Singapore immigration

Oct 10, 2018 26 Comments

Currently in the Bay Area on a H1B and was considering moving to Singapore among other options. I was wondering if folks who have been to Singapore or currently there can help with some of the questions I have around immigration:

1. Based on what I’ve read, the work visa is similar to an H1B where you can renew it every 3 years. What are some of the differences from an H1B?
2. What’s the procedure to get permanent residency? I’m an Indian citizen and based on what I’ve read it looks like it’s very hard to get PR. It seems like the same situation here in the US where you wait for GC endlessly.
3. A key difference seems to be that on a Singapore work visa if you make more than $12000 SGD monthly, you can sponsor your parents for a Long term social visit pass for up to 2 years and extend it as long as you hold a valid work permit. Does anyone have experience regarding this?

Thanks!

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TOP 26 Comments
  • Microsoft / Eng
    thatguyy

    Go to company page Microsoft Eng

    thatguyy
    1. Its called an EP pass and works like a L1 visa.
    2. Your best bet on a PR would if you are a young married couple with a son. They want young families with babies because of the declining birth rates and the son quotient because of the military thing they have. There are many other factors too which I am not listing down.
    3. Correct
    P.S. : These have been my observations from talking to people there. Worked in SG for a year on EP
    Oct 10, 2018 4
    • Grab
      nvDG66

      Go to company page Grab

      nvDG66
      How was the Singapore experience?
      Oct 11, 2018
    • Microsoft / Eng
      thatguyy

      Go to company page Microsoft Eng

      thatguyy
      The tech market in Singapore is mainly the one that is driving the financial business. These companies focus more on financial front than a technical product. You will always be secondary to them. The pay me be slightly good but it comes at a cost of using bad tech, outdated infra etc. I wanted to work somewhere where tech was priority. There are some tech startups coming up too which might be good. Moreover, I didn't want to end up working in SG and waiting for PR for a decade. Raising a family without a PR/Citizenship is a costly affair.
      Oct 11, 2018
  • Dell
    $&@17(

    Go to company page Dell

    $&@17(
    Very nice
    Oct 10, 2018 1
  • New
    Hhuffgds

    New

    Hhuffgds
    1. I would say sgp work visa is more like L1 as it's tied to a company. If u switch you need to get a new visa sponsored from them.
    2. Getting a PR is fucking hard, and moreover it's a black box, you don't know what you need to get it. It might take anywhere btwn 2-10 yrs to get one, if not more. Keep ur hopes low on this.
    3. That's correct
    Oct 10, 2018 0
  • Xilinx
    miaomiaomi

    Go to company page Xilinx

    miaomiaomi
    EP is like L1 buy it is very easy to get a new one from a new company. (In 2 weeks) EP will never be a reason that you cannot get a job.
    Oct 11, 2018 5
  • 1. Not really sure about differences from H1B, but yes, you can renew it (and your company has to do it for you) - it's called an EP (employment pass) or IC in SG.
    2. From what I hear, yes, it is hard to get PR.
    3. Yes, these terms are clearly stated in the MoM (Ministry of Manpower) website - and it is quite quick to get the LTVP (Long Term Visitor Pass) for your parents too.
    Oct 10, 2018 0