Singapore Expats

Hi. I'm currently looking at the possibility of moving to Singapore from the UK with my boyfriend. He will be relocating within his company and will get an EP. What are my chances of being able to find work once in Singapore if I have a Long Term Social Visit Pass (common law spouse)? (I have a 1st class Maths degree (B.Sc)and 7 years experience in R&D consulting, mostly in the embedded software and signal processing area.)

The research I have done suggests that even if I could secure a suitable job, the pay rates may be much lower than in the UK, approx $4000 SGD a month for a similar role? Is this a reasonable assumption for an experienced project management / software engineering role in Singapore? How many jobs are out there that do not have the 'Residents only' criteria applied to them?

I've also been considering a change of career direction, moving away from the area in which I have experience, to possibly a business analyst or strategy role. I am assuming that I would have very little chance of securing a job, getting sponsorship for an EP, etc, in an area that I didn't have expertise in, as there would be many locals with the same skill set ?

Thanks in advance for your help.

hi,

It is quite reasonable to ask for SGD4k-5k with your qualification (7 yrs at embedded software). It may be tough to change your career direction before getting your EP if u don't hv the prior experiences. why not applying the job based on your past software experiences and settle down at sg first. you could try to change your career direction after getting PR.

wombatt wrote:Hi. I'm currently looking at the possibility of moving to Singapore from the UK with my boyfriend. He will be relocating within his company and will get an EP. What are my chances of being able to find work once in Singapore if I have a Long Term Social Visit Pass (common law spouse)? (I have a 1st class Maths degree (B.Sc)and 7 years experience in R&D consulting, mostly in the embedded software and signal processing area.)

The research I have done suggests that even if I could secure a suitable job, the pay rates may be much lower than in the UK, approx $4000 SGD a month for a similar role? Is this a reasonable assumption for an experienced project management / software engineering role in Singapore? How many jobs are out there that do not have the 'Residents only' criteria applied to them?

I've also been considering a change of career direction, moving away from the area in which I have experience, to possibly a business analyst or strategy role. I am assuming that I would have very little chance of securing a job, getting sponsorship for an EP, etc, in an area that I didn't have expertise in, as there would be many locals with the same skill set ?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi wombatt,

My girlfriend and I are in the UK in a similar situation to that which you have described in Oct 2007. I am also an embedded software engineer (with BEng and 5+ years experience). What kind of experiences have you had trying to find work in this field?

Also, I wasn't aware it was possible to obtain a LTSVP unless you have a sponsor who is resident or PR. Under what conditions were you able to get one?

Grateful for any advice.

dough wrote:Hi wombatt,

My girlfriend and I are in the UK in a similar situation to that which you have described in Oct 2007. I am also an embedded software engineer (with BEng and 5+ years experience). What kind of experiences have you had trying to find work in this field?

Also, I wasn't aware it was possible to obtain a LTSVP unless you have a sponsor who is resident or PR. Under what conditions were you able to get one?

Grateful for any advice.

The LTVSP is only for common law spouses in which they must prove cohabiting to a local solicitor under oath. Documentation is required.

wombatt wrote:Hi. I'm currently looking at the possibility of moving to Singapore from the UK with my boyfriend. He will be relocating within his company and will get an EP. What are my chances of being able to find work once in Singapore if I have a Long Term Social Visit Pass (common law spouse)?

You cannot get LTSVP when your common law spouse is on EP. You have to apply DP under his EP. The DP needs to be sponsored by EP employer.
LTSVP is only for SG /SPR spouse whom is a foreigner

Mad Scientist wrote:

wombatt wrote:Hi. I'm currently looking at the possibility of moving to Singapore from the UK with my boyfriend. He will be relocating within his company and will get an EP. What are my chances of being able to find work once in Singapore if I have a Long Term Social Visit Pass (common law spouse)?

You cannot get LTSVP when your common law spouse is on EP. You have to apply DP under his EP. The DP needs to be sponsored by EP employer.
LTSVP is only for SG /SPR spouse whom is a foreigner

This is not correct, MS. P1 and P2 EP holders may apply LTSVP for common law spouse.

http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/ ... fault.aspx

Which apparently means that a 'spouse' must have a legal marriage certificate.

http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/ ... fault.aspx

Thus, common law spouses appear to be second class as opposed to legally married spouses in that they can have a DP and work, whilst the common law spouse must find a job and her/his own EP.

Yeah , my bad. as I was not specific enough