STVP extension

[abcx12]

I understand that a person can stay for 30 days on Short Term Visit Pass...and he must carry a return/onward airtickets with him while entering Singapore....I plan to extend my stay for 30 days more....(so total 60 days stay) ....so i plan to book my return ticket 60 days from the date i enter Singapore.....hence, when i enter first enter Singapore ...my visa duration (30 days) and return date (60 days) won't match...so my question is whether ICA wont allow me to enter Singapore....

[x9200]

If they ever ask you for a return ticket, then having it for a flight 30 days after your not yet granted maximum time visa validity won't look good IMHO, but all depends on the ICA officer.

Why don't you chose a safer option and buy a ticket that for a small fee allows rebooking?

[BBCWatcher]

A few lucky people -- many U.S. citizens, for example -- routinely get 90 day stamps upon entry. So they're able to have return tickets up to 90 days out.

STVP extensions are not guaranteed. If you're holding a passport that routinely gets 30 days (not 60 or 90) upon entry, then your return ticket should conform to that limit. If your extension is granted then you can change your return ticket -- or throw your return ticket away and get a new one.

There are a couple "tricks," though:

1. An onward ticket is sufficient as long as the onward ticket is to a country that you can enter (you have a visa or visa waiver). (But if you actually use that onward ticket then you'll need another onward or return ticket segment again.) For example, it could be a $30 one-way "throwaway" ticket to Kuala Lumpur if you have a visa (or visa waiver) for Malaysia.

2. Your onward or return segment can be booked as a fully refundable ticket, and then you request a refund if your visa extension is approved and buy another one-way ticket.

[bro75]

There is no definite answer to the question you asked. But it is safer to have a return ticket within the 30 day limit then proceed to re-book this once the extension is granted.

[ecureilx]

I understand that a person can stay for 30 days on Short Term Visit Pass...and he must carry a return/onward airtickets with him while entering Singapore....I plan to extend my stay for 30 days more....(so total 60 days stay) ....so i plan to book my return ticket 60 days from the date i enter Singapore.....hence, when i enter first enter Singapore ...my visa duration (30 days) and return date (60 days) won't match...so my question is whether ICA wont allow me to enter Singapore....

What passport do you hold ?

[sundaymorningstaple]

What difference does it make?

[ecureilx]

1. An onward ticket is sufficient as long as the onward ticket is to a country that you can enter (you have a visa or visa waiver). (But if you actually use that onward ticket then you'll need another onward or return ticket segment again.) For example, it could be a $30 one-way "throwaway" ticket to Kuala Lumpur if you have a visa (or visa waiver) for Malaysia.

And that's how you feed incorrect information. Just because it worked for you doesn't mean it's gonna work for others. Especially those holding Asian Passports.

[abcx12]

this query is for indian passport

[ecureilx]

this query is for indian passport

If you hold an Indian passport, with visa in hand, preferably, your return in 30 days should be back to India.

Holding tickets to Malaysia and Timbuktu or Mars won't cut it, if ICA starts giving you closer attention.

Better get your ticket by AI, Jet, or Sri Lankan, as you can change date for 70 $ or so, if your extension succeeds.

[BBCWatcher]

And that's how you feed incorrect information.

Stop looking for arguments, Ecureilx. You can find them behind your ears for all I care. Or go argue with ICA because that's their rule, not mine.

[lot286]

I believe there is a difference between a "sponsored" visa and an unsponsored visa - in the way customs treat you? I recall, when my relatives come over, I'd sponsor them (as a PR / relative) - and they NEVER check or ask for the return tickets. In fact i had the same dilemma when i first did it for my mother in law. i first had to book a return ticket roughly 30 days after her entry and made sure she carried with her- but in the end, customs did not ask her to produce it. and i had to pay extra to rebook her ticket after successfully extending her stay up to 90 days.

[ecureilx]

I believe there is a difference between a "sponsored" visa and an unsponsored visa - in the way customs treat you? I recall, when my relatives come over, I'd sponsor them (as a PR / relative) - and they NEVER check or ask for the return tickets. In fact i had the same dilemma when i first did it for my mother in law. i first had to book a return ticket roughly 30 days after her entry and made sure she carried with her- but in the end, customs did not ask her to produce it. and i had to pay extra to rebook her ticket after successfully extending her stay up to 90 days.

As I said, if Immigration starts to take a close look, things can go down pretty fast. A lot of people don't even get to produce the return ticket, but playing safe is best - than taking a chance that ICA wont' ask for a return ticket. When they ask and you don't have it, you may still be let in or sent back. Again, my suggestion is to play safe, than push your luck.

As for the word "SPONSORED" Indians need to get visa in advance, and that's what I meant. From what I know, it doesn't matter if you applied via agency or a PR/SC.

BBCW, you are correct, anybody can produce a return ticket to Mali and will be let in, even though he / she is flying in from, say Bangkok.

And recently when a guy who was taking up a job here flew down from Philippines with a return ticket to KL and ICA shipped him back to Philippines I should have demanded ICA read the notes in the link you provided. Bunch of jokers in ICA. Demanding the person hold return ticket back to his country of origin.

[BBCWatcher]

Let me coach you politely, Ecureilx, for you need some coaching in basic human interactions, online or offline.

First of all, there is never any guarantee that ICA will allow a foreigner to enter Singapore. Even (or especially) U.S. passport holder Donald Trump. You're free to remind the original poster of that basic fact. I just did.

Also, ICA expects that short-term foreign visitors to Singapore will be, at a minimum, holding return or onward tickets, scheduled within the limits of typically granted stay permission for their nationality, and with the visitor holding a visa or having visa waiver privileges to enter the next country. That's what ICA describes as their requirements. They're not Ecureilx's requirements; they're ICA's. ICA gets to decide who enters Singapore, not Ecureilx, not BBCWatcher.

Now, if Ecureilx -- a random, pseudonymous Internet poster of often but hopefully diminishing ill temper -- would like to recommend, politely and intelligibly, that foreign visitors have a better chance of entry into Singapore if they hold return rather than onward tickets, especially if they are holding Indian passports, then Ecureilx would be most welcome politely adding that recommendation to this thread. Ecureilx can then add whatever anecdotal or scientific evidence supports that recommendation. Ecureilx can do so without animus or rudeness.

Thank you, Ecureilx, for your additional advice, politely delivered.

[x9200]

And recently when a guy who was taking up a job here flew down from Philippines with a return ticket to KL and ICA shipped him back to Philippines I should have demanded ICA read the notes in the link you provided. Bunch of jokers in ICA. Demanding the person hold return ticket back to his country of origin.

Sorry Ecu, but it sounds hard to believe. I mean, I believe the guy might have been sent back but I am finding very hard to accept the reason for it as you suggested. What would be the logic behind? I will go one step further and say, if the reason was as you said, that would be just plain stupid and very bad practice for the well being of Singapore tourism based part of the economy.

[bgd]

Several years ago my parents visited. Once here they realized their return date was after the expiry of their visa. They simply extended their stay on-line.

That's just an example of not even needing a ticket at time of entry, it was never asked for.

I guess it depends how lucky you feel.