Various questions about marriage and employment

[danielb]

I am an American citizen likely to marry a Singapore citizen soon. I'm not quite sure I understand what I can legally do and when I can legally do it.

First off: what visas will I need to just look for work and get married? I know I won't need one per se just to enter the country due to the visa waiver.

Second: how soon could it be for me to become PR? I ask this because many of the jobs listed I see are only for citizens or PRs.

Finally: Will I be able to legally look for work without PR or while waiting for it to get approved? Do employers turn their nose up at such people?

I understand that one can get their employer to sponsor them for a work permit however my employer doesn't have offices in Singapore. I also understand that one has a better chance of finding work in Singapore once in that country.

Thanks.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I am an American citizen likely to marry a Singapore citizen soon. I'm not quite sure I understand what I can legally do and when I can legally do it.

First off: what visas will I need to just look for work and get married? I know I won't need one per se just to enter the country due to the visa waiver.

A social visit pass is all you need initially. However you will eventually need a LTVP (Long Term Visit Pass).

Second: how soon could it be for me to become PR? I ask this because many of the jobs listed I see are only for citizens or PRs.

It could conceivably take up to 10 years (or never). But doubtful. However, dependent on how much/little your Singapore spouse earns you might not even get the LTVP let along PR (which probably wouldn't happen before a minimum of two years in any case - to weed out those marrying only to gain residency in Singapore).

Finally: Will I be able to legally look for work without PR or while waiting for it to get approved? Do employers turn their nose up at such people?

You better find a job and get on an employment pass in your own right, because, as noted above, you will not get PR before 2 years in all probability, unless you have a minimum of a degree or 10 years experience in your field and/or are earning in excess of 8K SGD in the US, (then you can qualify for a PEP.

I understand that one can get their employer to sponsor them for a work permit however my employer doesn't have offices in Singapore. I also understand that one has a better chance of finding work in Singapore once in that country.

It's not that one can get their, it's the employer HAS TO sponsor them. Unless it's, as I noted above, a PEP. Only the PEP does not need a company to sponsor. The wife sponsors the LTVP and if you can get an LTVP+ (new in the past month or two) it will allow you to work without an employment pass as well. Not too much anecdotal evidence as of yet on the pros & cons of this however, and little information as well.

Thanks.

[danielb]

Sunday, do you have some kind of link on how having a degree exempts you from certain permit restrictions? I'm not sure I have what they're looking for, I have a Master's in Public Administration from an American institution.

[JR8]

Just Google on the PEP criteria.

(There is nothing official from the SG gubment to say 'this is what being a graduate exempts you from'... )

[zzm9980]

Sunday, do you have some kind of link on how having a degree exempts you from certain permit restrictions? I'm not sure I have what they're looking for, I have a Master's in Public Administration from an American institution.

How many years experience do you have working in this field, how much money do you make in the US, and/or how much money do you believe you will earn in Singapore*?

These are the most important criteria to determine if and which employment passes (or PEP) you'd possibly qualify for. Note on the last question (marked with "*") that you need to set your expectations properly and do proper research on this answer. Some positions will pay just as much as the US, others will pay a fraction.

[danielb]

Just so I'm clear, I CAN apply for jobs while in Singapore without one of the various work permits, just the employer would have to get one for me if they hired me, correct?

[JR8]

Just so I'm clear, I CAN apply for jobs while in Singapore without one of the various work permits, just the employer would have to get one for me if they hired me, correct?

Yes.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Just so I'm clear, I CAN apply for jobs while in Singapore without one of the various work permits, just the employer would have to get one for me if they hired me, correct?

To put it absolutely correct, it should be: "......just the employer would have to TRY TO get one for me if they hired me....." There are no guarantees.