Singapore Expats

Hi,

Myself & my Fiancee are moving to Singapore soon and we would like to know about her options when we arrive. We are moving because of my job and she will be giving up her job. She is a Graphic Designer for a press association and also has her own company. Ideally she would like to work freelance or for a company in Singapore. If that is not possible then she would like to study design or perhaps even something completely unconnected to design.
My questions!!
1/ Is it actually possible for her to work for an employer in Singapore?
2/ Can she work for herself legally in Singapore?
3/ If we are not married can she apply to stay in Singapore for an extended period or would she have to leave and re-enter every 30-90 days?
4/ Is it legal to leave and re-enter to stay for extended periods?
5/ Are there colleges that accept international students?

Any information, advice or pointers are appreciated. We don't want any major surprises when we arrive!!

Thanks in advance all

smack wrote:1/ Is it actually possible for her to work for an employer in Singapore?

Yes, but the employer would need to get an Employment Pass for her, which they are unlikely to (be able to) do for a graphic designer. So do not count on this unless you can pull strings at a Sing company to get her hired.

2/ Can she work for herself legally in Singapore?

Not very easily. She could try to apply for an EntrePass though, which is a special visa for entrepreneurs -- see the Business forum.

3/ If we are not married can she apply to stay in Singapore for an extended period or would she have to leave and re-enter every 30-90 days?

You can apply for a Long-Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP) based on "common law marriage". This will require some sort of legal proof from your home jurisdiction that you've been cohabiting for a while.

4/ Is it legal to leave and re-enter to stay for extended periods?

If you try this on a tourist visa, Immigration will start to get suspicious within a few months.

5/ Are there colleges that accept international students?

Sure, but standard application procedures apply.

Any information, advice or pointers are appreciated. We don't want any major surprises when we arrive!!

With all due respect, I'm a little surprised you've already decided to move without getting answers to these fairly basic questions.

Hi,

We moved here 4 months ago and we were worried about the same things. We got married prior to coming over, because we are married his company organised a dependants pass for me. Having this pass does make it easier to get a job. I don't think she would have a problem finding work as I have found out. I am not working yet (my choice) but I have had people approch me and ask if I want a job.

I have heard of people leaving and reentering, this would be a pain in the but.

I read all the forums before I came over and I thought it would be impossible to get work, but once here it is not like they say.

A freind of mine had same experience, she has no degree and she now has job as admin and gets $20ph and very flexible.

Hope this helps

Thanks alot for the info, very informative.

With all due respect, I'm a little surprised you've already decided to move without getting answers to these fairly basic questions.

Who wouldn't want to move to Singapore given the chance! plenty of time to find out the information we need and what better way to start than at a friendly expat forum that has people who have done the same thing! Sorry but were a little bit spontaneous and carefree at times!

We are living in Thailand at the moment and had the same worries before we came here and I wasted lots of time researching and getting despondent with the info I found. When we arrived in Thailand, as Rails said "it's not like they say" I know Singapore has a more how can I say "structured" legal system!! than Thailand so I'm sure it will be a completely different experience, some good some bad but everything is possible.
Thanks again and I will return with more questions!!

rails wrote:
A freind of mine had same experience, she has no degree and she now has job as admin and gets $20ph and very flexible.

Hope this helps

Is your friend on a dependent's pass as well? It's easy to find a job if you are here on a dependent's pass with or without a degree as you only need a "Letter of Consent" from the MOM. This is directly tied to the spouse EP. The spouse loses their EP you also lose your "Letter of Consent".

However, I don't think you can get a Letter of Consent on an LTSVP. As your friend has a job as an admin I find it odd that she is making "$20 per hour" as most salaries are quoted as monthly rates here. Unless she is getting paid in cash and is working illegally without a proper Letter of Consent, Work Permit or Employment Pass. (The only ways you can work in Singapore legally). Unless you friend is from certain Asian Countries she would not be able to get a Work Permit. I'd be interested to hear some more.........

Hello!
Smack, your fiance sounds like she's in a similar position as myself. I arrived a month ago and currently holding a LTSV. My partner and I are not legally married so I am not qualified for a Dependant pass.
Your questions are answered in my current perspective as followed:
1/ Is it actually possible for her to work for an employer in Singapore?
2/ Can she work for herself legally in Singapore?
If she comes to Singapore on a Social visit pass or a Long term social visit pass, she is unable to take ANY employment, whether individual or with an employer.
If she finds employment, the employer must be a sponsor for her Work Permit, and I find it very difficult to find employment with an initial Social Visit pass or LTSV pass.
3/ If we are not married can she apply to stay in Singapore for an extended period or would she have to leave and re-enter every 30-90 days?
If you are not married (just like myself and my partner), your fiance will be able to get a LTSV, with your employer being the sponsor for her (just like with my partner's employer being a sponsor for my visa). However, this might take up to a month for approval (as it has taken with mine).
If she re-enters the country frequent, as quoted from jpatokal, the Immigration will be suspicious. And I was told that after the 3rd re-entry the visit visa to stay in Singapore will expire in a week or even less.
4/ Is it legal to leave and re-enter to stay for extended periods?
*question answered above*.
5/ Are there colleges that accept international students?
Ok this is a good question.
Is your fiance holding any qualifications in your home country?
Well there are colleges that accept international students - you have to research the colleges, as I have no knowledge of that.
But I think she will need some requirements, such as her education portfolio.
If she has already graduated from College or University, she can take a post graduate courses in the Universities here.
I have found a few institution for you to search up on.
1. National University of Singapore
2. Nanyang Technological University
3. Singapore Management University
4. SIM University
5. INSEAD, Singapore
6. University of Chicago Graduate School of Business in Singapore
7. S.P. Jain Center of Management Singapore
8. ESSEC Business School (Singapore)
9. University of Nevada, Las Vegas (Singapore)
10. New York University Tisch School of the Arts, Asia.
As for me, I am a university student back in Australia, and I was able to do an internal exchange student transfer to Singapore, so I was accepted into Nanyang Technological University.
Once she is accepted for any of the education institution, she will be able to obtain her 'Student Pass'. With this pass, she is able to work up to 16 hours a week. And not all Student pass with any institution are able to work. Check on http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal ... reign.html
With the 'Student pass', it will expire when her course expires, but I was told it is very easy to get around with the Student pass. After her course (2 years or so), she will be able to apply for a Singapore PR.