I've been lurking on this forum for a while now, researching past cases of EP applications to see if there is some correlation with mine, but I've yet to find something similar.
It's been 83 days now since the future employer applied for my EP and the status remains "pending from vetting agencies". While I believe that each application is unique and everyone has something to offer (otherwise, we'll all be jobless!), considering my profile below, I'm really perplexed as to why it has taken so long for the outcome.
- Position: Regional MD of a US MNC that is a leader in its industry, and growing, especially in Asia Pacific
- Salary: Significantly above $10k a month
- Hiring process: Chosen from over a 100 initial applicants, then down to a handful, with the final interview being done at the HQ in the US by group CEO and COO (and other group senior management)
- SG office: Has been present in Singapore for 18 years and with a track record of growth. SG office is the regional HQ
- My academic qualification: BS, BA and MS from a Top 5 US University. An MBA from an Ivy League Business school that's also a Top 5 (both schools are sometimes ranked 1 but the rankings vary year to year).
- Work experience: Over 10 years, and the last role was as a CEO for >3 years for an international operation with clients from US and UK to China, Singapore and Australia. Also worked in the US for 8 years prior to moving to Asia
Industry: Media (past and future employment)
Process so far:
- Applied mid Jan
- Status changed from pending to "Pending from vetting agencies..." (you know the rest) in early Feb
Interviewed with MOM 2 weeks ago
- Company has been requesting MOM to expedite since Feb
- SG office President spoke to MOM officer last week. MOM officer shared that the hold up is due to info from another agency but they would not reveal which one or why
- Still nothing as off today
What could be an exception:
- I relocated (same company, new position) from the US to Singapore in 2006. Got Singapore PR in early 2008 but left Singapore by end 2008.
- Tried to renew PR in 2014 but because I was no longer working and living in Singapore, my renewal was rejected
- To be clear, I didn't withdraw my PR, unlike other cases where they didn't want their sons to do NS or they wanted to withdraw their CPF. I have not withdrawn my CPF. I would equally be happy to accept PR again if offered even though I now have a son (I was single back in 2008)
- Moreover, I have been paying SG taxes since 2006 continuously as I have been earning rental income from my SG property since 2008 - so my tax records should be clear
- I am a regular visitor to Singapore either for leisure or business - so my immigration records should be clear
So given all of the above:
1. At the risk of sounding arrogant, shouldn't I be a preferred candidate for EP?
2. Given my continuous record in Singapore since 2006 (taxes, immigration, etc.), shouldn't it be a clear cut case for assessment, even if the outcome is a rejection (hopefully it won't)?
I understand that unless someone on this group is from MOM (and if so, I doubt he/she will identify themselves), any response could be speculative. But I'm rather out of ideas as to why my application remains pending for over 2.5 months now...
R