EP application in process. Can new EP be submitted?

Again, you don’t want to put your effort to go through older threads and articles have written (can be seen 4 links available at TOP).

Job hooping is a negative thing, and you are just a fresher so your first priority should be the opportunity and job scope NOT few hundred dollars higher or lower.

If you think company B is giving best opportunity then you may request company A to withdraw. There is a possibility company A put negative comment to MoM at the time of withdrawn but chances can be nullified if you request them politely and give a valid reason like going back to your home country for family reason or continue your higher studies or any point which you thing is better. But, join them and after few months resign there is the worst tactics which will be resulted negative comments from the employer to MoM at the time of EP cancelation.

If EP gets rejected then above issues are not there. It’s upto you what and how to do things so that impact would be minimal. Getting EP approval for a fresher is also not that easy. You will be very lucky if your EP gets approved (company A or B). Good luck

Note: Start spending time to read older threads and articles we have written to help expats here. We don’t like answering repeat questions, me & Beppi are volunteering this forum since many years but we expect that expats should put effort to read older threads and should query if they did not get the answer.

Thanks, surya2k for your suggestions.
I sincerely apologies for not going through the older threads.
I will look for them for further queries.

No worries, good luck.

You can do your own assessment that which company would give you better opportunity and career growth then decide. Best way if you can push few weeks to company B (If Company B gives better opportunity) to wait then by that time you may know the outcome of your EP with company A.

I think 1. is preferable, as it is fairest to employer A and prevents some of the negative mark as job-hopper in MoM's eyes.

Thanks, surya2k and beppi.

@surya2k, You mean, wait for the outcome of company A's EP outcome and
1) if approved, stick to company A irrespective of the other offer.
2) if rejected, accept company B and move on

Is my understanding of your suggestion correct?

Thanks!

Did you do your assessment? I said it very clearly that you need to assess who is offering the best job, don’t run behind few 100 dollars at the beginning of your career. Tomorrow, Company C will offer higher salary to company B, what you will do then? Avoid job hooping.

Yes, I did my assessment. when I said I am inclined towards company B I had taken not only pay but overall job description offering into account as well.

Btw, I am not a fresher

Thanks!

@surya2k and @beppi

would like to get some clarity on repercussions of option 3:

1) Will the outcome of the new EP application have effect on the existing one?
1) Will the company A be notified of the EP application from company B?
2) Will I HAVE to join company B if the new application is approved or do I have an option to withdraw?


Overall, just like to know the damage in allowing company B to apply for EP and take the next steps if approved.

Thanks for answering!

1. Probably only a small (but negative) impact.
1. They can see the application (but not which company applied) in EPOnline.
2. You can withdraw at any time (while keeping the termination notice periods stated in your employment contract!), but this will be seen as negative by the employer and MoM.

Thanks.

In the initial answer given by surya2k he mentioned the below

"There is a possibility company A put negative comment to MoM at the time of withdrawn but chances can be nullified if you request them politely and give a valid reason like going back to your home country for family reason or continue your higher studies or any point which you thing is better."

Do you think employer can inform the reason to MoM when withdrawing the application? If yes, won't MoM be surprised to see the new EP when last reason given was traveling out of SG, will that not cause a problem?

The old employer can only lodge a complaint if you abscond or violate the employment contract in other ways. MoM is not interested in what you tell the employer.

Hi guys,

Just an update and a few follow up questions, please help.

I have accepted company A offer and EP is applied a week before today.
company B has not yet given an offer but I highly suspect they will later this week.

1) What happens when EP is still not approved on the commencement date mentioned in the offer letter? Does that date mean anything in this context?

2) From company A's perspective would they appreciate me telling them to cancel the application before an IPA or after an IPA. I mean, is there any difference between them?

1. All employment contracts are valid only if a work visa is issued. If it is not (yet), the commencement date has no meaning and a new one should be agreed upon.
2. Of course they'd prefer you being honest and telling them as soon as possible. (It also means company B could apply for your EP sooner.)

Hi @beppi and @surya2k

An update and few queries on the same. Please advice.

I was actually waiting for an actually offer from company B with company A's offer in hand.

While I waited for the offer. Company A wanted me to join early and since I was not sure of any offer will actually arrive from company B. I accepted A's offer and IPA was approved in a few weeks and I joined them.

Since joining them(first week), I received the offer from company B 
Which is far better in most aspects and company itself more prominent than A

I would like to join company B. Want to know how to deal with this from the EP pass point of view?

Note1: IPA is approved -> joined the company -> EP is not issued yet (have booked an appointment for card registration at MOM)

Thanks!

Hi beppi.

The company has sent to me an "issuance of EP card" from MoM which stays i have to make an appointment for card registration by this date and also states that i can stay and work from this date to +1 month.

Oh, this is new. Thanks for telling us!

I checked the eponline status, it shows as "issued". Which means I am no longer on IPA and on actual EP and the card registration thing is just a formality? Is that correct?

If so, company B can apply for EP before I resign. Right?

I think so, but since this is a new development I cannot be 100% sure. Please report back!

Do you think I can call MoM and ask them regarding this? perhaps anonymously?

You can try, of course. Nothing to lose!

Hi @surya2k

you mentioned the below statement

"join them and after few months resign there is the worst tactics which will be resulted negative comments from the employer to MoM at the time of EP cancelation"

I guess I am in this situation now but what is the impact of negative comments from current employer to MoM at cancellation as EP from the new employer would have already been approved?

There is no need for negative comments by the employer to be classified as job-hopper by MoM.

Please talk to them and provide a valid rationale (which they will believe, not necessarily it has to be true). Try to request them to withdraw your EP pass. Through a good and mutual way things can be settled. They may not even provide any negative feedback to MoM. Good luck

Hi Surya2k and beppi,

Just an update, I talked to MoM service desk yesterday to understand if a new EP application can be put up if one is in card registration stage. They said since EP is issued(card is not yet) new EP can be put up but have to keep in mind that once IPA is approved of new EP, the old EP needs to be canceled in order for the new EP to be issued.

Having learned the above statement, I am wondering if things can go wrong after an IPA is approved?  For example, if company A complains to MoM while canceling the EP. can MoM not issued the new EP?

Very unlikely where MoM will not issue EP because of an employer complaining.

Yes, this was my understanding also once EP is issued, new employer can apply for you. Good luck

Hi Surya2k and beppi,

Upon resigning from company A, can they not cancel the EP? Is it legal to do so? As that is crucial for the new EP to be issued.

Company A will (and has to) cancel the EP right after your last day there.

Hi,

When a new application is applied after existing an EP is issued, does the new ep application's status be shown in epol website? If yes, will query by travel document number be enough?

Hi Guys!

Concluding update -

Company B applied for my EP and it got approved in approx 1.5 weeks and was able to convince company A to cancel existing EP after serving the notice.

About to join Company B this week. Hopefully, it will be all be worthwhile    Wish me luckkk! 

Thanks for all the support! 

Got IPA but company delays issuing the pass (because of their project is delayed). There is no ETA when the project will come and no promise when company will issue the pass. Can candidate continue job search and if lucky got an offer, can new company apply EP/SP/WP given there is an IPA linked with candidate's FIN?

Finding a job for expat is not easy during this time, getting application approved not easy too. Even though got a new offer, there is no guarantee that new EP application will be smooth. Actually current IPA went through 2 rejections before it was approved. We don't want to cancel existing IPA if new EP has not been approved. Is it possible?

Sakurahus: Did you check your employment contract for the agreed start date? The company cannot differ from that without mutual consent.
Unfortunately, you cannot have another EP applied for before this one is issued or cancelled.

@Beppi: it's not mine. It's my spouse's. It stated in the commence of employment section that "You shall report to work no later than 27 Sep." The application was approved on 24 Sep and company called to delay till 4 Oct, then called again saying no start date yet because of the project is delayed. I guess if we insist asking for pass issuance, it will end up with IPA cancellation. And we don't have other option in hands.
Thanks Beppi for your answer.

Sorry to say, in this situation your spouse nothing can do. You may request to extend the IPA before it gets expire. MoM approves IPA extension based on employer’s rationale.

A new company can apply work pass only after your existing IPA is withdrawn because MoM can see the status. Chances are there it may reach out both companies. In your spouse’s case, first employer can apply for an extension of IPA (but again your spouse can ask them to withdraw if she got selected by another company). Good luck