The Original Juice

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."

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

I got a reply from HDB re my enquiry about buying a house with a Pakistani husband.

Her reply as follows:

We wish to inform you that the Non-Citizen Spouse Scheme allows a citizen above the age of 21 but below 35 to buy a resale flat from the open market with a non-citizen spouse who holds a long-term social visit pass (including work permit) of at least 6 months.

1. Its the seller's market now
2. A lot of people are downgrading now
3. Causing a demand for 3- and 4 -room flats
4. And they are demanding AT LEAST 25k above valuation (of average 200k depending on location)
5. Which is payable in CASH

Hello??? Who has 25k in blardi CASh!?? If there is anybody, i will go and rob him! Yeah i'm THAT desperate! LOL!

But my friend told me not to give up. There might be some urgent sellers like divorce cases or demise of one of the owners, etc etc.

And now i just reread her reply and it says "including work permit"??? *faint

1. D&D 18th April 08

Remember my email about getting my 200+ colleagues to vote from several D&D themes?

Turned out Shanghai Knight VS Italian Mafia won. And so, being a RecClubber, i hafta rent a costume which is claimable up to $60. I decided to wear a cheongsam cos at least its coverable than a supposed SEXY Mafia lady.

Just gotta know that the top prize is $1,000 cash!! And among other top 7 prizes are Travel vouchers and a 2N hotel stay and so on. But the best part for this year's D&D is... there is a BONUS prize that EVERYONE is entitled to. Yes even if you've ALREADY won the 1st Prize! And the BONUS prize is worth $4,700!!!!

Pray for me you guys! LOL

One of my friends seem to think that RecClub members should be excluded from the lucky draw! But hey, without us, the D&D won't be planned in the first place. If anything, we should deserve MORE! LOL


2. 21st June. Charity Day

I am, again, in the planning committee. I forgot how nice it is to be organising events!


It'll be a day for lotsa fun and games! Unfortunately, they deem it unnecessary to have a live band esp when 500 of our targetted audience are actually primary sch children aged 7 - 12yrs. Sorry, Darling.


This year is a special year for our Hearts in Action Committee bcos this year our offices all around the world including of course, France, Germany, US, London and so on will organise the charity event on the same day!


A French member even suggested and 2 degree exchange. like french delegates will go over to other countries' offices on 21st June to feel the volunteerism there. In turn, 2 volunteers from other countries will go over THERE in Paris to "help" with the event.


Sheesh! If i hadn't been in the planning committee already, i would straight up and volunteer myself with much enthusiasm to go lah! (but with a slight worry about food) Most excitingly, they volunteer their house as accomodation for the foreign Hearts in Action Teams. Most unfortunately, they asked that the cost of travel be included in the CHARITY's budget! Damn! Don't know why we can't put it as a regular business trip?


So, in conclusion, i can't go lah. Nobody is.


3. Company Retreat 3rd - 5th July 08

Votes are in. Bintan won against Sentosa.

I voted for Bintan for the nice place and gorgeous beach. But then... not too sure is Z can get a visa there! Ergh! *pray hard*

But when Z DOes get the visa, we will definitely extend for one more night!! Weehooooo

Alhamdulillah Z was granted 1 mth social visit pass from when he entered Spore ie 8th Feb 08.

Guess what?! 8th March is coming and already Z went to ICA like two times!!!

He went to ICA on Mon to get the visa extension or long term or whatever he can get lah. Only he was told that MY confirmation of employment letter is not valid. They needed a new one. WHY? We had been using the same letter for the past applications no problem what. Besides, its the PR Application that needs the letter to be dated less than 1 month!

I went ahead to get my HR to issue another letter but asked Z to just go again on Wed. He returned with the same outcome but this time with a clearer understanding as to why they rejected our application.

They need the letters to be dated in the same year as application. ie 2008!

Unfortunately, the letter is still not ready as of yesterday 2pm. so my dear Z hafta go home again. But not without a stern reminder that the letter HAS to be done by thurs, otherwise he would hafta go back to Pak (?!?!?!?!?) and my punishment is to fill in the forms myself. but i managed to squirm out of that one :D


At least, the good thing is we got to lunch at Turkish Cafe! Yummy!


This morning the letter is finally signed, so Z is coming and going again. hmmm where shall we lunch this time>?

Mummy has been bugging me to bug Zubair into getting his flight tickets changed to leave on the same day as mine.


He, in turned, said that the airlines officer has changed and confirmed his flights but won't actually release the paper ticket till AFTER he received Zubair's VISA to Singapore.


OOps... i have quite forgotten about it. The last time i remembered i was in the office and the papers were at home. At night forgot. When at home i remembered about it, i wanted to bring it to the office the next day but forgot. Aiyoyoooo



Anyways, i finally applied for him at home last Sunday night. and on Wed it was already approved! Says to collect anytime Mon-Fri 8:30am - 2pm. Now why do they say 8:30am i wonder, since they actually open at 8am?



I initially asked Kak Long to collect it for me since she's not working. Bcos i can't afford to take any more leave. it's just the start of the year and i only have 8.5 days left! But i feel that I should better go personally, in case anything goes wrong, she won't know anything...




So yesterday morning, me and Ayah went out super early and reached there 8:15am (after a bit of detour cos missed the exit) and i found out that they are indeed opened and have already started taking Q numbers!



Some 20min later, my number was called. But it was only to take the filled out application form with photo and all. He told me to have a seat and they'll call my number again.



There was some confusion with the Q numbers actually. Bcos later numbers kept being called and about 6 pple went to the counter to check if their number has been called and they missed it. Apparently, they were calling for Student Pass applications. Aiyah... Why they put in the same series? Made us feel... being put aside and ignored! Like we were not important and that the students were more important? And why were they processing those students first? We're the ones who hafta get back to work!



In any case, I am very grateful to Allah that the collection went through smoothly. He's got a double entry journey for a "short stay" period. When asked to clarify what is short stay, the officer said it depends on the officer who stamps his passport when he arrives Singapore. It can be between 2 weeks to 1 month.

Afterwards, We will need to go there to apply for extension etc.

It was 9:10am when it was all settled. The mrt is very near and only 4 stations away, but i didnt wanna take chances nor stress myself walking quickly so i took the cab. Here's the breakdown of the taxi cost:

1. KM run: 4.2km
2. Fare: $6.60
3. Peak 35% : $2.30
4. ERP: $2.00 <<--- (Electronic Road Pricing that "helps" to "curb" traffic jam)
5. Admin 10%: 1.06 <<-- bcos i paid by Mastercard

TOTAL: $11.96

I reached office 9:30am.

As promised, i stayed back to make up for the lost minutes. Ayah picked me up. Alhamdulillah

For a baby?" my ex colleague asked me.

At the present, I can't wait to have a baby. I wanna see how they would look like. Sharp nose? dimples? Hairy? Short/tall? I wanna coo at them, buy them clothes and play with them...

A baby would also mean that we can buy a house directly from HDB.

On the other hand, now Zubair wants only 2 children (after seeing how naughty Singapore children are!!) and only after he's got work. But i thought, pregnancy spans over 9 months plus minus. Hopefully, by then, he would have found employment? How long do we hafta wait if start making babies only AFTER he's stable at the job? Maybe only in 2009 he/she'd be born!

Yet on the contrary, i am definitely NOT ready mentally.

Mainly, I'm not ready to sacrifice my time for this baby yet. I wanna go out w hubby, sisters or cousins. I wont be able to sleep my min 8hrs a night fill. Of course, i'd hafta suspend my night classes and all.

I can't take it if Zubair forget about me after the baby. Even now, i'd feel very annoyed and neglected if i dont receive hugs and attention. You wont believe it, but im jealous of my own computer!

To make matters worse, i just heard of a scary incident. One of my relative was using IUD. then she missed her period and was concerned. Her doctor confirmed she's pregnant and said probably the IUD came out unintentionally. but apparently, it actually "Termasuk" or got further inside. It is alleged that if you continue the pregnancy, there is a high chance the baby will have some er... manufacturing defects.

You have all heard that children are gifts from Allah. That they are born with their own rizq or wealth not neccessarily just monetary. If He grants us that gift, we should accept gracefully, but if He hasn't, we should be patient and that its probably better for us.

I'm just a very anal person when it comes to planning (my life, at least). I want to know when to stop medication and when to start preparing for it. Why can't life give simple answers? a straight yes or no. a firm date now and then. Well then, i guess it wouldn't be called life and we wouldn't be humans but robots! (ok rambling on and on and on! haha)

I've heard a lot of pple telling me wait till financially stable, take one thing at a time. Yes yes i know that... but what about the higher probability that Zubair will get PRship with the newborn? and what about Baby Bonus? i dont suppose the $750 every 6 mths from the govt will be sufficient but surely it DOES help?

I'm pretty sure it'd be a heavy strain on me if we want a baby and a house so soon, tho not exactly at the same time, and before he's got a job. But i just cant help exploring my options, Analyzing the pros and cons.

I dont know why i dont really have the mood to write today... prolly BECAUSE of the topic im going to write today and the impending task im gonna work on today...

Anyways... I received a letter from ICA over the weekend. I suppose it must be result from the appeal we made at Meet The People Session.. The letter contained the exact same words... saying Zubair is not eligible for Long Term Visit Pass but will be granted a non-renewable 6 months less one day Social Visit Pass to look for work.

It just struck me when i mentioned this to my mum yesterday that its NON_RENEWABLE. Thankfully we've already made plans to go back to Pakistan some time in Dec... so he can re-enter Singapore... then hafta reapply the visa. Oh no.... im sooo scared of things not turning out smoothly... what if... what if....

Sigh....

Prolly i SHOULD move to Dubai... AXA has a branch office there, prolly i cld ask for a transfer. Zubair had ever been to Dubai to work for 2 weeks and it was easy for him to find a job... my mum was surprisingly encouraging about it yesterday... i told her im scared bcos:

1. Dont know anyone there (ok there r a lot of malay muslims there)
2. Dont know how to cook (ok can learn lah)
3. I heard rents are HIGH
4. What if they still talk mainly in Arabic? ok Arabic's way better than Urdu but still...

Plus, if i lived there, means i hafta travel to two countries to "go home" and see parents as opposed to only one when living in Singapore.

But i told my mother that its normal for foreigner to not be able to get job/pass for a year. the sister who did my bridal henna said she's got a girlfriend who married a nigerian i think. She was the sole breadwinner for a year plus but recently her husband's got a job...

mummy said, "Yeah that's true.. here, u still have a place to live... ok just sabar (be patient)" So i guess i should and must persevere lah... or maybe i give it another year... if not, i'd prolly just migrate. nonsense Govt. if u dont want ur kids to migrate, issue PR more easily for their spouses lah! %$^&%&$%^$%#$%@#