Foreigner moving from EP to DP

[vegavega25]

Simple question:

Foreigner in Singapore on an EP. Has credit cards in own name, bank accounts, CDP with SSBs, SQ and Astrea Bonds, private health insurance. Moving to becoming a DP on spouse's continuing independent EP. Which of the above will need to be given up/closed/liquidated/redeemed/transferred? Assuming credit cards for sure because no backstop even though they are essentially an an unsecured credit line.

Thanks in advance.

 

[BBCWatcher]

Foreigner in Singapore on an EP. Has credit cards in own name, bank accounts, CDP with SSBs, SQ and Astrea Bonds, private health insurance. Moving to becoming a DP on spouse's continuing independent EP. Which of the above will need to be given up/closed/liquidated/redeemed/transferred? Assuming credit cards for sure because no backstop even though they are essentially an an unsecured credit line.

None of the above.

A credit card issuer might close an account for practically any reason, but there’s nothing to report to the card issuer in this case. There’s no change of FIN, address, or other personal particulars presumably. Plenty of retirees keep their credit cards, and it’s the same basic principle. As long as the credit card bills are getting paid the issuer generally has no problem.

As an aside, accumulating a big pile of low yielding Singapore dollar denominated bonds is a fairly odd thing for an EP or DP holder to do. An EP or DP holder has no durable right of abode in Singapore, so saving/investing necessarily should be geared to being booted out of Singapore rather quickly. And certainly retirement elsewhere. But such odd choices are available, and they can be kept.

 

[vegavega25]

W.r.t. credit cards, your point is that the requirement for a valid work permit pertains only to the time of application and not subsequently?

 

[sohguanh]

Simple question:

Foreigner in Singapore on an EP. Has credit cards in own name, bank accounts, CDP with SSBs, SQ and Astrea Bonds, private health insurance. Moving to becoming a DP on spouse's continuing independent EP. Which of the above will need to be given up/closed/liquidated/redeemed/transferred? Assuming credit cards for sure because no backstop even though they are essentially an an unsecured credit line.

Thanks in advance.

Sorry but side track a bit. DP is dependent pass? Why EP so good let go and move to DP tied to spouse EP? EP are employer apply unless they cancel for whatever reason? If yes then I understand why go for DP to be allowed to remain in Spore else i am curious of other reasons.

 

[vegavega25]

Sorry but side track a bit. DP is dependent pass? Why EP so good let go and move to DP tied to spouse EP? EP are employer apply unless they cancel for whatever reason? If yes then I understand why go for DP to be allowed to remain in Spore else i am curious of other reasons.

Layoff, sadly. Spouse safe.

 

[BBCWatcher]

W.r.t. credit cards, your point is that the requirement for a valid work permit pertains only to the time of application and not subsequently?

Yes, that’s right. It’s the same thing with income requirements. Credit card companies are generally quite happy to retain customers who pay their bills even when they would no longer qualify for a new card application. And there’s no requirement to report an immigration status change like this.

Don’t lie if asked, of course. And if the credit card company wants to cancel a card for practically any reason it can always do that.

Sorry but side track a bit. DP is dependent pass?

Yes.

Why EP so good let go and move to DP tied to spouse EP? EP are employer apply unless they cancel for whatever reason? If yes then I understand why go for DP to be allowed to remain in Spore else i am curious of other reasons.

That (job loss or retirement) is the typical reason to shift from an EP to a DP, yes. Or to shift from EP to LTVP if the sponsor is a Singaporean citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident.

 

[sohguanh]

Layoff, sadly. Spouse safe.

Ok noted. But what if spouse later also kena layoff? I think your fren need a foolproof plan if both get laid off what about those items you mention about. Plan more in advance else DP to EP and then later that EP also no more then all over again?

 

[sohguanh]

LTVP aka long term visit pass is also dependent on the EP isn't it? And LTVP need do renewal every 6 months not once get just leech upon the EP. And what if that EP later also no more LTVP continue unchanged? So a more well planned foolproof plan should be planned for the worst it could happen.

 

[BBCWatcher]

Ok noted. But what if spouse later also kena layoff?

Bye bye Singapore within 30 days of the last work day, absent exceptional circumstances.

I think your fren need a foolproof plan if both get laid off what about those items you mention about. Plan more in advance else DP to EP and then later that EP also no more then all over again?

There’s no foolproof plan available in these circumstances. Foreigners who wish to stay just do the best they can, but there are no guarantees.

LTVP aka long term visit pass is also dependent on the EP isn't it?

If the sponsor is an EP holder, yes. As with an EP holder sponsoring a parent for a LTVP, for example. But if a Singaporean citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident sponsors someone for a LTVP then that’s more reliable in practice since the sponsor has a stronger immigration status. But the sponsor is still mortal, so there’s that.

And LTVP need do renewal every 6 months not once get just leech upon the EP.

Pass validity varies, but usually the renewal cycle is not that frequent.

And what if that EP later also no more LTVP continue unchanged? So a more well planned foolproof plan should be planned for the worst it could happen.

There’s no ”foolproof” plan to stay indefinitely in Singapore except Singaporean citizenship or (with slight caveats) Singapore Permanent Residence. And these immigration statuses are granted (if they’re granted) at the government’s discretion, not as a matter of legal right.

 

[deepblueli]

LTVP aka long term visit pass is also dependent on the EP isn't it? And LTVP need do renewal every 6 months not once get just leech upon the EP. And what if that EP later also no more LTVP continue unchanged? So a more well planned foolproof plan should be planned for the worst it could happen.

Ya, all foreigners have to live with this uncertainty. Even with PR, it only valid for 5 years and if you lost your job during renewal time, you may not get renewed. Some citizens may not appreciate the privileges they have and a lot of foreigners want to be PR or citizens but very hard to get.

 

[reddevil0728]

Ya, all foreigners have to live with this uncertainty. Even with PR, it only valid for 5 years and if you lost your job during renewal time, you may not get renewed. Some citizens may not appreciate the privileges they have and a lot of foreigners want to be PR or citizens but very hard to get.

PR may not have it renewed if lost job?

But what about those who are PR but never have worked?

 

[BBCWatcher]

Even with PR, it only valid for 5 years and if you lost your job during renewal time, you may not get renewed.

That’s not correct. Re-Entry Permits (REPs) are valid for a maximum of 5 years. Singapore Permanent Residents are not required to renew their REPs. They only need a valid, unexpired REP to re-enter Singapore, just as its name suggests. If they never leave Singapore, even to take a bus to Malaysia, then REPs are moot.

Moreover, REP renewal is not necessarily contingent on employment. Renewal is discretionary, but common government practice seems to be to renew the REPs of jobless SPRs who qualified based on family ties — the REP of a stay-at-home SPR spouse of a Singaporean citizen, for example — and of SPRs age 55+ who are retired. Assuming they otherwise qualify.

Let’s suppose for example a SPR age 38 who qualified under the PTS Scheme loses her job with 40 days left on her REP. She decides not to apply for REP renewal, in part because she prefers to conserve cash (avoid paying the fee at that time). She spends 5 months in Singapore, without leaving Singapore, looking for a new job. She finds a new job, still remaining in Singapore. After 3 months working in her new job she applies for a REP renewal (roughly 7 months after her last REP expired). Her application is successful (let’s assume), and then she leaves Singapore to attend a one week business conference in Japan for her new employer. All of that is perfectly fine.

 

[BBCWatcher]

Some citizens may not appreciate the privileges they have and a lot of foreigners want to be PR or citizens but very hard to get.

Yes, but I wouldn’t single out Singaporean citizens here. I think many citizens of many countries don’t fully appreciate the privileges they have. For Singaporeans it’s a long list, and it keeps getting longer. There are often misconceptions about immigrants and immigration, frequently exploited for political aims.

Moreover, even if the government discriminates based on immigration status, if doesn’t mean you should (unless legally obligated). Just treat everyone as you would wish to be treated, with dignity and respect.

 

[deepblueli]

PR may not have it renewed if lost job?

But what about those who are PR but never have worked?

There are two types of PRs I think, one is your own which employment is key criteria to renew, another is sponsored by either another PR or citizen, for example the family (e.g. kids) of a PR. First generation PR doesn’t need to serve NS but second generation which sponsored by their parents has to serve NS. Unless the kids don’t take PR and apply PR on their own, then they don’t need to serve NS. I have an ex-colleague did that.

As what BBCWatcher said, in theory your PR status still valid until the time you exit the country when your reentry permit is expired. I believe your PR status will be invalid once you leave the country, the custom may ask you to surrender your IC when you leave (not sure if it is true). But your PR is not guaranteed to be renewable after 5 years which what I referred in my post above.

 

[sohguanh]

There are two types of PRs I think, one is your own which employment is key criteria to renew, another is sponsored by either another PR or citizen, for example the family (e.g. kids) of a PR. First generation PR doesn’t need to serve NS but second generation which sponsored by their parents has to serve NS. Unless the kids don’t take PR and apply PR on their own, then they don’t need to serve NS. I have an ex-colleague did that.

As what BBCWatcher said, in theory your PR status still valid until the time you exit the country when your reentry permit is expired. I believe your PR status will be invalid once you leave the country, the custom may ask you to surrender your IC when you leave (not sure if it is true). But your PR is not guaranteed to be renewable after 5 years which what I referred in my post above.

Let me input some as my spouse was a former PR for many years. She also resign job and then relook in Spore for quite long also never get revoked PR and expelled. PR no need work pass is very close to SC already but that is many years back. Rules keep changing of cuz.

 

[ahnyaahnya]

Singapore PR does not expire, unless they leave the country without REP

 

[sohguanh]

Singapore PR does not expire, unless they leave the country without REP

But it can be revoked if you infringe Spore laws. My spouse says long time ago the WA group she is in that is all for Msian got ppl kena and share so they know how to avoid becuz most of them used to cowboy style in Msia thot can be same in Spore until they found out Spore govt no play play unlike their Msian counterpart.

 

[ahnyaahnya]

But it can be revoked if you infringe Spore laws. My spouse says long time ago the WA group she is in that is all for Msian got ppl kena and share so they know how to avoid becuz most of them used to cowboy style in Msia thot can be same in Spore until they found out Spore govt no play play unlike their Msian counterpart.

Yah. Can revoke , but not expire.

 

[deepblueli]

Let me input some as my spouse was a former PR for many years. She also resign job and then relook in Spore for quite long also never get revoked PR and expelled. PR no need work pass is very close to SC already but that is many years back. Rules keep changing of cuz.

Ya, I don’t think gov would revoke your PR unless you violate the law. But renewal is different. You can always sponsor your spouse PR if really cannot renew after REP expires.

 

[BBCWatcher]

Singapore PR does not expire, unless they leave the country without REP

But it can be revoked if you infringe Spore laws.

Ya, I don’t think gov would revoke your PR unless you violate the law.

The government has the discretion to revoke Singapore Permanent Residency without a criminal conviction. For example, (now former) Singapore PR and pilot Ryan Goh Yew Hock was deemed an “undesirable immigrant.“ More recently Huang Jing and his wife lost their SPR. The government said Huang Jing was “an agent of influence of a foreign country,” and that his wife was aware of his work. But none of these three cases involved criminal charges, prosecutions, or convictions in criminal court AFAIK. They involved the government’s exercise of discretionary powers.

The government also has the discretion to terminate Singapore citizenship if it was fraudulently obtained.