What happens if entry is refused by ICA at airport ?

[jordan611]

GF is from China. Never entered Singapore before.
eVisa is approved via SAVE but I was just reading the terms and conditions fine print and it says still subject to entry requirements at ICA checkpoint

So if in the event that she is rejected at the airport, how does she fly back to China ? Who buys the air ticket ? And regardless of how expensive the air ticket is, must she also pay for it ? Must she be repatriated back to China within a certain period of time?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

[bro75]

from what I know, the cost is borne by the airline. that is why they do pre-departure checks of whether you are eligible to enter another country.

[sundaymorningstaple]

That is one of the reasons why Singapore requires an onward or return ticket before the airlines will let you board at your country of departure. She will have to pay here own way back.

[jordan611]

She bought a return ticket but it is obviously for a few days later and not expecting to need to return the same day ...

[JR8]

She bought a return ticket but it is obviously for a few days later and not expecting to need to return the same day ...

From what you have described, i.e. eVisa and return ticket, I see no need to be concerned.

Unless there is something else concerning you.

[jordan611]

She bought a return ticket but it is obviously for a few days later and not expecting to need to return the same day ...

From what you have described, i.e. eVisa and return ticket, I see no need to be concerned.

Unless there is something else concerning you.

Nothing else, absolutely - she hasn't entered Singapore before.
She's here to travel. Return ticket is set for 5 days later - Not to do any of those things that ICA is concerned about ...
Just that the fine print of the eVisa and the subsequent phone conversation with ICA who kept reminding me, for some reason, that what happens at the ICA checkpoint is of no bearing to the success of failure of obtaining the e-visa, got me a little worried

[JR8]

The way I'd read it is as a reminder of the fact, as with any 'visa waiver' or visa in advance arrangements I know of, that the right of entry is ultimately decided by the officer at the airport immigration booth.

Don't concern yourself, you sound set to go.

p.s. Presumably on her Arrivals Card she will be listing your address as her destination. Perhaps you can provide her an e-mail/scan of your ID/proof of legal residency here (LTVP/DP/EP etc)? Together with your mobile number. If questioned she could even say 'Yes he is in the Arrivals Hall waiting for me now. Of course you can speak to him if you wish'.

... But really I think this is over-thinking it...

[x9200]

OP: just realize that this is not about your GF but EVERYBODY. ICA can stop and send back any person they found not desirable. Visa or visa-free, printed in passport or not, this is their right and approach to handle some unexpected cases. It was spelled out for your GF just to make her aware that they may be some other conditions to be fulfilled (i.e. the return ticket, enough money, not smuggling anything in etc etc).

[the lynx]

I think OP's girlfriend will be alright. The e-Visa, return ticket, boyfriend's legit status in Singapore.

If it helps, do what JR8 tells you. But that's overthinking things. Thousands of Chinese nationals cross Singapore borders each day - business travelers, tourists, relatives of Singapore residents, etc. Your girlfriend has to be of questionable profile to be picked up like that and thrown back to China unceremoniously.

Now that I just mentioned that, she is not an online girlfriend, right?

[zzm9980]

OP I assume she speaks English or Mandarin. She'll be fine. Make sure she has your address, and your mobile number on her when she reaches ICA. Write it down, incase the phone battery goes dead. ICA will most definitely call you, but it will be fine.

[taxico]

because you sound like a singaporean, i am assuming you are one. so i will prepare you for the worse!

there is nothing you can do if your girlfriend is refused entry right - even if you are her sponsor and beside her. she need not have stepped into singapore before, or she could have been a bona fide tourist in the past - it doesn't matter.

she will be returned to the last port she came from. so if her transit was in timbuktu, it is likely that's where she'll end up. ICA won't care what her onward ticket destination is.

she will probably not have her check-in luggage with her when she is put on that plane. someone will have to work at chasing her bags down. she will also probably never ever know why she was refused entry, and likely not given any paperwork (or at least any conclusive reason) attesting to such.

i doubt she will be "deported" quickly, as ICA tends to detain such persons until all arrangements have been made. whether 3 hours or 30 hours, she won't enjoy her detention, that's for sure.

in all likelihood, you will not be able to contact her until she has arrived at her last port and can finally use a phone (granted - there are inflight phones on some planes).

you can sure try, but it's a waste of time.

if there's something in her profile that made you think she might be at risk, i suggest mitigation earlier than upon arrival (premium cabin, proof of accommodation, plenty of money, tour itinerary, proof of real job back home, etc) because if she's deemed ineligible for entry/visa at the border, that's about that... and likely to persist, even if you take the long drawn out route of appealing to ICA.

otherwise/failing that, there's no much else you can do except sit and wait. hopefully it will be smooth sailing, but hey, you gotta prepare for the worse right?

[nakatago]

She'll be alright, mate.

[zzm9980]

IME It's not quite so dire as taxico said, but perhaps it could be.

Anecdotally, ICA will walk with him/her to retrieve bags if they were checked. They'll do full customs inspection at the red lane, and then go back to the ICA office. ICA and the airline will work out returning the person to their home country on the next available flight. If this involves spending the night, it will be in a hospital like room somewhere at the airport. They will not have their passport until ICA escorts them to the boarding gate and hands it to the agent to check them in. If they had a return ticket, the airline will use that (no refund hah). If they didn't, airline will cover it.

ICA gave a reason in my anecdote, it was because the person spoke no English, had no evidence of a hotel stay, or evidence of money to do anything in Singapore and had the profile of someone likely to not be the kind of person ICA wants. ICA couldn't communicate with this person because her phone died, and we were waiting just outside to pick them up. This is why i said make sure the person has everything in writing outside of their phone.

I got this explanation by talking to the airport information counter, and they were able to put us in touch with ICA and have them contact me. Unfortunately at this point they had already started repatriation process so they wouldn't let me collect the person. I couldn't be too angry since the person was at fault IMO for being an idiot by not having the details of the email we sent printed out.

Othertimes I was called, and explained that yes the person was visiting me, I stay in XXXXX, my I/C is X########, etc, and they came right out.

because you sound like a singaporean, i am assuming you are one. so i will prepare you for the worse!

there is nothing you can do if your girlfriend is refused entry right - even if you are her sponsor and beside her. she need not have stepped into singapore before, or she could have been a bona fide tourist in the past - it doesn't matter.

she will be returned to the last port she came from. so if her transit was in timbuktu, it is likely that's where she'll end up. ICA won't care what her onward ticket destination is.

she will probably not have her check-in luggage with her when she is put on that plane. someone will have to work at chasing her bags down. she will also probably never ever know why she was refused entry, and likely not given any paperwork (or at least any conclusive reason) attesting to such.

i doubt she will be "deported" quickly, as ICA tends to detain such persons until all arrangements have been made. whether 3 hours or 30 hours, she won't enjoy her detention, that's for sure.

in all likelihood, you will not be able to contact her until she has arrived at her last port and can finally use a phone (granted - there are inflight phones on some planes).

you can sure try, but it's a waste of time.

if there's something in her profile that made you think she might be at risk, i suggest mitigation earlier than upon arrival (premium cabin, proof of accommodation, plenty of money, tour itinerary, proof of real job back home, etc) because if she's deemed ineligible for entry/visa at the border, that's about that... and likely to persist, even if you take the long drawn out route of appealing to ICA.

otherwise/failing that, there's no much else you can do except sit and wait. hopefully it will be smooth sailing, but hey, you gotta prepare for the worse right?

[Jfgz]

Hi! Would like to know your thoughts about this:

I am a Filipino who just recently got back to my home country. I went to Singapore 22 of April and was given 30day Social Visit Pass. On my 29th day of stay, my friend and I decided to go to Johor Bahru Malaysia to do some shopping and went back to Singapore the same day.

At woodlands checkpoint, I was questioned by Sr. Immigration officer and was given only 7day extension. I didn't take the 7day extension and take the flight to my home country the following day.

I will be in Singapore again next week. And would be my 3rd entry in the country within a month. I wonder what the immigration thinks about this scenario. I am afraid that I might get deported because of multiple entry.

Any comments or thoughts on this?
Thanks in advance.

[PNGMK]

You need pretty valid reasons for that many visits in such a short time.