hi JR8,
thanks a lot for your advice.
I wanted to update:
1. managed to do a walk in yesterday (monday) - couldn't make it in the morning so went just before 3pm, was asked to go to a particular counter after queuing up at the visitor reception, and spoke to one of the officers - who gave me a walk-in appointment - asks me to go back to the visitor reception at 330pm to get a ticket number. My ticket number was called about 430pm - I presented the documents (incl medical report) that the inprincipal approval notice asked for, my thumbprint was taken, and this morning, I went directly to the counter they asked me to go to to pick up the card (this took like 1 min, there was no queue), submitted all the docs, and now I have my card!
super pleased that I don't have to wait until end October for the eppointment - to explain, the "rush" was for practical reasons, I travel in and out of singapore frequently and using my passport means long queues at immigration at Changi, and having the LTVP means I can enjoy automated clearance which makes a big difference as I'm in and out every week/sometimes less than that.
2. I got a LTVP+, valid for 3 years, which I'm really pleased about - I did tick the box during the application process, and the inprincipal approval only refers to it as a LTVP as said - I only found out it was a LTVP+ when I went yesterday and asked the officer.
thanks much again for your help
:)