Easier to make it for ASEAN citizens ?

[Tony588]

Hello

Iam a french citizen currently living and working in Philippines. Iam planning to relocate in Singapore with my Filipina girlfriend. We plan to go there both with a tourist visa and to apply for a job once there.
I know it is pretty hard to find a job in Singapore for foreigners holding tourist visas (just like in any other country of the world) because most of jobs are only open to PR.

But I would like to know if it would be easier for my girlfriend ? She is Filipina and Philipinnes is in ASEAN. I have seen lot of Filipinos going Singapore to work. So I may think it is easier for them to get a job there ?
She has a bachelor degree in IT and will be looking for a position in the IT field. Unfortunately she will not be having working experience (fresh grad).

Thanks a lot !!

[singaporeflyer]

Hello
Unfortunately she will not be having working experience (fresh grad).

Sorry to say this. If the candidate is not experienced, then the chances of getting a job in SG and then securing a visa to work here is very very slim. But Not impossible.

[Asian_Geekette]

Have you tried looking at getting an EPEC (Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate)?

For your Pinay GF, it depends on what her specialization for her IT degree. If she has done some Android or iOS programming projects during her university years, she can show it and could possibly be an ace up her sleeve. I've seen requirements for such programmers. (They contact me but the IOS I know is the operating system for Cisco routers! There's a big difference. )

Good luck! Let us know what happens to your 30 days stay here!

[singaporeflyer]

Have you tried looking at getting an EPEC (Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate)?

EPEC has been withdrawn by MOM since Dec 1 2011.

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

[the lynx]

But I would like to know if it would be easier for my girlfriend ? She is Filipina and Philipinnes is in ASEAN. I have seen lot of Filipinos going Singapore to work. So I may think it is easier for them to get a job there ?
She has a bachelor degree in IT and will be looking for a position in the IT field. Unfortunately she will not be having working experience (fresh grad).

Unfortunately ASEAN doesn't function like EU, which provides some form of leeway for citizens of member countries to work among themselves.

True there are LOTS of Filipinos working here in Singapore, and the competition is tough. With the current move by the government to control the number of FTs entering here, it will make things a little tougher than they are previously.

If you do get to work here, perhaps you may wanna apply for her to come with you on DP...

[ecureilx]

Unfortunately ASEAN doesn't function like EU, which provides some form of leeway for citizens of member countries to work among themselves.

True there are LOTS of Filipinos working here in Singapore, and the competition is tough. With the current move by the government to control the number of FTs entering here, it will make things a little tougher than they are previously.

If you do get to work here, perhaps you may wanna apply for her to come with you on DP...

Oh, don't forget the 'obstacles' she need to face when departing Philippines ..

If she is married, then the hassles lower ..

The days of Asean = easier entry to Singapore is still there, but extensions are very stricter with extension being rejected more common than approvals ..

Oh, again, why not marry her ??

[the lynx]

Oh, again, why not marry her ??

My dear, many times marriage is always NOT the right answer to such dilemma... and this advice will do nothing but soiling the institution of marriage.

[sundaymorningstaple]

The institution of marriage was permanently soiled the day they created prenuptials.

[Tony588]

Thank you for your responses.

We dont plan to marry yet so I guess the DP will not be possible. If I hold an EP there is no way for her to live with me in Singapore ?

So it needs her some work experience to have a realistic change to get a job in Singapore ? That mean at least 2 years... right ?

Thanks !

[the lynx]

Thank you for your responses.

We dont plan to marry yet so I guess the DP will not be possible. If I hold an EP there is no way for her to live with me in Singapore ?

So it needs her some work experience to have a realistic change to get a job in Singapore ? That mean at least 2 years... right ?

Thanks !

Actually when I mentioned DP, I meant that she can come with you as long-term partner as Singapore recognises co-habitation partners.

Refer to this thread, it has been discussed before http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/sutra509923.html

[ecureilx]

Actually when I mentioned DP, I meant that she can come with you as long-term partner as Singapore recognises co-habitation partners.

Refer to this thread, it has been discussed before http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/sutra509923.html

errr .. from what I know and know first hand from those who tried that .. for Asean member countries (or take it as Asians) the chance of DP for common law spouse or cohabitating partner in Singapore, is virtually Zero, if not zero, as such 'civil partnership' is NOT recognised .. at their Country of Origin.

I understood then that it is due to the legality of the country of origin .. unlike those who are from "western" countries ..

Does Philippines accept Live-In-Partner as legal ? and afford the same right as a married partner including right to maintenance, inheritance ?

Of course, you can give it a try .. though a dozen or more of those I know didn't get through .. of similar mix - Westerner + Filipino ..

[the lynx]

errr .. from what I know and know first hand from those who tried that .. for Asean member countries (or take it as Asians) the chance of DP for common law spouse or cohabitating partner in Singapore, is virtually Zero, if not zero, as such 'civil partnership' is NOT recognised .. at their Country of Origin.

I understood then that it is due to the legality of the country of origin .. unlike those who are from "western" countries ..

Does Philippines accept Live-In-Partner as legal ? and afford the same right as a married partner including right to maintenance, inheritance ?

Of course, you can give it a try .. though a dozen or more of those I know didn't get through .. of similar mix - Westerner + Filipino ..

On a second thought, at a country with very strong Catholicism, cohabitation would be frowned upon (as the same with premarital sex etc).

But then again, this is just as far as I can think of.

[ecureilx]

On a second thought, at a country with very strong Catholicism, cohabitation would be frowned upon (as the same with premarital sex etc).

But then again, this is just as far as I can think of.

Nope -- when the church refuses to annul marriages easily, most take the easier option of not getting married ... which is sort of tolerated as the lesser evil, vs getting married and waiting 7 years or so for the church to annul the marriage ..

Pre-marital sex ? what's that ??

[Asian_Geekette]

On a second thought, at a country with very strong Catholicism, cohabitation would be frowned upon (as the same with premarital sex etc).

But then again, this is just as far as I can think of.

Nope -- when the church refuses to annul marriages easily, most take the easier option of not getting married ... which is sort of tolerated as the lesser evil, vs getting married and waiting 7 years or so for the church to annul the marriage ..

Pre-marital sex ? what's that ??

The requirement here in Singapore is to get any legal documentation that proves a common law kind of partnership. But live-in partnership is not legal in the Philippines. It's just marriage (either via a civil wedding or church wedding) that is legal back there...

To the OP: Well, she can always get some work experience first there before joining you here.

@singaporeflyer: Thanks for mentioning that the EPEC is not available anymore.

[the lynx]

The requirement here in Singapore is to get any legal documentation that proves a common law kind of partnership. But live-in partnership is not legal in the Philippines. It's just marriage (either via a civil wedding or church wedding) that is legal back there...

You have a point, Leela

Another way to look at it, since OP is French, how about getting such documentations from the French side? They can register themselves there, can't they?