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SC application online or walk in

Relocating, travelling or planning to make Singapore home? Discuss the criterias, passes or visa that is required.
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Ices
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SC application online or walk in

Post by Ices » Wed, 25 Mar 2015 4:02 pm

I submitted my application form online Mar 2015, which I though that it will be easier. After payment of $100 made, I was asked to book an appointment to bring all the supporting documents for interview. But the calendar show the earliest available slot will be in Aug 2015, with a remark of the application will takes 6 months to process after interview.
Will it be faster if I just walked in to ICA building and submit the forms together with all the supporting documents, rather than wasting 5 months to wait for the appointment?
Called ICA and check, I can't cancel the application online since the appointment was booked. Was given another number to call and check will there be any earlier slot available, but there's nobody answer the call for one whole day.
Advice needed. Thanks.

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JR8
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Re: SC application online or walk in

Post by JR8 » Wed, 25 Mar 2015 6:34 pm

Ices wrote:I submitted my application form online Mar 2015, which I though that it will be easier. After payment of $100 made, I was asked to book an appointment to bring all the supporting documents for interview. But the calendar show the earliest available slot will be in Aug 2015, with a remark of the application will takes 6 months to process after interview.
Will it be faster if I just walked in to ICA building and submit the forms together with all the supporting documents, rather than wasting 5 months to wait for the appointment?
Called ICA and check, I can't cancel the application online since the appointment was booked. Was given another number to call and check will there be any earlier slot available, but there's nobody answer the call for one whole day. Advice needed. Thanks.
Going early for a 'walk-in appointment' number might be best in your circumstances. Early means getting there before the doors open, and expecting that you might be waiting for the best part of the day. Good luck, and let us know how it goes!
'Do it or do not do it: You will regret both' - Kierkegaard

x9200
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Re: SC application online or walk in

Post by x9200 » Thu, 26 Mar 2015 7:17 am

Ices wrote:I submitted my application form online Mar 2015, which I though that it will be easier. After payment of $100 made, I was asked to book an appointment to bring all the supporting documents for interview. But the calendar show the earliest available slot will be in Aug 2015, with a remark of the application will takes 6 months to process after interview.
Will it be faster if I just walked in to ICA building and submit the forms together with all the supporting documents, rather than wasting 5 months to wait for the appointment?
Called ICA and check, I can't cancel the application online since the appointment was booked. Was given another number to call and check will there be any earlier slot available, but there's nobody answer the call for one whole day.
Advice needed. Thanks.
For the PR e-appointments people report slots being freed some wee hours. I guess there is generally less slots for SC appointments but perhaps also the same applies as people always cancel appointments? Why don't you try some time after midnight or very early morning to see if some closer dates are available?

Ices
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Re: SC application online or walk in

Post by Ices » Thu, 26 Mar 2015 10:12 am

I finally get to talk the office after they transferred me a few times to the right department.
As per the officer, is not advisable for me to walk-in since the counter officer will know I submitted and booked an appointment online once they scan the IC, and they can’t overwrite the system. Is also not advisable to withdraw the application online since the $100 is not refundable, and I have to pay another $100 when I walk-in.
But another officer from another do said that I can try to walk-in and explain to the counter officer and see if they can help.
Overall is really depends on the luck, I think.

I do not understand that why applicants were encourage to submit the application online, while we can actually just walk-in, wait and submit, instead of wasting few months to submit the documents.
Furthermore, by walk-in, the officer do assess the eligibility and documents, and estimate the likelihood of success on the application before making payment.

Still thinking should I just make a trip down.

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sundaymorningstaple
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Re: SC application online or walk in

Post by sundaymorningstaple » Thu, 26 Mar 2015 10:34 am

Ices wrote:I finally get to talk the office after they transferred me a few times to the right department.
As per the officer, is not advisable for me to walk-in since the counter officer will know I submitted and booked an appointment online once they scan the IC, and they can’t overwrite the system. Is also not advisable to withdraw the application online since the $100 is not refundable, and I have to pay another $100 when I walk-in.
But another officer from another do said that I can try to walk-in and explain to the counter officer and see if they can help.
Overall is really depends on the luck, I think.

I do not understand that why applicants were encourage to submit the application online, while we can actually just walk-in, wait and submit, instead of wasting few months to submit the documents.
Furthermore, by walk-in, the officer do assess the eligibility and documents, and estimate the likelihood of success on the application before making payment.

Still thinking should I just make a trip down.
There is no statistical or anecdotal data that it is more beneficial or successful by doing a walk in submission as the officer/clerks tend to get aggravated when people don't follow the recommended procedures and insist on jamming up the facility for want of a better word.
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers

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Re: SC application online or walk in

Post by imroot » Mon, 11 May 2015 9:46 am

sundaymorningstaple wrote:
There is no statistical or anecdotal data that it is more beneficial or successful by doing a walk in submission as the officer/clerks tend to get aggravated when people don't follow the recommended procedures and insist on jamming up the facility for want of a better word.
Surprisingly when I went to ICA regarding a query for online application I was advised to submit in person. I was told if I walk-in I might get a date in August but Online could be longer. So I took the advise and walked-in. And my interview was conducted the same day. Walked-in at 8:30 and all done and dusted by 12:30. Though few others around me were given dates in July. Not sure if insufficient documents or other reasons for the alternate date..

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Re: SC application online or walk in

Post by JR8 » Mon, 11 May 2015 11:30 am

imroot wrote:Surprisingly when I went to ICA regarding a query for online application I was advised to submit in person. I was told if I walk-in I might get a date in August but Online could be longer. So I took the advise and walked-in. And my interview was conducted the same day. Walked-in at 8:30 and all done and dusted by 12:30. Though few others around me were given dates in July. Not sure if insufficient documents or other reasons for the alternate date..
No kidding that's surprising! :o Even if they had 20 free slots that morning I'm very surprised they gave one to you.

Doesn't this risk turning every applicant into a 'walk-in'?
'Do it or do not do it: You will regret both' - Kierkegaard

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Re: SC application online or walk in

Post by imroot » Mon, 11 May 2015 1:01 pm

JR8 wrote:
imroot wrote:Surprisingly when I went to ICA regarding a query for online application I was advised to submit in person. I was told if I walk-in I might get a date in August but Online could be longer. So I took the advise and walked-in. And my interview was conducted the same day. Walked-in at 8:30 and all done and dusted by 12:30. Though few others around me were given dates in July. Not sure if insufficient documents or other reasons for the alternate date..
No kidding that's surprising! :o Even if they had 20 free slots that morning I'm very surprised they gave one to you.

Doesn't this risk turning every applicant into a 'walk-in'?
I was equally surprised. The purpose of having an online application facility is to streamline the process. And you rightly said, the risk is very much there. Encouraging a walk-in made little sense. All I was hoping to get was an answer to my query so I could apply online. If I did not have that query I would have gone the online route. May be it was my lucky day?

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Re: SC application online or walk in

Post by JR8 » Mon, 11 May 2015 4:43 pm

imroot wrote:I was equally surprised. The purpose of having an online application facility is to streamline the process. And you rightly said, the risk is very much there. Encouraging a walk-in made little sense. All I was hoping to get was an answer to my query so I could apply online. If I did not have that query I would have gone the online route. May be it was my lucky day?
I reckon so, well done :)
I've only done 'walk-in' once or twice when I cannot get an appointment slot prior to my visa/pass expiring. I.e. in emergency scenarios where I've had no other choice.
'Do it or do not do it: You will regret both' - Kierkegaard

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