EP processing time extended to 2 months?

[wonderingwhy]

Hi everyone,

I applied for a Q EP last week, and was just informed that my application processing time has been extended to 2 months since they needed more time to review my application. Has this ever happened to anyone? Is there any way to expedite this process?

Thank you

[it probably]

means they areintending to reject it.

[wonderingwhy]

if they do, why don't they just reject it now instead of extending it? 

[marioj]

wonderingwhy,

your background may have something to do with MOM's actions.  What is your field?  how many years experience?

i read in other forums that those in the IT field are getting their EPs flawlessly while those in the administrative positions have problems (though not all).

good luck on your application. pray hard too.

[wonderingwhy]

my job is somewhat IT. i would be doing front end web developing and some interactive designing. i have only about a year experience but pretty good qualification (i have a bachelor's from one of the top schools in the US so i was hoping that could be my leverage).

which other forum do you go to?

[marioj]

It's a Filipino forums called Pinoysg.com.

MOM has been unpredictable this late but 2 months??? That seems odd.

[marioj]

are you sure you heard it right?  2 months?  maybe the MOM said 2 weeks.

im trying to add up:  if you applied last week and told to extend 2 weeks, that will be 3 weeks, and 3 weeks is the average processing time for manual EP applications.

maybe you were told weeks, not months.  good luck! God bless your application.

[wonderingwhy]

no, my HR lady specifically says 2 months instead of the average 3 weeks... and the reason is because MOM needs to further review my application =( not sure what's going on either...

[DT]

same here... i just applied for my pass and the current status written as : Pending inputs from vetting agencies. Expected outcome is 2 months from the Date of Application. this is ridiculous there is no company willing to wait that long for us regardless of our acceptance into the company... this is nonsense

[wonderingwhy]

yeah, that's what i thought.. they're probably checking into our qualification. i'm not scared as mine is legit, but i'm scared my company might lose interest as well. i've already mentioned this to the guy who hired me though, that my application is taking longer than we both originally expected... but still =(

at least looking at the bright side, they wouldn't bother checking us out so thoroughly if they were going to reject the application, right? just make sure your qualification is legit.

[ssuming]

I would assume the application is in jeopardy and will get knocked back. If it's taking that long there is problms.

Most approved ones in our company took 3 days.

[marioj]

yeah 2 months is really ridiculous and this can discourage companies from hiring.  if you look at the MOM website, it says 3-4 weeks is the waiting time.  what is with MOM?   and to think that singapore economy is getting better and hiring is picking up.

[marioj]

same here... i just applied for my pass and the current status written as : Pending inputs from vetting agencies. Expected outcome is 2 months from the Date of Application. this is ridiculous there is no company willing to wait that long for us regardless of our acceptance into the company... this is nonsense

So DT, mind if i asked what you professional field is and how many years experience do you have?  this could be a criteria for MOM for prolonged application.

[marioj]

oh wonderingwhy and DT, it just occurred to me to ask you both:

are your respective companies first timers in hiring a foreigner?  because if they are not first timers, they could have applied your EPs online which would have taken you from 2 hours to a few days to process.

companies hiring foreigners for the first time need to go on manual application because they need to acquire UEN (something like UEN, im not sure exactly the meaning of that but its like a unique number).

MOM website has this to say on Manual Application:
"The processing time is about five weeks. You can check the assigned FIN and application status online about 14 days after submitting the application."

for online applications, here is what MOM says:
·      80% of applications are processed within seven days

·      The applicant may check the application status via EP Online (No login password required)

Good luck to the both of you.

[wonderingwhy]

my company is definitely experienced in hiring foreigner.. so that's not the case here