If you are a graduating foreign student in Nanyang Technological University and plan to apply for PR status in Singapore once you are employed, read the following guide.
The steps that I recommend are:
The steps that I recommend are:
- Get the PR invitation letter from NTU International Student Centre (ISC). I'd call you SLOW if you haven't done this already.
- Go to ICA website and print Form 4A, together with Annex A (7 pages in total). Check out the explanatory notes to these forms as well.
- Get employed, umm... easier said than done, eh?
- Fill up the forms, note that Annex A should be filled by your employer/company HR. So, if you have a hunch that you would be given a job offer right after the interview, it would be best to bring the Annex A of Form 4A along. That would help you save some EZ-link dollars.
- Take note of your work commencement date, i.e. the date you start to work in that company. Make sure that the date is written correctly in Annex A. Then, count 3 working days backward from your start date. That is the period when you are allowed to apply for PR status, with ICA.
- *Important (this is where I got stuck at first): Count 3 working days (or more) backward. That is the time needed to get a letter of certification from NTU Student Service Centre. Oh bother... Why don't you do it now? Go to "StudentLink > Administrative Matters > Administrative Procedures/Services > Request for Letter of Certification". The letter should state something like this: "This is to certify that AhBeng/AhLian (details) has completed al the courses required for his/her programmes of study. He/She is currently awaiting for the release of his examination result..." Note that Step * is only required if you are not able to produce your educational certificates (your degree) by the time you go to ICA.
- Next, check that you have all the supporting documents to be produced (and their photocopies x1 or x2, depends). They are listed in the explanatory notes. For my case, the documents include:
a) Passport (photocopies of every pages might be required)
b) IC
c) Student Pass
d) Educational Certificates (refer to Step *)
e) Birth Certificate
f) Contract signed with employer - With all those, you are ready to go to ICA. It is just opposite the Lavender MRT station. Thanks to the freaking crowd, I waited from 9:10am to 1:00pm to be served, and it was on a typical Tuesday. On top of that, the place was freezing cold for me; it wouldn't hurt to bring a jacket with you next time. Oh... I think appointments could be made with the ICA, but I didn't try that. Go explore it for yourself here: https://eappointment.ica.gov.sg/ibook/index.do
- If everything goes well, you application will be processed. They would take away your student pass, and issue you with a temporary employment pass (stamped onto your passport) with an embarkation card (remember that white card?). I was told that it would normally take 3 to 6 months to process, and I have to avoid leaving Singapore in this period (*_*) otherwise I'll have to renew the embarkation card with them again. Die... no makan trip to JB for this long?
Well, that's all I can tell you folks now. If you still have doubts, call this number: 6391 6100. The uncles and aunties in ICA will be on the other side of the phone to help you (^_^)
