DP Reached IMM Decision Stage. Where Is My EP Now?

Hi everyone, I’m currently in the middle of the Employment Pass (EP) Category 1 application process, and I would really appreciate some clarification based on your experience.

My company is applying for my EP as well as Dependent Passes (DP) for my wife and 1 child. I received the following updates from HR:

Timeline / Status Updates:

    •    24 Nov 2025: Employer submitted EP Cat-1 + DP applications via ESD

    •    4 Dec 2025: HR informed me that my EP status shows:

“in MDEC : Verification Stage”

    •    8 Dec 2025: HR then updated that both Dependent Pass applications are already:

“in IMM : Decision Stage” (as of 8 December)

My Questions:

1.My EP appears as “MDEC Verification” based on the last update (4 December 2025)

Does this usually mean for now, the EP is also already with Immigration?

2. In terms of processing flow, which one actually moves first  EP or DP?

I’ve read mixed information online:

    •    Some say EP must pass MDEC first, and only then can both EP and DP proceed to Immigration (IMM)

    •    Some say DP can move ahead in the system first, and the EP will follow

    •    Others say DP cannot progress at all unless the EP is already released to Immigration

For those who went through this recently, which one is accurate based on actual cases?

3. If the Dependent Pass has already reached “IMM: Decision Stage”, does this usually indicate that the EP has already passed MDEC verification?

I want to understand if the DP reaching IMM typically means the EP is already there too.

4. Based on your experience, how long does it normally take from:

    •    IMM: Decision Stage → Approved (for Dependent Pass)

    •    IMM: Decision Stage → Approved (for EP Category 1)

    •    Are there any differences in speed between EP and DP approvals?

5. Is it common for the EP/DP status on ESD to lag behind the actual internal processing?

If you’ve had cases where the status updated later than the real processing progress, please share your experience.

Thanks so much in advance!

I’m trying to understand if this situation is normal and what to expect next.

Any insights or real life timelines from those who have gone through this would be extremely helpful.