EP Renewal Rejected

[Greenry82]

Hi Experts,

MY HR applied EP renewal for me and got rejected after 5 days.

MOM give the reason:

"This candidate does not qualify for an EP. MOM assesses candidates on many factors, including salary and qualifications".

My qualification if BS (IT) degree from one of the MOM's recognized institutions.

My salary is S$ 2940/- what I can see is clearly salary threshold does not meet at first stage.

My employer is willing to increase it to S$ 3,000/- and wants to appeal.

She asked me to draft an appeal; could you please advise any format or effective things to mention in appeal?

Appreciate your time to help.

Hi SMS & Mad Scientist, keenly looking forward to your kind reply.

Please help me

[sundaymorningstaple]

You might get by with an increase of salary, but they have caught a number of employers already pulling this kind of stuff with a kickback by the employee so they are starting to reject appeals which ONLY show salary increases. S pass holders are required, by law, to be paid via GIRO so that MOM can call for the bank records (GIRO submission), to ensure that they employees are being paid, but there isn't a way to account for cash kickbacks until someone rats out. Problem is, the employees, by agreeing to a kickback scheme, are colluding to defraud a Government agency and will result usually in jail time and deportation following and banning from Singapore. The employer will get fined and maybe a jail sentence as well as being blacklisted by the MOM.

I've had several employees who have been rejected on renewals in recent months. Sadly to say, we've yet to successfully gain an approval on appeal. We have, however, successfully gotten a couple of them approved in our other sister companies (all independent of one another). But most, well.....
Let's say they're vacationing in their home countries at the moment and nothing we can do about it.

My question is why in the devil didn't their HR department make the boss aware of the problem (salary levels) when they should know that the MOM is looking for any excuse to not renew work visas at the moment. They should spend a little more money and get a decent HR Exec/Mgr.

Just because it's one of MOM's recognized institutions, they may be requiring more "experience" now as well. IT folks got off pretty easy in the drive to become an IT Hub (failed miserably - looking at broadband speeds vrs costs). Now they are tightening up and thinning the ranks.

If the only thing you have to offer is a $60 salary increment, effectively? you got nothing. But you can always try. They have made mistakes in the past (we've had several on the board who have reported that they DID manage to overturn a renewal rejection after they made a trip to MOM with their boss). But they are few and far between apparently.

[nakatago]

@OP: by how much did your employer increase your salary? 60 bucks?
@SMS: if it's this little difference, why did MOM not exercise flexibility? Is it checkbox-ticking?

@OP: It's also possible that it's just not about the salary. MOM exercises full discretion.

[the lynx]

Now that we have this issue looming over the horizon, I wonder if downgrading to S Pass from EP during renewal exercise will be a solution.

What do you think?

Note: I'm actually affected by this 6 months ago. I was downgraded from EP to S Pass because of the new requirement, but I was not renewing that time, in fact I was actually changing employment (after my backpacking trip). So my case may be different.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I just had a three years EP holder (Q) who was downgraded on renewal to an S pass. That was early last week.

[the lynx]

I just had a three years EP holder (Q) who was downgraded on renewal to an S pass. That was early last week.

But that was after appeal or the downgrade was done by MOM itself directly?

[Greenry82]

Hi All,

Thank you very much for your kind reply.

@sms- not sure how come, my HR manager was not aware of new limit 3K. so she applied renewal, my pass is expiring in last week of July 2012, I was hoping to get good increments by my company, as I have been performing well in good books of management. however they immediately have increased it to 3K to meed the criteria. I'll expect the worst result and will be prepare so it will not be heartbreaking. Thanks sms for you time.

@ nakatago - yes I also hope so it is not only salary they might be considering other things, as per you experience kindly share what things I can bring to the table.

In the appeal my HR has mentioned about my winning awards with this company and previous company, my volunteer efforts and some of my big projects which I am driving. Could you please advise what other things they wanna see?

[Greenry82]

@ lynx, Thanks lynx I really would not mind and love to accept any kind of pass, as long as I am working I am OK with that.

last year July I checked Self Asst. Tool with 2800 Salary, I was eligible to get EP/Spass and EP it was approved.

now with 3000 tool is showing eligible for only SPass, not sure why it is like this?

it only changes to EP if I input (test only) salary from 3.5K - 4K

Honestly, I do not mind of the pass type, EP./S I would happily accept, if MOM gives me [/b]

[Greenry82]

Hi sms,

My HR will appeal soon, kindly advise should she submit my documents/winning awards/appreciation letters on appeal?

normally how long it takes to get outcome of appeal?

[sundaymorningstaple]

You can submit any number of docs/awards, etc. How good or if they will do any good is another story. Unless it's further academic credentials I don't reckon it will make much difference. But, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Amount of time? Around 3 weeks.

lynx,

It was automatically downgraded to an S pass from a Q. We didn't appeal, so, basically, it was a case of no longer meeting the Q criteria but was still suitable for the S pass.. I've also heard of a case of P2 being automatically downgraded to Q pass as well.

[Greenry82]

Thank you very much sms.

Many of similar stories I heard on this forum, and not a good results of appeal. let's see how my one goes.

will keep you guys updates any result.

Fingers crossed.

[Greenry82]

Still exploring stories of EP rejection, very less approved.

Mostly they rejected / downgraded to SPass.

Best of luck to all on same boats.

[sundaymorningstaple]

@OP: by how much did your employer increase your salary? 60 bucks?
@SMS: if it's this little difference, why did MOM not exercise flexibility? Is it checkbox-ticking?

@OP: It's also possible that it's just not about the salary. MOM exercises full discretion.

Sorry Nak, somehow I overlooked this...

MOM DOES exercise flexibility. But somewhere, especially with civil servants, there HAS to be a cutoff. The cutoff is arbitrary but fixed. When the PEP was first launched in Jan 2007, it had a 7K/mo cutoff. Why? no particular reason, but they needed a cutoff to keep the undogly hoards from applying with 6.8 & 6.5 $ 6.9K/mo. The try anyhow syndrome. At that time, PEP was automatically offered to all P1 holders. But when the PEP was increased to 8K/mo the P1 was left at 7K/mo for quite a while before they bumped it up. It was during that time that they stopped automatically offering it to P1's.

[Greenry82]

Hi All,

Just an update - My HR checked Appeal status today (3 weeks completed) and EP appeal rejected.

My HR and Me went to MOM today to meet the officer but the lady at counter did not allow her to meet any officer and told that Employee salary (3K) does not meet minimum criteria.

I understand 3K is for fresh Grad. and I am not eligible for EP according to new criteria. so nothing much we can do.

Experts, I beg your help now, please advise me can my Employer apply for S-pass now? (they are offering me 3K already)?

Or can I go to LTVP+ option?
My spouse is Singaporean and we have been married for 2 years.
I know LTVP+ is for those who are more than 3 years, just checking can ICA consider our applications also?


Appreciate your help

Thanks a lot

keenly looking forward your advice.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Hi All,

Just an update - My HR checked Appeal status today (3 weeks completed) and EP appeal rejected.

My HR and Me went to MOM today to meet the officer but the lady at counter did not allow her to meet any officer and told that Employee salary (3K) does not meet minimum criteria.

I understand 3K is for fresh Grad. and I am not eligible for EP according to new criteria. so nothing much we can do.

Experts, I beg your help now, please advise me can my Employer apply for S-pass now? (they are offering me 3K already)?

Unfortunately, if you/your employer forgot or did not want to be considered for an S pass on the original application (there is a tic box asking if not eligible for an EP, would you like to be considered for an S pass?) If you don't tick that yes, the you are out of luck as you have made a decision and therefore you will NOT be eligible to apply for an S pass if rejected for an EP. You can try but don't hold your breath.

Or can I go to LTVP+ option?
My spouse is Singaporean and we have been married for 2 years.
I know LTVP+ is for those who are more than 3 years, just checking can ICA consider our applications also?

If it says more than 3 years and you have not met the minimum qualifications, what do you think? I think the best you can hope for is an LTVP at this stage of the game.


Appreciate your help

Thanks a lot

keenly looking forward your advice.