EP processing time in June 2021

Deepankar: In this forum in the recent few weeks, we have confirmation from members who have received their EP approvals in less than 1 week, some cases 2 weeks, some still pending for over 8  weeks. It ain’t the month, or a trend per say. If the submitter is doing a great job with regards to the cover letter to justify why you over others, reasoning behind the salary you being offered, they doing it right with the job posting, have resorted to fair hiring practices, furnish all relevant documents including company’s revenue (unaudited works), it should be smooth.

To boost up some spirit

S pass renewal : applied 22/06/2021

S pass approved : 04/07/2021

Sector: Manufacturing

Exp : 4.5 years

All the best to everyone

I can share my experience. I applied from Hong Kong, working in financial industry with over 15 years experience. my company applied my EP in March and I got it just this week near end of June. It took a total of 111 days to get it approved.

I almost had lost hope and on verge of cancelling the application but just got it in time. I think it took longer time for me because I applied from outside Singapore. This forum helped me quite a bit during the waiting period. Best of luck to others who are waiting.

Deepakcoolz: there is light (always) at the end of a tunnel
Congrats!

Thanks for prompt response.

Hey Deepak
Congrats on getting your EP! When you say 111 days - was it that many working days or included off-days too?

Thanks for detail explanation , appreciate it

Hi Shekz,

If suppose MOM has decided to reject an Application will they keep it pending for long time or reject outright ?
If no query to Employer till 5 weeks of aplication what can be an Approx guess ?

Curiuoseummer: Post an application review, Rejection and approval is almost immediate and reflects within a few hours on the EPOnline portal.

5 weeks is normal, give it another 2 weeks for an outcome while you can request your submitter to do a follow-up with MoM.

Hi All
Just to share someone I’ve placed into a new position had had his EP approved in 3 weeks …some are happening!

Sona SG, 111 days were total including holidays. From March 11th to Jun 30th.

Wanted to share Ep renewal
EP renewal - June 25
Approved: July 8
9 working days

Nice , for me EP new application submitted on 23rd June., Still the status is pending.

New EP application post-June 2021 takes 2 to 3 months for a clear outcome

On what grounds do you type such statements?

That’s not accurate, applications have gotten approved in under 3 weeks too. Threads on the forum have the posts. Just because it has happened to you, doesn’t mean that each and every application takes that long.

Do provide substantiating evidence please to back your statement. Would be worth a read.

@Deepankar Agarwal Did u get any outcome. My EP submitted on 25th June for MNC bank.

yes, you are right. Few approvals are quick though but my application, in particular, is pending for a long time and when enquired it was updated that the approval time is around 8 weeks for an outcome. Maybe it depends on a case by case.

Hi All,
Just wanted some insights.

I had my EP approved in 5 days in Feb 2021 and I have tendered resignation as my roles and responsibilities were a mismatch.

I have found another role and the EP is applied today (July 9).
Will there be any potential issue as the current EP has been active for only about 3 months?

My profile is technology focused and building products.

Appreciate your insights.

BR

Not yet still pending

Gaagaagoo wrote:

Hi All,
Just wanted some insights.

I had my EP approved in 5 days in Feb 2021 and I have tendered resignation as my roles and responsibilities were a mismatch.

I have found another role and the EP is applied today (July 9).
Will there be any potential issue as the current EP has been active for only about 3 months?

My profile is technology focused and building products.

Appreciate your insights.

BR

MoM doesn’t quite appreciate frequent job switches, however, you could have outlined it in your cover letter, that you are moving owing to a mismatch in the job.

Just curious, you took up a job because you knew/ understood the profile, isn’t it?

The project didn't kick off and they made me do something not relevant to my skills.

The new employer won't be mentioning these in the ep submission right?

I'm not sure if these placeholders are available in the application form. Outlining that previous role was mismatch etc

Cover letter is where you can outline what you wish to, to strengthen and justify the switch.

Really? Been on EP for more than 7 years. None of my employers asked me about such a cover letter before as part of ep submission. They send the application pdf and I filled and sent supporting educational documents. Even the past employers experience letters I've never sent before.

Didn't know about it and the application is already submitted, so I won't be able to submit the cover letter now. Right?

Gaagaagoo wrote:

Really? Been on EP for more than 7 years. None of my employers asked me about such a cover letter before as part of ep submission. They send the application pdf and I filled and sent supporting educational documents. Even the past employers experience letters I've never sent before.

Didn't know about it and the application is already submitted, so I won't be able to submit the cover letter now. Right?

Nobody is asking ‘you’ to submit a cover letter, your application submitter has an option to submit a cover letter, to justify the application/ applicant for the job.

MoM has past records of your jobs, pointless sending experience letters for gigs in SG.

Cover letters help outline ‘why you for the job, salary offered, skills and so on so forth’- so any additional info helps (the prior fiasco could have been highlighted here for MoM).

sunrise9nature wrote:

yes, you are right. Few approvals are quick though but my application, in particular, is pending for a long time and when enquired it was updated that the approval time is around 8 weeks for an outcome. Maybe it depends on a case by case.

True, every application and every applicant is not identical, hence the review/ approvals vary and are not consistent. Your statement on the prior post wasn’t accurate, hence called it out. It is misleading for anyone on the forum.

Super. Got it. I think the employer already did that. Appreciate your clear response.

Will update here about my status when I have an update.

Good luck for everyone waiting.

New EP application for my wife, who was on DP earlier submited on 25th Jun, got it approved on 8th July. So it was quite quick

Deepankar Agarwal wrote:

Not yet still pending

Hello Deepankar , any outcome or update received.

Still Pending

My EP got rejected after My HR called MOM to check for the pendency even after 4 weeks of application!
Untill the call they kept it pending and in 1 hour if the call they marked it as Rejected.
No reason given !

My conclusion :
If your EP is not approved in first 2-3 weeks and no queries raised by MOM for further details , thats most likely MOM has decided to reject your application ! Reason is best known to them !

I am not gonna appeal as I am disappointed with current scenario of Foreign workers in this country!

I am feeling the hostility in the air and this Pandemic was an eye opener in true sense!

I will soon move out of this No more expat friendly country!

I am from SPASS to EP Application

Submitted last June 14 and still pending until now.
Patiently waiting for upcoming 5 weeks now.
Praying to share positive result soonest.🙏

CuriuosSummer wrote:

My EP got rejected after My HR called MOM to check for the pendency even after 4 weeks of application!
Untill the call they kept it pending and in 1 hour if the call they marked it as Rejected.
No reason given !

My conclusion :
If your EP is not approved in first 2-3 weeks and no queries raised by MOM for further details , thats most likely MOM has decided to reject your application ! Reason is best known to them !

I am not gonna appeal as I am disappointed with current scenario of Foreign workers in this country!

I am feeling the hostility in the air and this Pandemic was an eye opener in true sense!

I will soon move out of this No more expat friendly country!

I'm sorry to hear that, maybe just try to appeal for the rejection. Just out of curiosity, did you just renew your pass then was rejected, or you are applying for a new pass for a new employment?

CuriousSummer, sorry to hear about your case, but you certainly cannot make a rule from a one-time occurence:
- The rejection very certainly had nothing to do with your company's enquiry. It was a coincidence!
- "No reason given" might not be true, as MoM usually gives a hint in the rejection letter. (If you read it, please tell us the exact wording!) Furthermore, the employer can find out more details by contacting the MoM officer.
- If MoM decided to reject an application, this is quickly (meaning within a few days) reflected in the EPOnline system. They do not hold back the information (there is no reason to do so!).
So as long as you have no notice from them, there was no decision and your approval chances are unknown.
-But you are certainly right that things are getting more difficult for foreigners working (or wanting to work) here. Singapore, like all reasonable governments, helps its own citizens first!

Hey, wanted to share an update on my EP application, it finally got approved on 8th July. The application was submitted on 23rd April. So, overall it took 10 weeks, 4 days!
It was a painful wait as I have been unhappy in my current job. But finally, I can resign and move on. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Sona SG wrote:

Hey, wanted to share an update on my EP application, it finally got approved on 8th July. The application was submitted on 23rd April. So, overall it took 10 weeks, 4 days!
It was a painful wait as I have been unhappy in my current job. But finally, I can resign and move on. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Patience does pay off. Congratulations!

Sona SG wrote:

Hey, wanted to share an update on my EP application, it finally got approved on 8th July. The application was submitted on 23rd April. So, overall it took 10 weeks, 4 days!
It was a painful wait as I have been unhappy in my current job. But finally, I can resign and move on. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Thank you for your update. Congratulations on your new EP. Mine is currently pending for 5 weeks now and the news you shared give us hope 

Congratulations .
Any reason why they took 10 weeks or they asked any documents etc ?

Got my 3rd and final rejection after 9 weeks. The company did not specifically mention the exact reason. They just mention that MOM told them any further appeal won't change the result. New application for a lower salary is not also an option as they mention it will hurt the image of the company from MOM's perspective. I'm very disappointed, but it is a great learning experience.

IMO, as long as you and the company have the right credentials and your employer is willing to fight for your EP you mostly will get it.

Good luck to everyone. Hope you all will get your approval soon.

Hi all, sharing my EP experiences in the hopes that it'll be a positive data point for someone else.

My latest EP application was approved within 8 working days / almost 2 calendar weeks for a Data Analyst role at an eCommerce company:
- Company applied late evening on July 5th (Monday)
- EP Online status checker showed 'Approved' status on July 16th (Friday), ~9 am

I've been working in Singapore for about 2 years now (but completed my bachelor's and master's degree here before that and have a pending MOE Tuition Grant bond obligation). I was concerned after seeing some other posts on the forum as my fixed salary jump is about 18.7%. But what I can infer from my outcome is that MoM is reasonable in considering your credentials and whether your previous salary was below the market average for those same credentials etc.

I've also had longer waiting times for my EP in 'friendlier' conditions (non-COVID times, less strict EP eligibility requirements):

- 4-5 weeks to approval for my EP application in early 2019, and
- 5-6 months in 2016: it was rejected after about 4 months pending, and finally approved with additional supporting information from the company. By then I had already moved and taken up another job so I asked the company to withdraw the application - I'm lucky that this withdrawal didn't seem to affect future applications!

My credentials, profile, roles & responsibilities have changed since then so that could've also contributed to quicker approval this time. But just wanted to share to illustrate that it's not definite that your EP will take more time just because of the pandemic or the not-so-favourable climate for foreigners. It really seems to depend heavily on your profile, how your company presents your application, and whether they've done their part posting appropriately on MyCareersFuture and sourcing for local talent as well.

Another note on the MOE Tuition Grant bond obligation that might be helpful - I spoke to MOE and this information isn't shared by them with MOM. The EP application also doesn't have a question/section asking if you have a pending bond obligation from what my current and future employers have told me (though it is a question on the SAT). So I'm not sure whether/how MOM has access to this information.

My old EP was also renewed in June (took about 2 weeks as well) and since I wanted to provide any relevant supporting information I could, I asked for my employer to submit my signed bond agreement - and they sent it in via iSubmit after the original renewal application was submitted. Good luck to everyone and hope this helps!