with furniture and clothes.....which would cost a fortune to keep in storage......

What should I do??

THANKS!

[JayCee]

Might be an idea to make sure you have an LTSVP first, an EPEC isn't a residency visa

[singaporeflyer]

Im moving from Tokyo to Singapore at the end of May and Ive already managed to secure an EPEC and a few interviews for potential jobs..wahoo! great!

My question is, clearly, because Ive applied an have been granted an EPEC, my intentions are to relocate to Singapore and apply for an EP there. Even if I DONT secure a job or EP before my one-year is up, I'll still be staying there for that allowed 1 year.....right?

My question is, regardless of how long it takes me to find a job and secure an EP, I will be living in Singapore for the minimum of 1-year, granted to me by my EPEC. Ive been lucky enough to secure a place to stay, but will I be able to have my belongings shipped over, even though I dont have an EP, PR, Citizenship, etc? I mean, if Im going to be spending a LONG time in Singapore, with the intention of acquiring permission to stay through my EPEC, does that mean I have to come empty handed until I can get the EP??

Does anybody know of any channels I can use to get my things here? I have an apartment-full of belongings to ship, complete with furniture and clothes.....which would cost a fortune to keep in storage......

What should I do??

THANKS!

I dont want to demotivate you. But there are instances where EPEC was granted and then LTSVP was rejected. So please apply for LTSVP and then if it gets approved, then you can plan further on how to take it from there. Good Luck !

You can search the thread for EPEC and LTSVP related topics

[dogwoodandpeartree]

Thanks very much guys,

true I shouldnt be too hasty until I get my LTVP(long term visit pass). Is this the pass you are both referring to? Does the LTVP count as a lesser form of a residence pass?

In the event that I AM accepted for a LTVP, would I then in theory be able to ship the crates of my belongings to Singapore? I can certainly wait until I am issued the LTVP but if I cant EVER ship my things to Singapore until I have my EP, then I have to think of a backup plan (storage, selling my things, etc). Storage fees are astronomical in Japan!

Thanks again so much for your advice!

[dogwoodandpeartree]

Thanks very much guys,

true I shouldnt be too hasty until I get my LTVP(long term visit pass). Is this the pass you are both referring to? Does the LTVP count as a lesser form of a residence pass?

In the event that I AM accepted for a LTVP, would I then in theory be able to ship the crates of my belongings to Singapore? I can certainly wait until I am issued the LTVP but if I cant EVER ship my things to Singapore until I have my EP, then I have to think of a backup plan (storage, selling my things, etc). Storage fees are astronomical in Japan!

Thanks again so much for your advice!

The reason I ask now is because I am required to be in Singapore for the application and processing of my LTVP, as they require a immigration form with my arrival information. SO Ill have to determine my options regarding my belongings BEFORE applying for the LTVP.
hmmmmmm......

[JR8]

Congrats on the EPEC. This is something that we have been discussing (again) just this week. Use the search function and you’ll find a lot of useful discussion I think.

What you need the realise is that the EPEC does not automatically give you rights to an LTVP, you still have to apply for the latter, and it can be turned down. there has been a lot of talk and uncertainty around the election this week concerning foreigners, and there are EPEC holders being turned down for LTVPs, so beware!

Note also that the LTVP issued from an EPEC is valid for up to 12 months. Some people only get 6 months. It depends to some extent on your race.

You can ship your belongings on an EPEC. The only danger is that you move your life to SG and then get refused an LTVP.

To move, well pretty obviously you need a removals company!

The LTVP allows the holder to stay for up to one year, but not work. You don’t need your LTVP to ship your stuff (refer previous).

You raise a very interesting point that crosses over discussion had here this weekend. that it would seem wise to have your EPEC based LTVP approved before moving to SG, however you cannot apply for an LTVP until you are in SG with a valid D/E card and SVP. I’d be interested to hear what some of the others think about that!

[slayerk2000]

Yes, I have had my LTVP rejected just last week and yet had my EPEC approved.

As far as I know, you dont need to be in Singpore for the application of the LTVP, but if you are granted one, they MAY ask you to go in for an interview.

I've fired off a couple of emails asking why it was rejected but I'm guessing I'll never find out.

The best of luck with yours! Perhaps it's better now that the election's over and the heat on anything foreign dies down a little..

[JR8]

As far as I know, you dont need to be in Singpore for the application of the LTVP, but if you are granted one, they MAY ask you to go in for an interview.

So how would you meet this requirement for LTVP issuance from abroad?


Requirements -
'Applicant’s Disembarkation/Embarkation (D/E) card endorsed with a valid Visit Pass granted on entry into Singapore'
http://www.ica.gov.sg/page.aspx?pageid=172&secid=171

Or the fact that you have to provide fingerprints.

?

[slayerk2000]

That is for when you get approved and go in and get a year long stamp. They take that D/E card back off you and stamp your passport.

I was in Singapore when I applied for it, and from application to the rejection, they never asked for the D/E card.. so it must be for when the online process (e-VP) is approved and complete.

[singaporeflyer]

To be on a safer side, ship the things to SG only after your EP is approved and not when your LTSVP is approved.

[JR8]

That is for when you get approved and go in and get a year long stamp. They take that D/E card back off you and stamp your passport.

I was in Singapore when I applied for it, and from application to the rejection, they never asked for the D/E card.. so it must be for when the online process (e-VP) is approved and complete.

Ah I see.

I also notice that whereas you used to have one year from the issue date of your EPEC to applying for the LTVP you now have two.

Does this suggest that they're trying to stretch out those already in the approved pipeline?

[dogwoodandpeartree]

Note also that the LTVP issued from an EPEC is valid for up to 12 months. Some people only get 6 months. It depends to some extent on your race.

You can ship your belongings on an EPEC. The only danger is that you move your life to SG and then get refused an LTVP.

To move, well pretty obviously you need a removals company!

Wow thanks to everyone for their thoughts and advice, especially to JR8! Thats great news that I can have my crates shipped over by sea to Singapore via a EPEC. That is a relief! Obviously, I'll be sure to take as many precautions as I can and if I am able to wait for my LTVP to be approved (crossing my fingers), I will. I suppose you were saying the risk is that if I dont get approved, Ill either have to keep things in storage in Singapore, or worse, have to ship things back! Agh!

I'm pretty confident that I have at least one of these 4 jobs in Singapore and hopefully my LVTP will accepted and my EP will follow not much later...

Awesome, thanks guys!

[sundaymorningstaple]

At the moment, I think you are jumping the gun. Enthusiasm is great, but you must temper it with common sense. At the moment, Getting a job is easy, getting an Employment Pass for that job is a different kettle of fish. Even though the employer may want you, unless the employer can justify to MOM why they need to hire a foreigner (especially at the moment) you will be up the creek without a paddle.

[beppi]

You can import personal household effects without incurring import duties if (and only if) you have a residence permit. EPEC is NOT one of them, but LTVP is.

Sending without residence permit is of course possible (lots of goods are imported that way every day!), but customs duties might be due on some or all of your items. Ask your moving company or freight forwarder about these!

(By the way: You also by law cannot rent any apartment without a residence permit.)

[JR8]

You can import personal household effects without incurring import duties if (and only if) you have a residence permit. EPEC is NOT one of them, but LTVP is.

Sending without residence permit is of course possible (lots of goods are imported that way every day!), but customs duties might be due on some or all of your items. Ask your moving company or freight forwarder about these!

(By the way: You also by law cannot rent any apartment without a residence permit.)

My household goods arrived, 'cleared', and were delivered to my apartment a month before I applied for my LTVP and I paid no duty.

Maybe I was lucky or something, though I did have to fill in the usual statutory customs declarations.