
Anyways I am here to share a story about my recent experience with the ICA in Changi Airport in Terminal 2.
I departed from Jakarta,Indonesia on a Monday afternoon on 16 November 2015. I arrived in Changi at approximately 6 pm and proceeded as usual to the ICA with my passport and immigration card ready in hand.
I have been visiting Singapore back and forth from my resident country Jakarta frequently since June 30 2015 (during semester break). I would travel to Singapore as much as 3 times per month. My usual stay in Singapore is 11 days or less every visit - maximum was 18 and that was once for my best friends wedding. I spend most of my time in Singapore. I calculated that I am in Singapore 96 days over 140 days since June 30.
I have heard from my friends that my frequent visit would seem suspicious to the ICA and that I may be banned from coming to Singapore for 6 months up to 7 years. But naturally, I didn't put much thought into that considering that I am not doing anything illegal. I am still a student in Jakarta so I can't possibly be in Singapore to seek employment. In short, I am in Singapore just for fun during my self proclaimed semester break (taking a gap year before my last semester) *weird I know * #yolo
Anyways back to the main event. I reached the ICA and queued at the shortest line (in my opinion). I didn't look around much cos I'm usually just busy with myself and my phone. During the queing I realized that my line was not moving as fast as usual. Each person was checked around 2-4 minutes by the ICA officer in my line. Maybe it was due to the terrorist attacks in Paris that now they are more meticulous with their security. I'm not sure, just my opinion. Anyhow I waited patiently even though there was a trio of teenagers next to me who were being loud and childish with each other

Finally it was my turn to get checked. I gave the ICA officer my passport and white immigration card and turned my attention to the candies provided as per usual (mint flavor ftw! ) Then I was taken aback when the officer called my name. I know it is standard procedure but the ICA officers have never muttered a single word to me ever. I still in a little shock with candy in hand nodded to the name stated. Then she started looking at my passport from the very first page...
ICA : Why are you in Singapore?
Me: Shopping
*ICA moved her head side to side displeased*
ICA: You keep coming back and forth to Singapore. It couldn't be just shopping.
*ICA still checking my passport*
Me: I'm on my semester break. I come here for frequent vacations.
ICA: Semester breaks are not this long. You've been coming here since June. You spend more time here than your own country.
*ICA proceeded to scan my passport*
Me: I failed my thesis okay. I gave my self a break till next year.
*silence*
Here I thought okay she will let me pass in peace now. But nope, I was wrong. She called this guy , gave him my passport and told me to follow him.
While I was walking with the ICA guy dressed in a brown uniform I asked him if there was a problem. And he merely smiled and said ' I don't know anything miss. I'm just here to escort you.' --at that point I just tried not to lose my cool.
I arrived at the ICA office? and was told to sit down on one of the sofas. The guy gave my passport to another female officer and left. 30 seconds later my name was called and I followed the female officer to a room at the end of the hall. She asked me the same questions the first female officer asked me. I gave her the exact same answers . She then told me to scan my thumbs on a big white machine. Afterwards she told me to take a seat.
The ICA officer sat down across me with a table separating us in the middle. She proceeded to ask questions. She repeated the questions she asked before scanning my thumb prints. I answered it again... And I told her I don't see why I'm being checked when I'm not doing anything wrong and illegal. She looked at my passport and began to read the dates I've been going back and forth aloud. I remained silent during that ordeal. Then she asked if I was a student. I said yes and she asked for my student card. I showed it to her. Then she asked how much money I was carrying with me. I replied 'more or less $1000'. She told me to show it to her, and I did. I was nervous at that time cos I only brought a little cash with me and thought she wouldn't believe I was here for shopping.( But I did have my american express credit card and still had the shopping receipts of a total more than $3000 spent in ION orchard and 313Somerset just the last week. ) In addition , she also asked if I had a return ticket which I don't have at the time. I told her if she wants I can buy the return ticket at that moment.
Then the officer saw that I wrote I was going to stay in Mandarin Orchard in the immigration card and asked if I had proof of that. Which I didn't. It was a staycation idea that me and my best friend had but we haven't booked a room yet. But we do frequently staycation in a lot of hotels including MBS, Pan Pacific, Mandarin Orchard and Grand Park to name a few. I proceeded to tell the officer that its a staycation and the remaining days I would be staying at my friends condo. After that she told me to take my money and student card back and left me alone in the room.
At this point I thought I was going to get deported and banned from coming back to Singapore.
Then another different lady officer told me to go out. And on my way out, to my right I saw a room with a big glass and saw one women seated inside. As I reached the outside I was told to sit down again on the sofa. I saw several people sitting down on the sofas as well. A few minute later I was called and they gave me me my passport back and told me to go to lane 15 on the ICA checkpoints. I did as I was told and the officer at counter 15 (a male) just opened my passport, glanced at it and let me go. I was very confused and hurriedly check my passport for the stamp. I was given the usual social pass of 30 days and that was it.
My question is:
1) Am I still allowed to go to Singapore in the near future? Or its better not to do so? How long should I wait till I can go back to beautiful Singapore ?
2) What was the fingerprints scan for ?
3) Was I just lucky not to get deported or thoroughly physically checked ?
Additional Information :
Female, 21 years old
Philippines Passport
Indonesian Resident