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Get married first or appy for Singapore citizenship first?

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cestlavie01
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Get married first or appy for Singapore citizenship first?

Post by cestlavie01 » Tue, 01 Dec 2015 4:29 pm

Hi,

I need some advise.

I am a SPR now and plan to apply for Singapore citizenship. I've made the appointment with ICA to submit the application documents in Feb 2016.

My fiancée is holding a work permit and it's quite impossible for her to exchange for a SP or EP within short time. However for some personal matters she wishes to convert to LTVP as soon as possible, which requires us to get married immediately so that I can apply LTVP for her. The good news is that she has the exemption letter from MOM stating that she can marry to a Singaporean or PR without approval form MOM. So there is no issue for us to register our marriage in Singapore.

My question is, should I submit the application for Singapore citizenship first and subsequently register the marriage, or we can make the registration before my application? Which will give a higher chance of getting the citizenship? Can we register the marriage while the application is being processed? Will this increase the processing time?

I am wondering if the fact my spouse being a WP holder will lower the chance of my application being approved. Or is it the other way around?

Appreciate any advice. Thank you so much :)

cestlavie01
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Re: Get married first or appy for Singapore citizenship first?

Post by cestlavie01 » Fri, 04 Dec 2015 2:41 am

Hello? Any advice? :(

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Re: Get married first or appy for Singapore citizenship first?

Post by Strong Eagle » Fri, 04 Dec 2015 7:46 am

How long have you been a PR? How long has your fiance held a WP? If you are a PR you can get married and apply for LTVP. Is that the only reason you are applying for citizenship?

cestlavie01
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Re: Get married first or appy for Singapore citizenship first?

Post by cestlavie01 » Fri, 04 Dec 2015 9:59 am

Strong Eagle wrote:How long have you been a PR? How long has your fiance held a WP? If you are a PR you can get married and apply for LTVP. Is that the only reason you are applying for citizenship?
Thanks!

The reason I want to apply for citizenship is I wish to settle down here in Singapore after 9 years' stay. And the first thing to settle down is to buy a house. I cannot afford a condo. With citizenship I can buy a (resale) HDB flat.

My fiancée has been on a WP for 3 years. The reason she requires a LTVP is for job change immediately, so she kind of of pushes to register the marriage ASAP.

I have been in Singapore for 9 yeas and been a PR for 3 years. I understand that 3 years of PR is probably too short for the citizenship to be granted in general. However, as I came to Singapore to study on a scholarship associated with 9 years of bond, this seems give me an advantage for the application. As far as I know, my friends with this similar background has successfully got the citizenship at a even earlier time (some being a PR for 1 or 2 years only before citizenship conversion). I am not 100% sure, but I reckon the time should not be a big issue.

BUT, I am wondering whether my spouse situation will disadvantage my application if I get married before the application? How much weight does ICA give on spouse's background(although the spouse is not applying) when assessing my citizenship application?

Thank you so much! :)

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