Singapore Expats

Hi,

I am working in Singapore for 3.5 years on EP. I've got an offer from a local bank for a 1 year (Extendable) contract role. The consultancy applied EP for me 18 days back. But the status is still is shown as pending.

May I know whether this is usual? Does it take too long to get EP approved?

Which GRC are you from?

Hi All,

Mine also similar case, i am an indian citizen and working in singapore from past 5 years and my new employer applied for EP on 6th June and it shows still in pending, can any one pls suggest

Regards,
Vizith

Hi All,

I applied from 19 May 2016, it is still pending in nearly 1 month. My employer said that all companies has same situation

thaitd1985 wrote:Hi All,

I applied from 19 May 2016, it is still pending in nearly 1 month. My employer said that all companies has same situation

I think this is the reason , not sure if our employer in this list ,

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/s ... s-approval

I am not sure.

thaitd1985 wrote:I am not sure.

Years ago passes used to take 3 months or more.

Then with the Process re engineering the turnaround times became pretty short.

Now due to stringent checks being enforced, it takes up to 8 weeks or more.

Nothing that can be done about it.

ecureilx wrote:

thaitd1985 wrote:I am not sure.

Years ago passes used to take 3 months or more.

Then with the Process re engineering the turnaround times became pretty short.

Now due to stringent checks being enforced, it takes up to 8 weeks or more.

Nothing that can be done about it.

Just to add, from my previous application in 2009 (for P2), 2010 (for P1) and 2012 (just EP), 2014 (my last EP application) all approved in 3 days time.

Even my current EP took just 4 days to process. But this time, it's been 4 weeks and yet it is still under process.

This is exactly why the message was sent by the MOM to all employers in Singapore that they should apply for renewals of EPs a minimum of 90 days before expiry date. Read it and weep.

Lot's of employers didn't read that and have found that they couldn't get the renewals done in time and had to put the employees on unpaid leave (or working illegally without a valid EP). So, as long as it doesn't come back rejected you will be okay. (I say this because of another quirk in the MOM renewal process)

If you apply for but no longer qualify for the EP, unless the election to be considered for S pass if not qualified for EP box is ticked, you will be rejected for renewal and you will NOT be eligible to reapply for an S Pass with that employer. So employers need to ask the employees in view of the newer more stringent requirement for all passes. This especially if you are in a salary bracket that is rather close to the minimum.

I am also facing the same issue. My EP with new employer was applied on 18th May. Until now the status is still showing pending, its been almost 1 month, not sure what is happening. I have been working on EP for the last 4.5 years and never had any issue for EP, always got issued within 3-4 days.

Everyday hoping that today it will be approved, but it's been long wait..I have checked with some of my friends who applied got there EP recently, they have all got it within a week. Not sure if the employer has something to do for this delay.

Hi Guys,

did you found any reason from MOM or your employer for the delay if you could share little more info it will be really help ful,
what i heard so far process is more stringent from May 16 ,to check whether employer posted in Jobs Bank properly and interviewed or considered Citizens & PRs before choosing EPs , Hope our employers done that part properly .

Best Regards,
Vizith

Hi spartan84,

Are you sure the EPs were approved this month for your friends? What i hear is that its taking more than one month for all.
Which company applied for your frnds?

I have got info from friends who have recently joined NCS Pte. Ltd. Probably MNCs don't have this issue.

But I got to know from my prospective employer HR that since January they are facing delay in processing EP since Jan 2016. She was saying it is taking more than a month.

That's what even I heard. The consultancy that raised EP for me told me that they are facing the same issue for all the candidates that they have applied for.

spartan84 wrote:I have got info from friends who have recently joined NCS Pte. Ltd. Probably MNCs don't have this issue.

But I got to know from my prospective employer HR that since January they are facing delay in processing EP since Jan 2016. She was saying it is taking more than a month.