PEP / PR Chances (MCA+11year exp+S$10k current salary)

[vishalgupta2]

I am a Indian Citizen working in the IT industry for 11 years out of which last 3 years are in the US.

I want to make Singapore my home but I am a bit concerned about leaving my stable career in USA and getting rejected for PR in Singapore. A million stories of reject PRs is making me scared.

My profile looks like:
Education: MCA (Masters in Computer Application) from India (full time, reputed university)
Professional certifications: Yes about 5
Total experience: 11 years (no discontinuity) (Worked for global brands like Adobe, Dell, Intuit etc and also with a few startups)
Designation: Manager Software Quality Assurance
IT domain: Storage, Virtualization, Networking
Current base salary: US $8000 (should be equal to S$10,000 per month. I have not included any perks like medical insurance, bonus etc)
Current US Status: H1B
Wife's Education: MA Economics from India (full time, reputed university)
Work Status: Not working
Married for: 10 years
Kids: None

What do you guys think are my chances of getting a PEP and subsequently a PR (assuming that I will find a job in sg).

Thanks in advance
vish

[sundaymorningstaple]

How long is a piece of string. You need to get job offer or PEP first. The PEP won't impact your current job, if you still have one so it would make sense to pursue that angle first. IF that is granted, THEN worry about the next part.

Holding a Indian Masters, unless it is from IIT, doesn't give you much capital here. Especially when people have to tell us it is a reputed school. If they were world wide reputed, then all would already know that. Being reputed in India and being reputed world wide like the Chicago School of Business or one of the Ivy League colleges or Cambridge/Oxford, or as mentioned, IIT, are two different animals.

While your salary is sufficient for consideration for a PEP, it doesn't means it's a done deal. Other factors will be taken into consideration that we are not always privy to.

So to hazard a guess I'd give it a 50:50 chance. Go for the PEP and don't worry about the PR as in the current climate, that's not likely to happen for a while.

[vishalgupta2]

Thank you.

As advised by you, I will start with PEP.

I totally understand that the only institute of repute from India is IIT. My idea to mention about the degree was to just provide complete picture).

I am wondering if 11 years of experience gives me an edge in terms of PEP?

If I was to get a PEP, what would be your guess on PR? Do you think I will have atleast a 50:50 shot after working in Singapore for 1 year or you think that will be a long shot?

[zzm9980]

Thank you.

As advised by you, I will start with PEP.

I totally understand that the only institute of repute from India is IIT. My idea to mention about the degree was to just provide complete picture).

I am wondering if 11 years of experience gives me an edge in terms of PEP?

If I was to get a PEP, what would be your guess on PR? Do you think I will have atleast a 50:50 shot after working in Singapore for 1 year or you think that will be a long shot?

I'd give it 50:50 after three years if your wife gets a job and/or if you have a male son. But that's just my random guess based on observations in this forum (which will be as accurate as anyone else you ask that doesn't work for ICA or MOM).

Also, get a job with a large MNC. IMO that will help.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Still 50:50 as the gahmen are trying to reduce the numbers of Indians holding PR (due to rampant abuse by a lot of your countrymen) that is causing a major deviation of the demographics that they were content with. Now, there is a 2% shift of demographic to the Indian population even though the PR numbers are counted, huge numbers of them have gone to Canada, Aus, US & UK but are still trying to hold on to their PRs here as well. The has gotten the community in somewhat of an uproar and it cost the ruling party dearly in the last GE. So, while it's possible you MIGHT get PR in a year, I figure it wouldn't take place until you have submitted the required 3 years tax assessments here (unless the current political climate changes dramatically).

Finding a job might be the biggest hurdle as Singaporeans are now starting to replace lots of Indians in various sectors on the IT establishment considering they have been producing IT Grads here for 12 years now. Additionally, they will definitely work for less than those coming from the US. Even the competition you will face from your countrymen coming direct from India will cause you some financial stresses for the same reasons.

[the lynx]

...and you need to be here for at least 3 years to be able to provide 3 income tax statements to be considered for PR application...

Note: Echoed from SMS

So, while it's possible you MIGHT get PR in a year, I figure it wouldn't take place until you have submitted the required 3 years tax assessments here (unless the current political climate changes dramatically).

[nakatago]

I am wondering if 11 years of experience gives me an edge in terms of PEP?

Nope; they prefer labels over mileage over here.

The only edge that will give you is if you apply for jobs directly. And even then, YMMV. Just go for the PEP and find a job. Worry about the PR when PEP's about to expire, i.e., five years after its approval.

[Hidy Ho]

I'm an American of other Asian ethnicity who is currently working for a well known MNC in Singapore with P1 EP with qualification surpass OPs by far, in very similar industry (not bragging, just facts).

I was just rejected for PEP Who knows why? I might give in another shot after a year of being here and having tax records ... or, I might not. I can always go back to USA or go somewhere else that would appreciate my tax dollars. Or continue working here on P1 EP until I decide to stop working.

I'm posting just as FYI and a food for thought ... and ain't gonna start a thread asking "why me???".

[revhappy]

I'm an American of other Asian ethnicity who is currently working for a well known MNC in Singapore with P1 EP with qualification surpass OPs by far, in very similar industry (not bragging, just facts).

I was just rejected for PEP Who knows why? I might give in another shot after a year of being here and having tax records ... or, I might not. I can always go back to USA or go somewhere else that would appreciate my tax dollars. Or continue working here on P1 EP until I decide to stop working.

I'm posting just as FYI and a food for thought ... and ain't gonna start a thread asking "why me???".

May be you are from Pakistan thats why? Just kidding

[Hidy Ho]

That's Pakistan-American, thank u

While SMS might see me as less than full 100% American as I'm "only" a naturalized citizen (came to USA as a part of the package of a immigrant family), I do consider myself American who's lived most of my life in USA, voted, served in juries and paid and will continue to pay huge amount of taxes to the country.

Hidy Ho <--- kidding about being a Pakistani, not that there is anything wrong with it ...

[vishalgupta2]

While SMS might see me as less than full 100% American as I'm "only" a naturalized citizen (came to USA as a part of the package of a immigrant family), I do consider myself American who's lived most of my life in USA, voted, served in juries and paid and will continue to pay huge amount of taxes to the country.

I can't say for sure but I have this feeling that the adjudicating officer may be looking at you as someone who first relocated to US and acquired PR/Citizenship and then left off and may have this in the mind that you may do this again and may not stay in Singapore forever.

It sounds very similar to the concern of my fellow countrymen taking PR and leaving Singapore later.

ps: I don't hold anything against you and please don't take me otherwise...

[vishalgupta2]

Thank you very much everyone.

First of all, I sincerely regret and apologize for the act of my countrymen who took the PR and then left Singapore. The damage has been done and can't be reverted. I requested my company to not apply for US PR for me as I did not want to make US my home (honestly, its more about my wife who doesn't want US to be our home). I also understand that I can't explain this to ICA.

I am gathering the paperwork for my PEP application now. I am sorry, but I have a few more doubts and will appreciate inputs.

1. Will it be better that I use a agency (one-visa/. etc) for filing PEP or have a friend submit my paperwork. The cost difference in about 2000$
2. Will it help that I am working on absolute cutting edge technologies which are in great demand (actually US already has acute shortage on my skill set)
3. I talked to the VP of my division here and he says he will be happy to let me move to our own Singapore office. Will it help my PEP, if I attach a offer letter or transfer letter from my company and also a recommendation/request letter from my company office? (I can get a request letter to mom/ica from either office now).
FWIW, I work for one of the biggest fortune 100 companies with about 75000 employees worldwide and >50 billion US$ revenue.

[sundaymorningstaple]

If you do an internal transfer with your current employer you chances for an P1 EP are pretty good. PEP less so as that is NOT tied to any employer. (regarding using you employer as a stepping stone. Using an agency is just throwing good money after bad. Anybody with a high school application can file any visa form Singapore has and do it properly. Agencies like to play on people's insecurities but all they are doing is form filling with the information you ultimately have to provide anyway. Then they charge you $2K to fill in the blanks on the form.

Having said that, I'd say either way, if you have the transfer opportunity available to you. with that info, it would be a either/or situation. But we do know MOM does look kindly on major MNC's corporate transfers as opposed to trying to hire on in a fresh company.

[vishalgupta2]

Dear SMS,

Thanks a ton. Can I PM you? I promise to not spam you.

I don't want to write some pieces of info over here in public.

It's OK to say NO.

Thanks in Advance
vish

[vishalgupta2]

Thanks SMS and everyone else.

This is the current situation.

I have the following paperwork ready.
1. PEP Application form
2. Basics like passport copies, transcripts, paystubs etc
3. Copies of all key certifications I got in the USA
4. Reference and recommendation letters from my HR & VP Engineering from the US Office. Nashua, NH, USA
5. Job offer from our Singapore office for SGD 185k pa. + bonuses
6. Company's pre approval for Car loan if I need it
7. Letter from Chief Architect of the product explaining how my work impacts Storage (SAN), Virtualization & computer networking research and why I am so critical and also why my company thinks I am NO TDH (tom...)
This letter also states all the awards my company has awarded me in the last few years.

I have to scan and send all these to the HR at our Singapore office. I was sent a Email by the sg office that the head of HR will be going to MOM & ICA offices to talk to them in person.

I am looking for additional advice to understand if these documents will push me close to hearing YES for PEP now and PR in near future?

In addition to this, is there anything in this list I should skip?