Employment Pass Rejected

jleeboss wrote:

Not too sure about the background of your case. I had PR twice here in SG, and gave it up and returned back to the UK. However when I returned back to SG and replied I was rejected 5 times, finally MOM told me I had to pay back all my CPF if i wanted to have my EP or PR back! Hope this helps.

That is interesting!
Was this (MoM asking you to re-pay CPF even for an EP) before they abolished CPF for EP holders in the 90ies?
In any case, it shows that
- it is very difficult to get a PR back, once lost.
- perseverance pays (who else would have applied FIVE times?!?).

Hi Guys!

Im an S Pass Holder for 6 years. Recently my company applied renewal for me but it was rejected after 3 days. On the 10th April, an appeal was sent to MOM. Up to date, no result have been issued. Been 5 weeks now. Everytime I checked the status on EPOL, shown is REJECTED. If the application is under appeal, would the status shown is REJECTED or ON APPEAL? My pass is expiring in 3 days time. I was told by HR that they file extension for my pass while waiting for the result of the appeal. First time I heard this for S Pass Holders coz what im aware is this can be done for Work Permit holders.

I need opinions and inputs from you guys, who might share the same experience as i have.
Thanks a lot.

The criteria for S-Pass approval have been tightened in recent years, and it is common people who are not eligible any more are not renewed. On the other hand, it could also be that your employer has no foreigner quota left (e.g. because some locals resigned) and thus you cannot be renewed.
Your employer should ask MoM about the reason and tailor the appeal accordingly:
If you became ineligible by the new criteria, they should give a convincing explanation why you are needed for the company (e.g. because more local jobs are endangered if you have to leave). And it would also be a good idea to show that you are upgrading yourself to fulfill the new criteria in the near future (e.g. by getting a part-time degree, etc.).
If the reason is quota, they'd have to hire more locals, or fire other foreigners before you can be renewed - there is very little room for negotiation about this issue.
Just asking them to look at your application again with no additional information will not work!

Meanwhile, at the end of your S-Pass validity, you will automatically get 15 or 30 days SVP, so you can continue staying in Singapore (but you CANNOT work!). If the issue is not resolved during this period, you will have to leave Singapore temporarily.

But have you heard such thing as company request for 1 month extension of the work pass? Because what I was told by the HR, they apply for extension of the work pass.

I have never heard of this.
They already applied for extension of your work pass by another year (or two) and it was rejected and is currently under appeal processing. Why would they entertain a separate application for the same, but only one month long?

That's why im confused. Though i know for those holding a Work Permit their employer can request extension for their pass for 1 month subject to adjustment on the levy as well. But as I was told by our HR, the move to apply 1 month extension for me is advice by MOM customer service, while waiting for the result of my renewal's appeal. I just hope that everything will go well after 5 weeks in the dark.
I just find these stricter rule also have a downfall, coz most of the companies will result of downgrading their E Pass holders to S Pass, and sooner the number of S Pass holders will shoot sky high., thus another issue again.

There is a quota for S-Pass holders in a company (but not for EP holders). Thus they cannot downgrade too many EP holders!

hi beppi,

I am working in Malaysia and found a job in SG. Just wondering, if I leave the company in Malaysia that I have only worked 6 month in, will it affect my EP application ?

Thanks.

Probably not, but you can only find out by trying.

Hi,
My company applied S Pass for me last week but jut got rejected. My salary is $2500. I have an Accountancy Degree in the UK and work as Company Accountant. And now the company will raise my salary to $3500 and apply EP instead of S Pass. So is there any chance I can get a pass? Last time when I applied for Work Holiday Pass, it taks only two day to get a pass and I just cancelled my WHP before the company apply S Pass for me.

Another case is my wife, she had a S Pass for 4 months but she want to change her job so the new company applied a new pass for her. Do MOM reject just because she hold a S Pass and work for a short period then she change her job?

Jasonle wrote:

My company applied S Pass for me last week but jut got rejected. My salary is $2500. I have an Accountancy Degree in the UK and work as Company Accountant. And now the company will raise my salary to $3500 and apply EP instead of S Pass. So is there any chance I can get a pass? Last time when I applied for Work Holiday Pass, it taks only two day to get a pass and I just cancelled my WHP before the company apply S Pass for me.

MoM is very suspicious of re-applications with higher salary, as they all too often come with (illegal) kick-back schemes. I hope the company attached a very good explanation for the sudden pay increase!
In addition, the WHP is NOT meant as a stepping stone to permanent work. As far as I know, this might create problems for you.

Jasonle wrote:

Another case is my wife, she had a S Pass for 4 months but she want to change her job so the new company applied a new pass for her. Do MOM reject just because she hold a S Pass and work for a short period then she change her job?

Yes. They don't like job-hoppers.

Thank you for your reply.
My wife have an approved for her pass today.
Can you clarify what the problems I have with WHP? I have cancelled WHP before I apply for S Pass.

Jasonle wrote:

Can you clarify what the problems I have with WHP? I have cancelled WHP before I apply for S Pass.

The WHP is NOT meant as a stepping stone to permanent work, only for a temporary stay in Singapore (after which you return to your home country).
Of course it is POSSIBLE that they approve your EP application, if you have certain niche skills and/or experience that is needed in Singapore, but uncommon. Add that to the already difficult situation you are in (non-local fresh graduates rarely get EPs, and your dubious re-application with higher salary) and I'd be surprised if your application is approved. But MoM sometimes goes strange ways and I have been proven wrong before.
Please post your result here, so we all can learn from it!

I will post my outcome when I have it. Thank you.

Hi beppi,

Thank you for your response last time. I have another question, my company gave me the application number already but still i cant find the application in the website. What could possibly be wrong in there?Am i already keyed-in with thhat application number?Does anyone experience like this dilemma before? Im confused now.

Thanks for your advise.

Maybe the system has a problem, or your data was entered incorrectly?
Call MoM and ask!

Thank you beppi.

One thing also, the hr told me earlier that upon checking by them its on a pending status already.
Ok, will try to call MOM tom in that case.

Thank you so much again.

Thanks beppi!.. I got approved and its shows the status only this afternoon.
One more thing beppi, am i not required to exit singapore since my last day for svp is on the 25th while my pass is on process, i mean with all the medicals and mom thing to go?
Thank younfor your big help again.

Hi Beppi,

Let me give you a brief about myself: -
Work experience: 10.5 years in India
Currently Employer: Wipro Technologies India (Software Company)
Current Designation: SAP Project Lead
Education Qualification: BSc, MBA full time degree from recognized Indian University
Current Salary in India: INR 13 lacs per anum

I have got an offer from a Singapore Company as a Senior SAP Consultant and offerd a salary of S$9500 per month. My Singapore employer will apply for my EP, but I need some clarification.

I have not collected my Bachelor's degree (BSc) certificate from my University (Bangalore University) as due to some urgency I have to travel. BUt I have all the uuniversity pass mark sheets for all the semesters. I will be applying for the Bachelors Degree Certificate to the university next month but it wll take at least 6 months time for the University to post me the degree certificate.

But I have the Master Degree (MBA) certificate and mark sheets with me.

Can you please tell me if MOM will reject my EP on this ground ?  If yes, then please suggest what shall I do.

Kind regards
Suman Bose
Mobile  +91-9830356968
Email: [email protected]

If you have other documents proving your degree, MoM may accept them instead of the original certificate - especially since they will confirm the authenticity with your home university anyway (and this can delay the process tremendously if your school does not cooperate). But it will of course be easier and more certain if you collect the cert first.

Hi!
I was hired by a singapore company and they applying my s pass application but unfortunate it was rejected..then my employer apply an appeal but not s pass instead they apply an e pass application for me then when i was checked my status it was shown a pending until now.. Is it possible that my appeal has been approve even if my employer change my application pass.. im a bachelor degree with a profesional license holder and i had  10 yrs. Working experience in a manufacturing company.. my employer offer me a sgd2400 monthly salary with a position of technical specialist..

Very low chance, because of much too low salary!
A B.Sc. holder with 10 years experience should earn S$5000-6000/month. With only less than half of that, you'd be spoiling the market - and the government does not want that.
Besides, you'll only be able to live on that if you are single and need no savings!

Hi!beppi
Thanks for replying my concern, the low chances of my application still hopping that mom approved my pass.. but i received a good news i checked my status early this morning  and im happy when i read my status they give me a chance and now my application is approve.. there still chances of trying.. thanks a lot..

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Apparently, your S-Pass approval was in error and withdrawn when the error was detected. Bad luck for you.
To rectify the quota problem, your employer would have to fire another foreigner before hiring you, or hire more locals to create another place in its foreigner quota.
Appealing will not help until one of the above options is fulfilled. Sorry!

Hi beppi,

I would like to ask for your insight for my case. I just finished my master degree in Singapore and got a job offer with salary 3,300$. The company has applied the pass for me since 6th June. My application status now is under vetting process. Actually, I am just resigning from my previous company since I took unpaid leave for my pursuing master degree here. Can it be the problem in vetting process that I am actually still in the resignation process? And how do they do the vetting process?

Thank you for your help.

Just to clarify my statement.
As I mentioned before, I am still in the resignation process from my previous company which is not in Singapore, but in my home country.

Thanks.

Vetting means checking if your credentials are correct, because there were too many fakes in the past. They usually check degrees, schools and official certificates, less often previous employment. In any case there should be no problem if you did not have a Singapore visa tied to your previous employer.

Thanks beppi for your insight.

Hi all
I am working in ep pass since 18months.
my salary is $5000 .
I had an interview with another company and got selected.
They applied my epass but after 1 week of applications by new company I got rejected by mom.
the new employer said me the reason was salary ad he had shown$ 5200.
He has assured me of appealing.  How much is the chance of getting approved.
From my side I have all the necessary documents.

Please need your advice and guidance.

It is impossible from the limited information you gave to tell the reason for rejection.
It might be a missing fit between your background (education, work experience) and the new job, or that there are sufficient numbers of locals who can do the job (and must be hired first, by law), of the new employer is not allowed to hire (more) foreigners, or because MoM dislikes job-hoppers (who change after less than 2-3 years), or ...
Rejection is the risk you take when trying to change job on EP.
Please also note that your current employer can see (in the EP Online system) that you applied for an EP at another company - and many bosses will lay off such illoyal employees at the next opportunity (leaving you with no job and potentially having to leave the country).

I am in F&B industry as a manager.  The reason I am trying to change the company is that my present employer is planning to close down the business. 
I have been offered a job in the same industry in the same post.
now the new employer is asking me to visit mom and try to find the other reason other than salary. Does it make any differences? What would you suggest? Is it good idea that i go mom and do inquiries regarding rejection.
as the  new company is ready to make an appeal.

MoM will not entertain you, only the applicant (i.e. the company) can get an appointment. They can take you along to this appointment, but you cannot go alone. But first they have to contact MoM and ask for such a meeting.
There, the MoM officer´sometimes (but not always) tells more about the reasons for rejection.
An appeal without substantial new information (which wasn't included in the original application) will not help.

Thanks beppi
your response to my queries are really helpful and appreciated.
the new company says that the reason for rejection was salary as I am paid $5000 at present and new salary is $5200
So if the appeal is made  showing my salary as $5500 how much chances do I have .

yakt wrote:

So if the appeal is made  showing my salary as $5500 how much chances do I have .

MoM is very suspicious of appeals and re-applications with higher salary, because they often come with (illegal) kick-back schemes, where the employee returns some of the salary back to the company and thus it only exists in theory (to get a visa). If you go this way, the company should attach a VERY convincing explanation why you are suddenly more valuable to them. Also, you should only do this after a personal appointment at MoM has confirmed that low salary is really the reason for rejection.
In addition, you should prepare for the possibility that this is rejected as well, and look for alternatives (like leaving for another country).

What if I try to apply from another company in future I mean how many months,  days  do I need to wait before applying.
Does this present rejection hamper my further  applications. I have also seen people getting approval after 2 - 3 rejection.

If the reason for rejection is the company, job or scope, you may well succeed at another company. If the reason is you, you cannot run away from it.

Hi Beppi,
MOM approved my pass last week and I just collected my pass today. So I want to share some experiences with you. The processing time for EP usually is within 1 week only. And EP Online will update immediate if there is any change in your application status.

Hi Beppi,

I got my EP rejected for commercial executive with basic salary 3500+500(transport allowance), 5.5 years experience in marketing.

With above salary (which i know very low) do you think its possible to get my appeal works out well?

Thanks.