Archive for Passes

DNH Consultants

16 December, 2008 · Filed under business, money, Passes, research, S'pore

3 weeks ago, i called up this Consultancy company.

At first, i wanted to know if they can help me write up the Business Plan for our partnership. Apparently, they can help with the WHOLE PROCESS of foreigners setting up their businesses in Singapore. Or another way to put it: All or nothing.

Cost:

$1,000 for doing and submitting the paperworks which includes doing up the Plan as well as filling in the form for the EntrePass which will enable the foreigner to work in Singapore.

$2,500 after approval from MOM and ACRA which includes registration of the business in itself. (Cost about $100 for a foreigner to register on his own with another singaporean partner)

The kind man warned me though that if the first application was rejected, chances of appeal and/or subsequent application would be very low. In other words, its CRUCIAL to get it right the first time round.

He was very initiative though. He asked me other questions to understand more about our situation. When he gotta know that Zubair was holding a Work Permit, he said the chance might be low if we go thru the Partnership route and explored other ways to do it.

First, he suggested that we apply for PRship straight away. Traditionally, we would wait about 6 months in the same employment and then had to get the employer to sponsor the application. However, this guy said that he can help us submit a convincing application at a fee of $1,000 (irregardless of outcome) without having to wait 6 months nor getting the employer to sponsor.

Hmmm… sounds interesting to our desperate minds back then.

Then he started to look at yet another angle. He found out that im pregnant due in Mar 09. So he said just wait till the baby’s here then we can submit the PR application. With 2 points of support ie Child and Spouse are Singaporeans, the chance of approval is higher.

Although in the end, the result is still the same (ie we hafta wait till the baby’s born), i feel very highly satisfied having had this 8min teleconversation with a Kadir from DNH Consultants.

1. I finally got Z off my back to do the Business Plan.

Mind you, its not cos i dont care… but i feel that its soooooo difficult for ME to write something convincing about a business i dont have a passion for.

2. I spoke to somebody VERY knowledgeable and got answers ON THE SPOT.

It was a sharp highly intelligent conversation hahaha (not from my part tho). Me asking Qns, he answered promptly. I like it. Makes me feel like i can depend on them… on somebody … anybody… in this screwed up world of complicated visas and such.

He IS right though. After getting the PRship, it would be a BREEZE to open the partnership THEN. No need to apply thru MOM for this entrepass shit, things like tt. We wont even need to hire professionals to do it, we can DIY.

The heartwarming part about this phone call is that, he very early pre-amped (is this the right word?) me that he was going to Haj for a month and will only be back in Jan 09. and also when he asked how i gotta know his company, i said from your prayer time table i pasted on my work desk, he said, “Oh that’s nice.” It made me feel like, “Ok.. I can certainly trust this guy.”

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Protected: Zubair’s Job Status

9 December, 2008 · Filed under married life, money, Passes, Ups, work

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Green Card

6 November, 2008 · Filed under Passes, Ups, work, Xubi

Zubair is now the proud owner of a Work Permit! Alhamdulillah x 100000000000000

He started working yesterday. It must be because of the baby that he finally decided to accept this waiter position. I hope more fatherly responsibilities will show soon.

He works 11am – 11pm. 6 days a week. On his off days, he plan to do his singing lessons. I appreciate his ambition but i hope he wont wreck himself with sheer tiredness.

And at this rate, i wont be seeing him at all till… well till he stops working! By the time he reaches home it would be past midnight, and my bedtime is at 11pm. No hopes of catching him b4 i go to work either. Perhaps a few early hours of the weekend.

Last night, we had to resort to talk in our sleep. Both groggily chatting the other up. So much so that i think its a dream now…

And now i have all the time in the world to go out “independently”. Who wants to date me? I can do karaoke, singing, movie and of course Dinner. Msg me! haha Oh Mon & Wed Outs for me.

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Protected: The Untold Bad Side of the Visa Story

29 October, 2008 · Filed under Downs, married life, Passes

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The Visa Story Continues…

29 October, 2008 · Filed under married life, Passes, S'pore, Ups

9 out 10 points to Zubair who initiated to go to ICA on Mon ie yesterday to get his Long Term Visit Pass renewed.

Why i didnt suggest this earlier is because on the cover letter when received his green card, it stated as non-renewable but it didnt show anyway on the card. So we tot, we’d take our chances.

He arrived there bright and early at 9:30am. I told him that if there is any problem, just try to get it extended on the basis that the work permit application for him is in the process.

I was anxious to get news. at 11:47am he called me and said, “They say i hafta exit.”

I wailed, “Whatttttttttt??? But howwwwwwwww?” In my mind i was thinking, no way m i gonna cough up SGD 1k just for his plane ticket home.

Then he lightened up and said, “I was just kidding lah. They extended my visa for another 2 months while the LTVP is being processed. Paid $30 for it. Shall i come to ur office now?”

I was jumping for joy!!! Alhamdulillah…. That means now his social visit pass is valid till 28th Dec 08. Now we just hafta pray that the work permit application will be processed smoothly.

I felt sheer delight at the prospect of having lunch with Z in town! Although i was dreaming of having INdian Rojak for lunch since morning, i was thinking of having a celebratory lunch with him at Fig & Olive or something. Luckily, he stopped me saying we shldnt spend unnecessarily and stayed firmly at that even when i tried the its-only-once-in-awhile excuse. But in the end, i got my Rojak and he Nasi Briyani.

I tricked him into coming with me to International Plaza (where the train is) to collect my maternity pants and then to the other corner of my office to the convenience store. He grunted when he found out that it meant he had to walk back to my office to collect his file and back again to take the train, “I’m sure you wouldn’t do this if you were alone.”

To which i replied, “Well… walking alone is no fun… This way we get to spend a bit more time together.” At least… i bought for him chocolates. Hee =D

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Keeping the Record Straight

24 October, 2008 · Filed under blog, Downs, married life, Passes, work, Xubi

I dont wanna shut down this blog. One has to face the consequences of what one wrote. Also refers to Z when he writes comments. Deleting is for cowards.

Instead, i will start moderating comments and i have also closed the Express Comments section.

I will tell you that i am not at all affected by the harsh comments. They dont know what’s going on. If anything, I’m amused that quite a handful of pple care enough about other pple that they felt compelled to give nasty remarks. Its ok. We’re humans. Perhaps i might have said or written unthinkingly in response to somebody else’s entries.

May i reiterate the reason for my blog is to conquer my fear of losing memory. If i write them, perhaps i will always remember them. Be it the good times or the bad patches. If you’ve been following my blog religiously, You will notice that for about 2 months i havent written anything much associated with Zubair himself unless its positive ones like his job or our dates and such. Everything else was about work.. baby and random issues.

If i were to start all over at a new blog, it won’t be for close friends and family, I would write anonymously for the whole world to read. That way i get to vent my frustration without pple knowing who i actually am. I dont feel comfortable writing the bad stuffs to friends and family.

Nope. The things i write on this blog is not even 20% of the downs that i actually go thru.

Anyways, Zubair has got a waiter job at Satay Club restaurant last Tuesday. Work Permit application is in process.

Gotta go and sell my DS Lite now.

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Visa Expiry Countdown

21 October, 2008 · Filed under Downs, married life, Passes, S'pore

11 days to go before Zubair’s Long Term Visit Pass expires.

I was super stressed last friday when the thought finally dawned on me that we still haven’t quite done anything about it.

As plane ticket to Pakistan is expensive, the initial option was to get him a M’sian or Bangkok tourist visa and come back after a few days.

The good news is that there is no specific guideline as to the number of days foreigner has to be away before coming in again with a fresh visa. The bad news is, to get even a TOURIST visa for both of the above country, he needs to hold one of these long term passes:

  1. Permenant Residency

  2. Employment Pass

  3. Work Permit

  4. Dependant’s Pass

  5. Student’s Pass

I’m stumped. I wanted to just go ahead an try arguing that LTVP = Dependant’s pass. But but but…. i just couldn’t do it. My spirits were down. My head confused as hell.

In any case this tourist visa will take 1 week to process. Then the new social visit pass will take another 3 days if done online. Will i be able to make the deadline????

2nd Option: To get formal work. HAH! Work Permit application would take 1 week giving us 1 week to finalise with prospective employer if any. Panic panic panic!!

3rd Option: Beg ICA for extension. (it is supposed to be non-renewable ie non-extendable)

4th Option: Beg to Pak Embassy to help do something for Zubair in relation to the above 3 options or sponsor his ticket back home. HAHA.

Then, Z called me up to say that we might be called upon on Sat night to a top notch Paki business owner to discuss how “easy” it is to register a company. Takes just one day. Bloody Hell. It hurts me so much i felt like punching somebody. How dare they carelessly say its VERY EASY to do it. Make it sound like we or rather I havent done my job properly.

Yeah sure the business registration itself will take max 2 days. BUT to get the correct pass for him to stay in Singapore to be able to actually RUN the business will take 6 freaking weeks ok! This guy, his friend, also said to just simply submit 3 other Singaporean’s CPF accounts then we can issue a work permit for Z. Excuse me but its not that simple.

Firstly, we have to pay the salary of these Singaporeans that we declare work for the partnership. Secondly, we would need to file taxes and gazillion other official documents.

It hurts when he can easily dismiss what the people I know said when they claimed its EASY to get work permit, or its EASY to get visa to M’sia. But no… i can never ever EVER put down what HIS friends say. “He is a top businessman ok” Sure the least i could do was “LISTEN” to this guy’s ideas and accept his help. But im pretty sure our circumstances are different.

When last night he said he had another friend saying its EASY to get an Indon visa, i said, “Then GO GO ask your friend to do it for you.” I’m so boiling with anger right now! BEcause apparently, the indonesian visa is even tougher to apply for as they require the application to come thru Pakistan itself rather than Singapore. What the!

To complicate things more, i was torn between going to Eid visiting with my friends the next day or not. Z already told me well in advance he doesnt wanna participate but urged me to join them. And im like, Gosh i dont wanna go out w my friends and their husbands if my OWN husband is not around. Makes me look and feel like shit. I know you guys would disagree because there are other singles in the group also but no, you can’t imagine what im going thru ok.

I wanted to strike a bargain with him that he could at least go to 2 or 3 places but he announced that he had a performance or practice or whatever gobshite. I am beyond caring.

So what if the visa expires?

On bad days i would go like, “Go to Hell. I dont care.” On Good days i would just say, ‘OH feck it!”

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Business Plan

22 August, 2008 · Filed under married life, Passes, S'pore, Xubi

There has been little progress on the Business Plan front.

Z: Have u written the business plan?

Me: NOt yet

Z: Why lah you. Always not serious when it comes to my things.

Me: You can’t depend on just ME to write this up. It’s not easy im telling you. I need you to tell me what you want to say then i can brush it up for you

Z: I already told you what that its a home business giving lessons…..

Me: What i mean is written draft. I need that then i can see what needs to be improved on. Have you made your research already? Fahim said something about interviewing suppliers and prospective clients. Can’t depend on me alone to do this. I’m working 9 – 5 for god’s sake.

A few days after that, he did write a draft. I smiled sweetly at him. Very nice gesture indeed. Means he’s listening to my grievances.

Suddenly i couldn’t help but voice a thought that jumped to mind:

Me: But Darling, imagine. If we make this partnership for home piano lessons, hindi gigs whatever whatever… then what if you dont get the business? You will still be bored at home. I mean just look at all your friends. They never make it to the 2nd month!

Z: Alamak you. You always do this to me. Crush my hope.

Me: *at lost for words*

But a few mins after that i realised i should have said, “Im just trying to be realistic and anticipating what kind of problems we will face before it comes so that we will be prepared when it happens or avoid it totally. Please try to be positive with every comments that pple give you lah.”

BTW these are the requirements from MOM on the business plan:

“A comprehensive business plan of not more than ten pages detailing the following:

  1. Business idea – a short, self-explanatory summary covering the proposed business concept;
  2. Product/service – the product and service offering;
  3. Market analysis – the target market in terms of key customers, competition and market growth potential;
  4. Market plan – how the product/service will be marketed or distributed;
  5. Operation plan – resources needed to run the business;
  6. Financial projections – projected sales and net profit before tax for three years and breakeven point;
  7. Management team – key drivers of the business; and
  8. Supporting documents – e.g. licensing agreements, product certifications, endorsements etc.

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EntrePass & Business Plans

5 August, 2008 · Filed under business, Downs, JoOb Search, Pakistan, Passes, S'pore, Xubi

I’ve been dreading to start writing again bcos the topic on hand is a difficult and tiresome one.

Last Thurs, i took half day leave to go and research how to set up a company for Zubair.

Actually i’ve already done the research on the phone some time last year i think. I still have the notes. But oklah wanted to appease Zubair and show that i really do support him morally.

First Stop. International Plaza – DP Bureau.

We had to pay $10 for consultation which is refundable when we eventually set up the company. Basically nothing new that i dont know already… except for the revised fees, processing time and some pros and cons as well as opinions of the officer and what other services that they could do for us.

Basically his company will be offering private music lessons at home, as well as on hire for any performance or music composition and what nots.

In Summary, we hafta register the Partnership FIRST with fees of $133 and will be approved between 3 – 5 days if there’s no problem with the Business Name.

Second step: apply to MOM for Employment Pass. This DP Bureau could not help to submit for us the papers. We already know that our chance is slim without a degree. And normally, if applied from an employer, the requirement to get an EP is to have $2,500 pm salary. However, we put hope that bcos its his OWN partnership, he has a Singaporean wife as well as a Professional Cert might up the chance by a big notch.

On the other hand, I realised that Grade 5 Theory might not be enough to be called a professional certificate. Nonetheless, i pray and i hope.

Next stop: MOM

We wanted to know what are our chances first before applying for that partnership and then end up he cant operate it. like my sister would say: buang karen ajer (waste energy).

We looked up the long alphabetically sections for queues but couldn’t decide whether its a Work Permit or Employment Pass, almost argued about it. Then went to the reception counter and we related our intention.

Without hesitation nor much thought, she said, You can apply for an EntrePass along with your Business Plan. THEN when its provisionally approved, you can register your partnership.

On the first run, i was delighted! Ok at last somebody who’s confident about the answer.

When i got back and checked on the net. I remembered why i didnt even consider EntrePass. Because of this clause

In addition, businesses not of an entrepreneurial nature (e.g. coffee
shops/hawker centres/food courts, foot reflexology/massage parlours, karaoke
lounges, money changing/remitting, newspaper vending, geomancy and tuition
services etc) will not be considered for an EntrePass.

Golden Question: Would the partnership that we intend to set up be regarded as entrepreneurial in nature???

Application fee is $40 regardless of result.

********************

On the sideline…. Just a day before we went to do all this research, Zubair has finally succumbed, “Lets go back to Pak.”

But this time I’m the hesitant one.

  1. Why is he suddenly so anxious to go back? He had been tired for a long time already what.
  2. Waiting for the outcome of this partnership idea
  3. No way am i gonna endanger my life as well as my baby’s with that CRAZY BITCH Still breathing and roaming around in Pak.

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Hopefully This is the End of Job Search

19 June, 2008 · Filed under JoOb Search, music, Passes, Ups, Xubi

Last Saturday, out of his whim (and also sheer boredom at home even with me around – or esp so), he decided to pay Uncle Pyara a visit.

The same person who offered him the job in Malacca.

As it turned out, when Z was there, Uncle Pyara’s son in law was also there. And he offered Z a job singing as his restaurant. He also owns a food factory in Sembawang.

His restaurant is in City Plaza. He said he wants to change the name and theme to Bollywood thingy majigy.

BIG HURDLE? WORK PERMIT. *roll eyes* Like what else can there be?

He went to see the Manager of the factory in Sembawang. Apparently, he knows nuts about this paperwork thingy. I was then, assigned by Z, to print the work permit application (so old school! when we can actually apply online!) But there’s a slight technicality problem.

The restaurant needs a Public Entertainment License (hereafter known as PEL) to be able to hire a singer and also apply the Work Permit for Performing Artiste for Zubair. the cost? For Sector A for rests to perform up to 1am is roundabout $752 per annum. It will also take 7 days for application to be approved. Then another 5 days for WP to be processed.

Bcos the manager knows nuts and prolly dont have much say nor will to get the action going, we’re waiting for the owner to be free to meet Z and settle this once and for all.

Another option is that they will take Z on as a cook first. and they’ll figure out the rest. One thing’s that clear is they WILL employ Z, Insya’Allah. Ameen.

In a way, im thankful for these “problems”. Cos hopefully it gives Z time enough to start AFTER 5th July ie the Company Retreat to Sentosa! LOL selfish me~ But i have plans for Z! *wink*

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