2nd time PR application!

[lovesg]

Hi,

I work as a HR professional from India, who moved to Singapore 2 years ago in 2009 and work in a MNC. I live with my wife & my 2 yrs old kid. I applied for my PR along with my family members after 8 months during 2010. My application was rejected without any reason. My then salary was 6.5k base salary + about 2k other allowances. The processing time that ICA took was about 2.5 months for rejecting my application. Again this year i applied in early Aug & my current base salary is 7+ k. Its going to be 4 monts since the time i applied for the second time.

Dont know whats going to be the outcome. But am a bit nervous as it is taking too long than the earlier occassion. What is the proability to get the PR approval, especially, when one applies for the second time? Thx

[my guess]

You have two strikes against you
- you're in HR, not exactly a "target" field in the eyes of the government.
- you're Indian. It seems like most Indians are having a hard time with PR application now.

[Agree with PP]

It does seem Indians are having a harder time with PR nowadays.

A couple of years ago at my company they were all getting it quickly - now no more.

There were a lot of Indians getting PR from say 2006 to 2009 - maybe they have quotas for nationalities?

This would not be admitted of course.

It is also felt by many Singaporeans that Indians and Mainlanders use the PR (or Citizenship) as a step towards a move to Europe or the USA - my really good pal who is not taking PR says this is just a stopover for him - Indian - Singapore then Europe - thing is he will stay within the company

Any - why would anyone want PR unless it was with a view to settle here permanently and become a citizen?

[Also Agree]

Indians are finding it harder to get EP's here now esp in IT.

Remember the front page of the Straits Times about a month back - "Do not discriminate against Singaporeans"

It highlighted a case where the Indian manager in an IT department would only take other Indians on when a Singaporean left - the last Singaporean girl in the department complained to MoM and the company had to change recruitment policies of only 1 guy choosing applicants

At my own company I hear Indians talking about bringing guys they knew over and saying they had been told by HR from the MoM no more Indians this year at our place - and we are a very big company in Singapore.

[lovesg]

Of course, I don't view my PR application as a stop gap arrangement. My intention is only to settle in Singapore. While it may be possible in some organizations to bring Indians in large nos. for specific jobs, it. may not be possible to do that in all the industries. For instance in my organization, am one of the 2 Indians:).

I understand that MoM has been reviewing all the applications very carefully. But can someone throw some light on their  2nd time pr application experience?

[my guess]

Of course, I don't view my PR application as a stop gap arrangement. My intention is only to settle in Singapore.

I'm sure that's what the Indians, who used Singapore as a stopover, told ICA too. I'm sorry that you're in this situation, but honestly, your prospects don't look too good. Your chances would probably be better if you applied 2 or 3 years later.

While it may be possible in some organizations to bring Indians in large nos. for specific jobs, it. may not be possible to do that in all the industries.

It doesn't matter if it is happening in some industries or all industries. As long as it is happening, it is a problem for the government.

For instance in my organization, am one of the 2 Indians:).

ICA does not take into account the number of Indians in your company.

However, it is very likely that they do take account of the % of Indians in relation to the total population in Singapore. And the number for that has been rising steadily in the past years and I wouldn't be surprised if they are aiming to keep that in check.

[PP Being sensible]

I think he addresses the issues in a balalnced way.

The OP, while no fault of his own, may have been caught up in what his fellow citizens have been doing recently and playing the system. This is the perception among many Singaporeans and their Govt is taking notice after the last General Election. This is particularly relevant among younger Singaporeans who see their job chances being diminished byt the number of foreigners arriving. Just look at some other the "Alternative" Singapore websites where they talk about this and even say why study IT as Indians and Filipinas will work for low salaries and take the jobs

It is the younger demographic who are voting for the opposition and it is them the Govt will want to show they are doing something.


All I can say to the OP is good luck this time - if not wait another few years. I think your first application was way too early after only 8 months in 2010.

Maybe if you worked in Pharma/Biotech or another industry where the govt goes out of the way to attract companies here and this was 2007 you might have got it then  - quite a few at my company did back then after only 9 months but now its difficult.

[Rejected also]

We just got the news that our PR application was rejected.  No reasons mentioned.  My husband has a very good position in a multinational company, salary + benefits close to 1 mill. per year.  We are from 2 different European countries, our kids were born here.  We can only guess that the reason for rejection was that we did not apply PRs for our children (daughter 13 and son 11).  They seem to be very strickt with that.  They want the boys to have PRs and then go to the army in the future...However, our son has to do military service in my country in the future anyway, so we do not want him to have to serve here as well...

[lovesg]

@ Rejected also

Sorry to hear that your PR application got rejected.

I was told by a lot of people that if the salary is higher, there's a very good chance of getting the approval. Your case proves to me that ICA strictly follows the rules set by the govt. No offense. This make me to love this country more and have more confidence in the system.

Whatever is going to be my application outcome, I guess, the govt knows who they really want to be the Permanent residents.

[Good luck]

@ Rejected also

Sorry to hear that your PR application got rejected.

I was told by a lot of people that if the salary is higher, there's a very good chance of getting the approval. Your case proves to me that ICA strictly follows the rules set by the govt. No offense. This make me to love this country more and have more confidence in the system.

Whatever is going to be my application outcome, I guess, the govt knows who they really want to be the Permanent residents.

You seem to be genuine and may fall victim to the duplicity of others who went before you.

You still do not have the outcme of this application yet - glass half full and all that - best wishes.

[Rejected also]

Good luck to you 'lovesg'!

Yes, we were really hoping to get the PR's.  However, they really seem strict.  Another reason (in addition to having a son who we don't want to send to the army here) might be that I am not working.  It seems that families with two incomes (two contributions to the society) get PR's easier...

[Times have changed..]

Though we are a dual-income family, our income is only about 40% of your husband's earnings. Still, we were granted PR status two years ago and we did not include our 3 sons (now all on student passes). Times have indeed changed...

Good luck to you 'lovesg'!

Yes, we were really hoping to get the PR's.  However, they really seem strict.  Another reason (in addition to having a son who we don't want to send to the army here) might be that I am not working.  It seems that families with two incomes (two contributions to the society) get PR's easier...

[Rejected also]

Thanks for replying 'Times have changed..' Times really have changed.  I wish they would give the reasons for the rejection.  In our opinion we would be very desirable to Singapore.  We both are highly educated, from good European countries, husband in a good position etc. etc.  And since you have 3 boys who were not included in the PR, it makes me wonder...what other reasons could there be than me not working, and us not including our son???  If they don't want us, who do they then take in?

[seems fair]

Thanks for replying 'Times have changed..' Times really have changed.  I wish they would give the reasons for the rejection.  In our opinion we would be very desirable to Singapore.  We both are highly educated, from good European countries, husband in a good position etc. etc.  And since you have 3 boys who were not included in the PR, it makes me wonder...what other reasons could there be than me not working, and us not including our son???  If they don't want us, who do they then take in?

Not including your son possibly demonstrates a lack of long term commitment, so you were rejected.  I see nothing wrong with that decision.

Also, I'd be curious to know what industry your husband is in - if it is one that may be affected by the financial crisis, such as banking, then his job is not that secure - and with you not working, there is increased chance of you leaving the country - even though the fault is not your own.

I think many of us expats often think we are of more value than we really are.

[Rejected also]

Thanks 'seems fair'.  I know, we would like to think that we are so valuable and desirable ;-)  But maybe not in their eyes afer all.  My husband is not in banking and his industry seems strong.  Us not including our son might be the reason, however, it is confusing, since 'Times have changed..' says that they did not include their 3 sons either but got accepted

So, I can only think that the major factor in their eyes is the fact that I'm not working...