Sabbatical year scenario

[Crido]

Hi, everyone

I'll try and give as much information as possible and I would appreciate it if you could spend some of your time answering this.

We would like to live in Singapore for a while, but we decided to use our savings for starters (we like to call that "sabbatical year option" ) and see what we decide in a few months' time, in terms of finding a job/opening up business.

We're a family of 4, our daughters are 8 (grade 2 in intl. school now, as a "ready to go" measure we took for her to better adapt to an English speaking environment) and 1,respectively. We both have degrees (BA/MA) that appear to have been issued by institutions approved by MOM for EPEC. Choice of job-field not so "niche" or wanted in Singapore , though (police officer with a BA in law, and myself a teacher,with some international teaching experience).

Our intentions:
- put our daughter in public school (have read most threads here on both intl.and public schools). Hence, come over this fall to sit for the AEIS tests,which we hope she'll pass,as her current tests' results in English and Math are above average/excellent (Cambridge exams included) and similar to the Singaporean syllabus.
- if successful in the AEIS, apply for : Student Pass for her, LTSVP for myself, as a female accompanying child in school (btw, why is it "female" only? Fathers are supposed to be doing more than..."accompanying" children? ), and...EPEC,then LTVP for my husband. Not sure if 2 months are enough for processing everything, as we should be back there and all set in December, before the new school year starts.
- live in a HDB close to the school asigned my MOE after AEIS
- live on 5-7 k S$ a month (I know... ...we'll see)

AEIS is in October (around). We'd come for 10 days then and do an intensive look see session.

We intend to live on overseas income and our savings, and I suppose we need to prove that sustainability with bank letters or copies of the lease contracts (some of the money will come from renting a couple of properties).

I'll stop here, not to scare everyone off with a lenghty post.

What do you think?

Thank you for the great job you're doing on this forum, I've read so much valuable information here.

P.S. We visited Singapore as tourists 2 years ago.

[JR8]

Well it's certainly ambitious! Different from the 'Husband has job, we're moving family' to 'We're moving family, and this is how'... lol

'LTSVP for myself, as a female accompanying child'... did you consider this might be aimed at a nanny rather than the mother? Don't know...


... other views will be along in due course I'm sure...

[sundaymorningstaple]

JR8,

It's locally know as a "pei du mama" (study mama)and it is a valid LTVP from ICA:

http://www.ica.gov.sg/page.aspx?pageid=174&secid=171

Crido, It's female only because most Asian societies are Patriarchal in nature and and pei du mama is not allowed to work for the first 12 months and must apply for a work permit in order to do so:

http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/ ... lders.aspx

It is ambitious, I'll admit, and fraught with dangers given the current climate here regarding foreigners in general. I would seriously give it a whole lot of thought.

sms

[JR8]

JR8,

It's locally know as a "pei du mama" (study mama)and it is a valid LTVP from ICA:

http://www.ica.gov.sg/page.aspx?pageid=174&secid=171

Crido, It's female only because most Asian societies are Patriarchal in nature and and pei du mama is not allowed to work for the first 12 months and must apply for a work permit in order to do so:

http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/ ... lders.aspx

It is ambitious, I'll admit, and fraught with dangers given the current climate here regarding foreigners in general. I would seriously give it a whole lot of thought.

sms

Well I never! Thx for that, learn something new everyday.

[Crido]

JR8, SMS, thank you for your replies.

Yes, I've chosen LTSVP for moms accompanying children in school, as I've found it on MoE site under international students...

SMS, if you could expand on "current climate" re. foreigners? I admit I haven't read too much about it. Actually, only had eyes for ..."ways" for foreigners coming to Singapore and was under the impression they are many and wellcomed there.??
We will surely give it a lot of thought and continue to read.

[JR8]

http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... asc-0.html

Skimming this thread from this week will give you a heads up.

[sundaymorningstaple]

http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... asc-0.html

Skimming this thread from this week will give you a heads up.

Ain't it the truth!

[Crido]

wow, thanks JR8!

hmm, last weekend I was judging by the surface image that PAP won most places, same old,same old.....had no time to deepen the search and after reading this thread I'm There are 2 posts by SMS and JR8 that keep echoing in my mind and will definitely make me consider even more carefully our "plan".


"the opposition will dismantle the government and when that starts to happen, the miracle that is Singapore will disappear in a matter of years. Rome wasn't built in a day, but Pompei was destroyed in one"(SMS).

"The white papers was already set and waiting for the GE result to be set in motion. As it turned out , things did change. I am not sure if this is good thing or not. Eitther way someone will lose out.For all the people here, be prepared for rough times ahead."(JR8).

On the other hand, the S-pore's grass is surely greener than in my home country.In many other countries, as well. I wish this was just an assumption..

[JR8]

"The white papers was already set and waiting for the GE result to be set in motion. As it turned out , things did change. I am not sure if this is good thing or not. Eitther way someone will lose out.For all the people here, be prepared for rough times ahead."(JR8).

Don't know who wrote that but it wasn't me

[sundaymorningstaple]

I believe it was Mad Scientist, alias MS

[Girl_Next_Door]

Hi, everyone

We're a family of 4, our daughters are 8 (grade 2 in intl. school now, as a "ready to go" measure we took for her to better adapt to an English speaking environment) and 1,respectively. We both have degrees (BA/MA) that appear to have been issued by institutions approved by MOM for EPEC. Choice of job-field not so "niche" or wanted in Singapore , though (police officer with a BA in law, and myself a teacher,with some international teaching experience).

Can you disclosed where are you from?

With a police office background completed with a BA in law, you should be able to get a compliance job in banks/financial institutions relatively easy. There is always a demand for compliance people and the supply is extremely limited.

You should also try applying for International School as a teacher, and I believe that your kids may be able to study there for free (I am not 100% sure but I think I ready it somewhere before).

[Crido]

"The white papers was already set and waiting for the GE result to be set in motion. As it turned out , things did change. I am not sure if this is good thing or not. Eitther way someone will lose out.For all the people here, be prepared for rough times ahead."(JR8).

Don't know who wrote that but it wasn't me

Sorry, JR8. My bad. It was MS, indeed.

[Crido]

Girl_ Next_ Door, I already put that in my profile, it's Romania, so non-native speaker of English.

But I bet we could catch up fairly easy and become proficient enough in Singlish

Your advice is great, though, as I saw no possibility for a job in demand for him, and my husband is in bank fraud fighting, so it fits. We'll do some research here, thanks!

As for me teaching in intl. schools....after reading threads here I was under the impression that non-native speakers have zero chances, despite their teaching credentials or experience(not to mention qualified, native, expats' wives- teachers, already there, etc). The other thing would be my experience is in teaching in higher education institutions, hence adults.

It's true, you never know till you give it a try, but, as I said, these are the things we'd like to explore while there, on the ground. We are not "forced" to come with a job and we can give-up LTSVP once we've found work.

Till then, we will gather good ideas and advice from people here, for which I'm really grateful.

[Girl_Next_Door]

Girl_ Next_ Door, I already put that in my profile, it's Romania, so non-native speaker of English.

But I bet we could catch up fairly easy and become proficient enough in Singlish

Your advice is great, though, as I saw no possibility for a job in demand for him, and my husband is in bank fraud fighting, so it fits. We'll do some research here, thanks!

As for me teaching in intl. schools....after reading threads here I was under the impression that non-native speakers have zero chances, despite their teaching credentials or experience(not to mention qualified, native, expats' wives- teachers, already there, etc). The other thing would be my experience is in teaching in higher education institutions, hence adults.

It's true, you never know till you give it a try, but, as I said, these are the things we'd like to explore while there, on the ground. We are not "forced" to come with a job and we can give-up LTSVP once we've found work.

Till then, we will gather good ideas and advice from people here, for which I'm really grateful.

If your husband has bank fraud fighting experience, he has a good chance of getting a position with Global Banks. There are a lot of AML issues and frauds around many Global Banks and they have increased many headcounts in that area. Go to the more popular job site, search for Compliance or AML, and you will see a whole list of vacancies.

For yourself, if teaching is not an option, you can also consider trying for a training position.

Of course, you will stand a better chance if you are here in Singapore, readily available for interviews, and can commence working once your employment pass is approved.

[Crido]

GND, you are right, many opportunities to explore for my hubbie. Hope he'll take up his English classes, in intensive mode soon .

In the mean time we'll apply for EPEC on line to have at least one option checked before moving any further.

Am I correct in my understanding that if EPEC is approved now we can apply for LTVP any time within the next 2 years (which will be valid from the moment it's been issued, regardless of the EPEC validity)?

I'm asking because I'd like to file for EPEC on line and if successful, apply for LTSVP only later this year, in November.

Have a good week everybody !