Singapore Expats

I started a research job in Singapore which will last for a year (part of a PhD dissertation in a US uni) and my husband came along. Although correspondence prior to our arrival stated that I would get a P2 pass, when we got here, I was given a Training Employment Pass (TEP) due to some internal company policy not to hire expats.

Anyways, long story short, my husband is actually not eligible for a Dependant Pass as we previously thought.

It's easy enough for him to go travel around the region and get back in to get his 90 day visit pass but now the problem is our lease. We leased an HDB flat for the year so that we had to ensure the property managers (for the HDB) that we are here either for employment or as a dependant.

Should we take this up with the MOM or with our property managers? Can the US embassy offer advice? Anyone ever had a similar experience, we'd greatly appreciate it.

redforeva wrote:I started a research job in Singapore which will last for a year (part of a PhD dissertation in a US uni) and my husband came along. Although correspondence prior to our arrival stated that I would get a P2 pass, when we got here, I was given a Training Employment Pass (TEP) due to some internal company policy not to hire expats.

Anyways, long story short, my husband is actually not eligible for a Dependant Pass as we previously thought.

It's easy enough for him to go travel around the region and get back in to get his 90 day visit pass but now the problem is our lease. We leased an HDB flat for the year so that we had to ensure the property managers (for the HDB) that we are here either for employment or as a dependant.

Should we take this up with the MOM or with our property managers? Can the US embassy offer advice? Anyone ever had a similar experience, we'd greatly appreciate it.

It is quite possible that that you can get a dependants pass for him if you are earning the minimum 2500, I would discuss it with MOM. It appears you must get 2500$ a month to get the TEP, If an error is made it can hardly be yours, if hubby is tagging along, although it is strange that internal company policy states that, when the TEP is for foreigners, so something appears strange....try for the long term visitors pass.

From a reading of the various passes on the MOM site (can be accessed from my links page) the TEP requires an income of $2500/month minimum so the Dependents pass idea is out. As the TEP is non-renewable according to MOM it is designed to be temporary in nature therefore no family passes are given (Dependent's EP's, LTSVP/Student if PR. Training passes are not eligible for accompanying family members as it's a short term duration at most. Upon completion of training, when a regular EP would be issued, then the full range of ICA & MOM possibilities is further opened up.

I am surprised that your employer or school did not find out this stuff prior to allowing you to bring over your husband. I don't have as solution short of visiting MOM and asking them directly for advice seeing your training is not for 3 to 6 months but for as year.

sundaymorningstaple wrote:From a reading of the various passes on the MOM site (can be accessed from my links page) the TEP requires an income of $2500/month minimum so the Dependents pass idea is out. As the TEP is non-renewable according to MOM it is designed to be temporary in nature therefore no family passes are given (Dependent's EP's, LTSVP/Student if PR. Training passes are not eligible for accompanying family members as it's a short term duration at most. Upon completion of training, when a regular EP would be issued, then the full range of ICA & MOM possibilities is further opened up.

I am surprised that your employer or school did not find out this stuff prior to allowing you to bring over your husband. I don't have as solution short of visiting MOM and asking them directly for advice seeing your training is not for 3 to 6 months but for as year.

I don't have as solution short of visiting MOM and asking them directly for advice seeing your training is not for 3 to 6 months but for as year.

Don't you find it strange, that she says the company policy is not to employ expats, when she is an expat. and probably got her on local wage, but she is from a Uni in USA and should be on 2500$, if she has the TEP, a local wouldn't require TEP would they?

ksl wrote:

sundaymorningstaple wrote:From a reading of the various passes on the MOM site (can be accessed from my links page) the TEP requires an income of $2500/month minimum so the Dependents pass idea is out. As the TEP is non-renewable according to MOM it is designed to be temporary in nature therefore no family passes are given (Dependent's EP's, LTSVP/Student if PR. Training passes are not eligible for accompanying family members as it's a short term duration at most. Upon completion of training, when a regular EP would be issued, then the full range of ICA & MOM possibilities is further opened up.

I am surprised that your employer or school did not find out this stuff prior to allowing you to bring over your husband. I don't have as solution short of visiting MOM and asking them directly for advice seeing your training is not for 3 to 6 months but for as year.

I don't have as solution short of visiting MOM and asking them directly for advice seeing your training is not for 3 to 6 months but for as year.

Don't you find it strange, that she says the company policy is not to employ expats, when she is an expat. and probably got her on local wage, but she is from a Uni in USA and should be on 2500$, if she has the TEP, a local wouldn't require TEP would they?

I started a research job in Singapore which will last for a year (part of a PhD dissertation in a US uni)

She has made no mention of the stipend that she is receiving. Therefore we can assume it is in excess of the minimum required. You brought the amount, not her.

She is doing research so, no, it's not the same as hiring "Expats" for employment. Research and Employment are different scenarios altogether. Also, a research/training grant is different as well. As she is NOT employed but on a research grant, all the "employment" based family options would not apply.

No, locals would not need the TEP but they may well receive a stipend to cover some of the expenses while doing a PhD.