Employment Pass Rejected

The reason is MoM and only MoM!
There were times when a week processing time was realistic. Now it's 2 - 3 months.

My previous EP was processed within 3 days (back in 2010) and now its almost 2 weeks and no news. By doing this are they forcing the employer to withdraw the application and hire somebody local? hmmm Curious

Hi all! My pass was just approved; 8 working days wait time. Thanks for your well wishes

Congratulations! That means fast results still happen occasionally.

Maybe married by Singaporean man or woman would be beneficial since we can apply for permanent residence right away. Higher chance to get a job in Singapore. Anyone agree?

A foreigner married to a Singaporean would not apply straight way PR, rather you will apply LTVP and you will be falling into similar process like anyone who applied for PR in later stage. ICA doesn't give any preference to a foreigner if you married a Singaporean.

And, pertaining to EP processing, MoM takes each application case by case and approves based on its merit. There were instances people are getting approval after waiting more than 4 months, where as few cases, an applicant got approved in less than a week. One of my office colleague last month approved his EP (first time came to SG) in 3 working days. He has a MBA degree from a reputed college and was working in a senior Risk management role. So, don't worry and have patience. Good luck

Hi Rudy!

Same thing happened to me. My S Pass was rejected and my employer said they appeal for it. May I know how long it took for the appeal to be approved by the MOM? The HR in my company is not very responsive and not really friendly that's why it is very frustrating to just wait for the result. Thanks i advance!

Hi Everyone!

I join today to get help! Basically the stories goes like this.

I got a job in SG and planning to move there. However, the work pass is rejected and this is the second time! The first time was 2 years ago.

I have total 5 years working experience and my new position is going to Senior Mechanical Designer and I was offered SGD4400/month fixed. I tried the SAT and it mentioned that I am like to get S pass only (which is weird because I pass the EP criteria). However, today I received a call from the HR mentioning that the application was rejected and the reason is "This candidate is not eligible to apply for a work pass." The HR did call them to ask for the reason and what she got is "the person himself that caused the rejection and the reason is confidential and cannot be revealed." The HR also asked if an appeal will work and the officer simply mentioned NO!

I'm so lost and in darkness now and due to those words with MOM, the HR does not plan to appeal my case now. What can I do now? Please help and thank you in advance!

Nattan wrote:

I tried the SAT and it mentioned that I am like to get S pass only (which is weird because I pass the EP criteria).

You do not fulfill the EP criteria, otherwise the SAT would tell that you're eligible.

Nattan wrote:

the application was rejected and the reason is "This candidate is not eligible to apply for a work pass." "the person himself that caused the rejection and the reason is confidential and cannot be revealed."

This means you are blacklisted.
If you really don't know why, think about whether you were ever denied entry to Singapore, deported or committed any criminal offense.
If not, you should contact MoM and/or ICA to find out what the issues is. They may or may not tell you, but only if they do, do you have a chance to clear it up.

Nattan wrote:

What can I do now?

Look for a job in another country.
And do not travel to Singapore before this matter is cleared up - not even for a short visit or transit!

Hi Beppi,

beppi wrote:

You do not fulfill the EP criteria, otherwise the SAT would tell that you're eligible.

I have actually checked their list and I have fulfilled all the listed points. Salary range, university (graduated from a reputable university with 1st class honour), etc. However, it seems that there is an unrevealed list which categorizes each person by his/her differently in a certain aspects. I'm not saying there is discrimination but I think nationality plays an important role in this.

beppi wrote:

This means you are blacklisted.
If you really don't know why, think about whether you were ever denied entry to Singapore, deported or committed any criminal offense.
If not, you should contact MoM and/or ICA to find out what the issues is. They may or may not tell you, but only if they do, do you have a chance to clear it up.

During my 5 years working experience, I have traveled to many countries and I never had any issues to obtain visa because I have CLEAN records. There is no police case at all, never been denied as disease carrier, never have any criminal cases in any countries that I have visited. No deportation or any issue with any immigration that I passed through. I paid taxes every year properly. All my bills are paid. So I totally have NO idea what they meant by "the person himself caused the rejection". I can guarantee that I have clean records in everything as a citizen wherever I stayed. I have a BIG question mark with their reasoning. If the problem is myself, they would have banned my visits for a few times in this year alone.


I'm thinking of going to MoM with the HR and be persistent to clarify about their reason before appealing with the right correction on the documents. Otherwise, there will never be any answer and forever I will never be able to work in Singapore for some unknown reasons. Please advice Beppi.

I can sense that things are going for the super difficult way.

Nattan wrote:

I have actually checked their list and I have fulfilled all the listed points. [...] I'm not saying there is discrimination but I think nationality plays an important role in this.

From the MoM website:

MoM wrote:

EP applicants will have to earn a fixed monthly salary of $3,600 or more, depending on their qualifications and experience.
Older, more experienced applicants are expected to command higher salaries to qualify, in line with their work experience and skills sets.

The S$3600/month are for fresh graduates. You have five years of experience and get only S$800 more? Probably too low for MoM's reckoning (and also below market norms).

Nattan wrote:

I'm thinking of going to MoM with the HR and be persistent to clarify about their reason before appealing with the right correction on the documents.

They already told you that appealing will not work. You want to waste your and HR's time?
This is a matter you alone must clarify with MoM or, more likely, ICA.

Nattan wrote:

Otherwise, there will never be any answer and forever I will never be able to work in Singapore for some unknown reasons.

Yes, that can happen. You won't be the first!
Good luck!

Do you guus know someone that got approved after an appeal?  Can you share the processin timr?Thank you

Yes, there have been cases of appeals approved.
All of them added new information to the appeal that wasn't part of the original application and rectified the rejection reason (this requires that MoM was contacted and the reason received from them). The processing time ranges from weeks to months.
Appealing without new aspects is a waste of time and will be rejected again (usually in a short time, since there is nothing to process).

Jun 2012 - New employment pass issued - salary -4,500 SGD
July 2013 - EP renewal  - Approved  -salary - 4,950 SGD
July 2014 - EP renewal  - Approved  -salary - 4,950 SGD
July 2015 - EP renewal  - Approved  -salary - 4,950 SGD
July 2016 - EP renewal  - Approved  -salary - 4,950 SGD
July 2017 - EP renewal rejected , 2x Appeals rejected  -salary - 4,950 SGD

Goodbye, Singapore....

Don’t be feeling sad cause you know already that it is going to happen one day for one reason that despite of inflation nearly 2% to 3% on an annual basis last 5 yrs, your salary didn’t increase a penny, I’m in disbelief and shocking to hear. Good luck next time

Thanks and Yes...Life goes on... 😊

Hi,

I'm also currently applying for EP.  Monthly salary is SGD 11,000 per month.  But I have no university degree or diploma but with over 15 years experience in the same industry. Working as a Marketing Director for a global shipping company. 

I'm from the Philippines.  Can anyone advise if I will get an approved EP?  Can someone advise if there will be useful additional documentation that I can provide to ensure I get an EP approval?

Thanks in advance.

Until a few years ago, there was officially no need for a degree if one earned above S$8000/month. This was abolished for a more opaque "case-by-case" decision criteria. Circumstatial evidence indicates that the threshold is now around S$12000/month, but there is no certainty - whether your skills are beneficial for Singapore or not is more important now. Your company should definitely submit a convincing justification, explaining in detail why they need to hire you over any local and how this will impact the company development an create other jobs for locals.

Hi all,

I need your thoughts.

I got a managerial job in SG last month, September. And my employer applied me for E Pass. I got rejected 2 weeks ago, and they filed an appeal. My employer is very pro-active in updating the status and actually coming up with next steps.

I have a 4 years working experience in the Philippines at the age of 24. Their offer is SGD 3,500, but I think the minimum for E Pass is SGD 3,600.

a. Do you think my age and experience affected my application?
b. Or maybe the salary offered since it's only SGD 3,500?

If my appeal got approved soon, I have no problem. If still rejected, do you recommend to apply for an E Pass again? Or just downgrade to S Pass?

- My employer wants me to start on Nov 13 already
- They don't have a quota to hire foreigners if they downscale my visa to S Pass
- If applied for S Pass, they will hire locals and will be needing 3 mos. before I qualified for S Pass. Their next step for me is to go in and out of the country because my passport is only valid for 30 days in SG until I get an approved pass. Which I'm really anxious of doing. But my employer is very very confident that I can get an approved pass soon.

a. Should I tell my employer to move my start date when I get rejected again?
b. Or should I go and follow the next step?

I really need help on this because I only have 3 weeks left to decide. But hopefully (Fingers crossed) my appeal will be approved real soon.

Thank you guys in advance!

Hi Beddi,

Thank you for your quick response.  Can you advise where you were able to find the "circumstantial evidences" or past cases wherein the EP was approved based on SGD 12000 threshold for applicants with no university degree?

I just wanted to look into these cases and share with my new employer just in case they encounter difficulties in the EP application.

Thanks.

1. The minimum salary for EP is S$3600/month for a fresh graduate, and it goes up with further education and work experience, along with your market value. With your 4 years experience, you probably need a minimum of S$4000/month to get an EP. Applying below that is sure to get rejected.
2. If the employer has no space in his S-Pass quota, they'd need to hire more locals or fire other foreigners before they can apply for an S-Pass for you.
3. BUT: If they didn't indicate on your EP application "if ineligible for EP, please consider for S-Pass", they lost their chance to apply for an S-Pass for you in this job. They'd need to give you a different job (and this will be looked at with suspicion by MoM, just like any sudden pay increase just to get a visa).
4. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you agree to start work without a properly issued work visa! This is illegal and will get you into deep trouble! If no visa is issued by 13.Nov., the company will have to get a temporary work permit (which allows you to work before the EP or S-Pass is issued), or wait.
5. Also, you should not leave the country and come back to get your visit visa extended. If you want to stay longer and have a valid reason (illegal work is not one!), contact ICA for an extension before visa expiry.

Altogether, it looks to me that this company does not know what they're doing. You shopuld probably look for another employer!

Hello everyone!


Lastweek my tep rejected.. Then i ask or regster to other agent to handle my case.. Then i told him my case.. Including before i worked as performing artis 2015 oct then i cancel january 2016.. After that me and my bf apply mom permission to ge marry sept 2016.. But it was rejected.. Then i apply tep rejected..

Other say need to apply mom clearance first to clear all my records in mom.. But wen i asked to my agent.. My agent told me no need..


Thanks in advance!

Riane23: It is not clear what your question is, but you should stay clear of those agents, who don’t seem to know what they’re doing! (Even worse if they charge you for their “service”, which is not allowed and means they are cheaters, too!)
If you have been blacklisted, you MUST contact ICA or MoM (depending on who blacklisted you) to clear the matter or at least find out how long you will be blacklisted. You will not get any kind of visa otherwise.

Riane23: Training Employment pass basic definition is an employer brings his employee (can be a student come here for training who will later join the employer) to Singapore for a training (which may have duration of 3 months at maximum). In this case, the agency who is misleading you by telling take permission from MoM and ICA of your marriage. MoM or ICA are not authorised govt agencies to approve your marriage or decline. But, you seek permission of MoM in two cases if you are a work pass holder (spass or EP, certainly not a training pass holder - MoM will reject your training pass application) and marrying a Singaporean (next time mention your query clearly and provide all the details, it is very hard to understand with half defined questions). Then after marriage, your bf May apply Long Term Visiting Pass (LTVP), below link may help you to do a self assessment to assess whether you will be eligible to apply LTVP (subject to approval, you may seek Letter of Consent (LOC) will be applied by employer and once approves then only you can eligible to work here).

https://ltpass.ica.gov.sg/evpaa/pma/pmaAdvisoryNote.do

Note: During marriage, other than to a Singaporean, MoM or ICA doesn’t have a role if you marry any one.


You are an artist, if you want to apply S pass or EP then find out an employer here who can hire you and based on that let the employer or it’s authorized agency apply your pass, avoid unauthorised agency as they may mislead and cheat you.

Below MoM link for training EP, to know the requirements and other details:

http://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permit … yment-pass

surya2k wrote:

Note: During marriage, other than to a Singaporean, MoM or ICA doesn’t have a role if you marry any one.

Surya: All WP holders and ex-WP holders have to get permission from MoM before they marry a Singaporean. This is not widely known, but I guess it is the case with the OP.
And the authorities are merciless with this rule: There have been people who married without permission and received a lifelong ban from entering Singapore - even though the (Singapore citizen) husband and a (Singapore citizen) kid stays in Singapore, the mother is not allowed to join them!
So this is a situation to avoid at all cost, and the OP's concern is justified.

Hi beppi.. Thanks for ur response!

I dont think i am blacklisted since i didnt violate any rules in sg.. I just cancel my permit which is performing artis last january 2016.. Then same year but sept we apply permission mom about marriage.. But rejected, wen we call mom about rejection, officer told as about my fiance tax declaration not tally.. So after 1 year i decided to apply in sg about training employment pass because my fiance cannot be my sponsor for me stay in sg, then last week training pass rejected, then we talked other visa expertise about my case, then he look for an employer then told me apply spass/epass.. I asked him ig its ok since i mom rejected me last week only for training pass.. Im just worried if my application now will be rejected again since my training pass rejected..

I am also worried if ica and mom connected during application.. Since my record in ica they always bring me office but still allow me enter sg.. They gave bigchop to my passport last january.. So im just worried also..

Of course I cannot tell you whether your application will be approived or not - only MoM can.
But ICA and MoM are DEFINITELY connected in any respect. Your proicessing officer can and will see your complete history (incl. all past applications and rejections) with the click of a mouse.

If your marriage application was rejected just because of a small formality, why didn't your BF correct that with IRAS and tried to apply again?

Because last 2 months he declared bankcrupt.. Cannot go out sg also.. Thats why i decided to apply training pass since he cannot be my sponsor.. Even our baby which is 6months old now as ica said cannot extend tru his name coz of his case.. After my tep rejection, employer apply my spass tru visa expertise that connected to them..

U think possible reason also why my tep rejected is because i am already college and degree holder and why need take tep? Thats my employer also told me..

And is it possible because my fiance declared bankcrupt then my name already inside his name  in MOM.. But wer not married.. We just apply before the application for marriage then rejected..

Hi Beppi: Sorry for any confusion. I had mentioned that MoM or ICA has no role in someone’s marriage if he is a foreigner and marrying another foreigner. I don’t need ICA or MoM permission if I’m a foreigner and going to marry another foreigner outside Singapore (I may inform my marital status post marriage to update my record or seeking DP under my pass). But, MoM and ICA will come into picture if I’m marrying a Singaporean (this part is mentioned in middle part of my message & asked her to go through the test to see her eligibility).

Riane23: ICA will reject your marriage so as MoM won’t approve your work pass because currently you are not working and person whom you want to marry is filed bankruptcy. How will you both survive here? Now, you are saying you have a 6 months baby. Sorry to say, you both are creating troubles  for yourself. Good luck

Riane23: It seems both of you are in real trouble and I'm afraid we cannot help through this forum any more. Probably you and the baby have to stay where you are now until the whole matter is cleared - and then him and you can deciode on which country you want to move to together.

Surya: Sorry, I misinterpreted your message.

Thanks surya and beppi!

I am in malaysia now, my baby is in philippines now.. As i am looking for work and apply in MOM again for spass..

And thats my concern, even we are not married and he filed bankcrupt is is possible that i am under his name already thats why MOM rejected my  tep application?

But my agent and employer told me it has nothing to do with marriage application before even rejected..

Im just worried really..

But the marriage is not my worried now, since we both know he cant be my sponsor to stay in sg.. Thats why i apply for work and under process in mom now.. I just want to know if anybody here can advice if my name is already under my fiance and if this is affect my application again now..

Your name is NOT connected to your bf and his bancruptcy.
BUT: Any processing officer can see in the system that you applied for marriage and various work passes before and were rejected. They will know immediately what your real intentions are. You must apply for a visa that fits your intentions - everything else will fail!

In addition: How can you leave your 6 months old baby alone? This is an age where it needs the mother (and breast milk) very much. It is irresponsible of you to put the BF or job over the baby!
Please return to your country and take care of him/her!

Thanks beppi!

I appreciate ur response..

Anyway, some of filipina in sg told us to do mom clearance to clear my record including the marriage application rejection before.. They said it will clear in mom.. But wen i ask my visa expertise and employer  they said no need mom clearance.. Because mom clearance use if u violate any rules or u are blacklisted..

So do u have any information what is mom clearance about?

Thankyou..

I understand ur concern to my baby..
But my intention is not about to put my bf first rather than my baby.. I went sg to apply work so if i can get or approve anytime i can bring my baby in sg and extend under my pass..also to work base on my degree.. Since my fiance never see our baby since birth and his not capable to go out sg.. And as ica told us.. He cannot be our sponsor until he settle his case..

You need a salary of S$5000/month or more as sponsor  to bring a family member (incl. your baby) to Singapore.
Sorry, this also won't work!

I can only give you well-meant advice (and I cannot help you further if you ignore it):
You are in a terrible mess and try to solve it by chasing dreams that will all not come true.
The best you can do (and I reall mean it!) is to return to your country, take care of the baby and wait until his case is cleared and he can join you. Then you can try a new start.

Aprreciated beppi..

So even my employer and visa expertise cannot solve this issue? Coz they told me my marriage application nothing to affect to my new application😩😣😥