Kayak Master wrote:Hello All
This is my fist post. I have read numerous posts related to my questions and got a lot of knowledge already.Thanks to all memebrs for all the info.
I do still have the similiar questions customized to my requirements. Please bear with me if these have already been answered and I missed them.
My background :
1. IT Professional - Indian - aged 31
2. Worked in Singapore on Q1 :Feb-Oct 2010
3. Currently on P2 (6500/month) since August 2011. EP valid till Aug 2014. Assessed for tax twice. Paid for FY 2011 already in full.
4. Wife Engineer+MBA from reputed University in India staying on DP with me.
My queries
1. I have a total of 20 months working experience working in SG. Out of which 12 on P2. When will be a good time to apply for PEP ?
2. My wife is not able to find a job while searching for last 10 months mainly because PR/SC are given are preference in her area of work(FS/Insurance/Sales 6 years experience).
a. Is there something we are missing ? Meaning does DP of PEP, LOC or something else which can help her get a job ? She is conscious about her career.
b. Is LoC for my wife applied for, by MY employer or my wife's prospective employer ? I have read on MoM but still confused.
It's filed by the wife's prospective employer.
c. Is LoC different from EP in terms of quota. Meaning can employers file unlimited LoC and thereby increase the chance of her getting a job?
There is no quota on LoC. But one employer filing unlimited LoCs for the same person will probably piss off MOM. Multiple employers can file but only the first one will get it. Each time she tries to move jobs, another will have to be applied for. The LoC is directly tied to your EP. You lose your EP she loses her LoC at the same time. Same with renewal. LoC expiry & renewal is based on your EP.
3. We are also thinking of applying for a PR which can help us in settling here. I read in many threads here:
a. The chances are higher if you have a higher salary and more number of years. If this is actually how it works then I would give myself a fair chance of getting one. Is that correct ?
Incorrect. Correct if any race bu an Indian at the moment. You have been here for almost two years. You claim to have read a lot of posts here. And you are still asking that question? Are you sure you don't have a masters as well?
b. If I get a PR , does it mean my wife will also get one ? Considering she is DP and if you see her contributions to the country, there is none. Which is kind of a chicken-egg for her as PR>Gets a job quicker > Pay Tax> Helps in getting a PR
She will probably initially get a LTVP. Which, of course, means she can not work. She can only work on the LoC while on a dependents pass. But unless things change here, PR will be out of the question for the time being, especially considering you are not currently making over 5 figures/month on a P1 pass. Nothing chicken/egg about it. The government isn't really interested in the tax dollars that 4 figure incomes produce. They are only looking for high net worth individuals or those who are bring niche skills to the country.
c. ICA sees through the ruse of "social work" if you are doing that to tailor your application, so is there anything we CAN/SHOULD do to strengthen our chances.
To summarize:
1. We like this country very much. It provides the growth opportunities we are looking for. Its safe, government (whether run by a family or not) is close to perfect compared to what we have experienced in out country.
2. To make this country sustain its good qualities, we are willing to do our part (not just pay taxes), but need to know how and what.
3. To be able to work if important for my wife. What permit/pass/PR is the best way to progress.
Permit/pass only may come with the job opportunity and the government's willingness to allow another of which there are already plenty enough locals to do. No real reason to hire foreign help to do that. So, honestly, she has a real problem and she has no marketable skills than cannot already be found here in large numbers among the local population. Sounds crappy, I know, but that's the way of the MOM.
PR for the time being, is totally out of the question at the current time due to the racial demographics and the heavy cutback on granting of ANY PRs regardless of ethnicity.
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Regards,
Kayak Master
To be honest, the best thing you can do at the moment is try to ride out the tide of anger and xenophobia that is gripping the country at the moment and for you just pray for EP renewal and your wife to continue to try to find a job on an LoC rather than an EP in her own right (primarily because the LoC doesn't have to be governed by the critical skills criteria). With her credentials - a degree in Marketing or Sales, whatever, isn't salable in Singapore as they are a dime a dozen among locals. And, as far as Indian Masters degrees are concerned, I believe there are only two universities in India that have Masters degrees that are "reputed" internationally, One is IIT and the other's name escapes me at the moment. Most masters degrees, from the subcontinent, are the equivalent of normal Bachelors in western countries in the eyes of the MOM. Sorry to be so blunt, but you did indicate that you had already read lots of posts here and as far as I can see, you post is in the 98th percentile of all those similar posts. Nothing different.
