CAtoSing wrote:For greater piece of mind, I am thinking about getting the cheapest one-way ticket out of Singapore for about 50 days after we arrive. JetStar has some cheap ($60) fares to KL. That way I can prove an onward ticket.
So here's a (possibly) stupid question if I do this...
When filling out the D/E Card (
http://www.ica.gov.sg/page.aspx?pageid=97), what should I put for "Place of Residence" and "Next City of Disembarkation"? If I say I live in the US and will go to KL after spending ~50 days in Singapore, won't this seem like I'm purposefully pretending to be a tourist even though I'll have several evidences of my plan to stay (though not yet with IPA in hand)? In other words, am I better off pretending to be a tourist or indicate my true intentions (with the supporting documents I'll have on hand) despite not having the IPA?
And for further reference, I have just confirmed with my airline (Turkish Airlines) that I will not be denied a boarding pass into Changi.
Singapore received over 11 million visitors last year, and ICA has been fine tuning the process to identify real tourists, to those on the borderline to those who have suspicious travel pattern etc
In the process, some innocent get entry denied while a few not-so-innocent slip by
And pretending etc, are not good, as that can be a reason for them to shorten your stay here, or refuse entry
And .. if you have an IPA approved, when the officer scans, you insist you are on a holiday, that's going to raise some serious questions, but you may still be allowed, than denied, based on there spot decision
If they have doubts, they will refer you to their next level, and that is all in addition to their automated decision making system (from what I hear .. )
For your info, SG ICA knows a lot of Europeans / americans spend a year or so, just travelling around Asia, and accept that, and also a few Asians (women mainly) who claim to do the same, and the latter gets shortened stays or refused entry
Don't worry too much, is what I will repeat !!!