Traveling to Singapore with pending EP application

If you have a valid visa, return ticket and hotel or accommodation details in Singapore (during your stay period), then shouldn’t have an issue.

I'm from the Philippines and we do not need visa to travel in Singapore. I have a return ticket and I'll be staying at my friend's flat for 5  days. Actually I am worried because I stayed for almost 30 days the last time I visit the country 3 months ago.

After scanning your passport, the immigration officer will see your complete history and the EP application on his screen and thus will ask questions.
Your chances of entry depend on your answers and wheher you can prove them. Thus as Surya suggested, bring along a return ticket and proof of accommodation (your friend can invite you in writing).
As a reason for your visit, you could mention preparations for your planned move to Singapore, including apartment search.
Do not give them any slightest hint that you have other intentions, like illegal work or joining a boyfriend or potential partner (both of these are no-goes!).

beppi wrote:

After scanning your passport, the immigration officer will see your complete history and the EP application on his screen and thus will ask questions.
Your chances of entry depend on your answers and wheher you can prove them. Thus as Surya suggested, bring along a return ticket and proof of accommodation (your friend can invite you in writing).
As a reason for your visit, you could mention preparations for your planned move to Singapore, including apartment search.
Do not give them any slightest hint that you have other intentions, like illegal work or joining a boyfriend or potential partner (both of these are no-goes!).

oh! the immigration officer will see my EP application? Wow! didn't know that. What a bummer. 

Maybe I'll do as you advised then.

Should the immigration officer did not allow me to enter Singapore, will that affect my EP application?

Wow!!! my pass has been approved just now!!! it became an S though! but I'm glad I have a pass now!! no need for another reason to enter Singapore. Thank God!

Congratulations Jace!
For the S pass, can this do self apply or must have a job and apply through employer?

My employer hire an agency to process my pass.  I believe you can't self apply passes.

going out of the philippines is the problem/hassle lol filipnos dont need a visa yes, but its up to the IO to let u out of the country. in sg you just have to show the IPA then youre ok.

JaceTMS: Congratulations on your S-Pass - have a nice time working in Singapore!

Lorinchloeb: Did you do ANY own research on the matter?
Your question has been answered many times on this forum - and literally on all other publications regarding Singapore work visa as well!

One of my friend has a valid e-visa and also an approved IPA for spass. 
Is there any issue in holding both of them at the same time ?
Could he enter through any one of the above visa or both ??
The reason he has both is as his IPA was in pending for long time, so he applied for business visa which was approved in 1 day, then IPA of spass also got approved.
So, he wants to go now with IPA. Any suggestions?

He should use the correct visa for the purpose of his trip:
If he is on a business trip, he should use the business visa.
If he wants to start work, use the IPA.

To add into Beppi’s advise, ICA can see in their system that he has IPA approved, so showing Business visa would be landed him few more questions and unpleasant experience. So, avoid it and show the IPA if he is coming here to work as Beppi advised above.

Yeah! That was my point also.
Also, since scanning the passport, ICA could see his both visas (business visa as well as IPA) right?
He is worried even if he show IPA , Could ICA question him about why he is holding business visa also ? And what reason could be given to them if he is asked about business visa ?

Visiting visa does not have significance here as he has approved work pass and coming with IPA letter. But showing tourist visa ( he should be prepared to be asked few questions such as why did he come under a tourist visa, then he has to explain that he will come for few days to see housing rent near to his office location as the company doesn’t provide the initial accommodation etc.) then come back with IPA letter.

Hi! I also have a pending application status. How long did it took for your pass to be approved. I’m already on the 8th day. My agent applied on Aug 21 and my visit pass (visa on arrival) will end on Sept 5. The 10th day of my application will be on Sept 4. I am pretty sure I would need to leave the country if I still won’t have any update on Monday, Sept 3.

Pittyap: The vast majority of applications take more than 10 days, so better plan on leaving Singapore temporarily before Sept. 5 and return when your work pass is approved.

@pittyap : beppi is right. My IPA was approved after 14 days and there was a correction in my IPA which took more than a month.

Hi everyone. Just an update.

My S pass application got approved last Sept 4, 3:00pm. It was exactly 10 days (but it felt like years!!). I went to JB to exit at around 11:30pm that day since my visit pass will expire at Sept 5 and went back to SG (Sept 5) at 3:00pm. No questions asked by both immigration (Malaysia and SG). When I entered SG, I just showed them my IPA together with my passport

I just got back from my medical examination and will be awaiting results before I can finally start working.

Thanks everyone!

Submitted the application: August 21, 2018
Approved: Sept 4, 2018
Preschool Teacher

Pittyap: Did you show the immigration a printed copy of your IPA or can you show them the IPA through your phone?

@beppi hi. I want to

ask if i can enter singapore in this scenario. My last employment was End of May in singapore. Mom gave me STVP 30days after my cancellation of pass. Then i left singapore around end of june. Im at malaysia for 1mos. My question is i have pending EP can i enter singapore as a visitor? I dont need a visa to enter singapore. Im entering bcos i need to pack my things at my house and my visa here in malaysia is goin to end. Thank you beppi

@Navi Pogs Having an ongoing EP application is not a hindrance to entering Singapore as a visitor. (But there are, of course, other potential reasons why you could get into problems.)

For PH folks, is it true that our IO can see if we have an IPA or valid work permit going to sg? I have a JO in SG and it is ASAP. The company cannot wait for another month to process my oec and advised me to travel as tourist as I will not be barred entering SG since my I have a legit pass. Should I enter via Malaysia? please advise.

@Scarlet0103 I have problems understanding your question. What do you mean by "IO", "JO" and "oec"?

If these are Philippines-specific abbreviations, maybe you better ask on the Philippines forum?

IO-immigration officer

OEC-overseas employment certificate.

thanks for the prompt response. Hoping for some folks from PH to share their insights🙏

@Scarlet0103 For an employment certificate, you should approach your employer. Or you could also use the employment contract or EP (LoI) as proof of employment.

@Scarlet0103 Hi Scarlet, I’m currently in Singapore in Tourist Visa. Same scenario, my employer suggest me to come in SG as tourist then we’ve processed the S pass application when I arrived here. IO in PH will see if you have an existing work pass application online and you will be offload automatically if we don’t have OEC so our employers suggested that we travel to SG as tourist then when we arrived in SG then they will submit or work pass application. Currently, I’m still waiting for my work pass process since October 23, 2023.

@Rubydev To arrive here on a tourist visa, but with the intention of starting work, is not allowed and can get you deported. I am sure there is a misunderstaing with your employer!

Furthermore, the work pass application process often takes longer than the 30 days you can stay here as tourist - and you cannot work or earn anything during that time.

@Rubydev I see. At least that’s confirmed that IO can indeed see the status of the application. Thanks for replying.

@beppi

im here in singapore now, i worked in SG before for 5yrs and i coming back bec i have job offer but they havent apply my spass as they still waiting for the job post in website untill 14days. but what happened to me in immigration is they questioned me what is my purpose coming back to sg i told them to visits a friend. They took my phone and check on my gallery and whatsapp convo. after they questioned me, in my STVP they give me 30 days, but the officer told me verbally to go back as per my return ticket. My questions,

1. is there any implication on my application when they will apply me
2. can i stay untill my 30days even the officer told me to follow my return ticket

@reyes8808

1. Since this ended without any official implications (just a suspicion), I assume it will not have an effect on your work pass application.
2. You can stay the full 30 days, but do not expect to get any more SVP after that!

@beppi

thank you for your reply

@beppi

sorry i forgot to ask, but what happened to me is nothing serious? I mean, if i will not follow my ticket and will take my 30days. this wont be a reason for me to banned? i mean i read some and they said they got deported/banned coming to SG.

@reyes8808 It (and the underlying suspicion) will certainly be noted in your profile with ICA. What the next immigration officer will do with that information is up to him/her (or maybe internal ICA procedures that we don't know).