chinee05 wrote:Well I just love to travel. I love living in another country explore and learn their culture. I was lucky to be born in a wealthy family and as early as now, I established a business that would make me very capable of supporting my own self.
Whenever I travel, I always put that I will stay for few days and book hotel on same number of days. The reason? Well because I dont want to stay on the same hotel for 25 days? I know this sounds maybe you heard it from many but my intentions on coming here are pure and good.
I am well educated and very good in english, finished bachelors degree and have my own business. My answers were consistent when they interrogated me so I guess this is why they let me go in the first place? dont you think? Im not here to argue wether you believe my reason or not.
I just want to know wether I can still stay longer now as they have given me 30days still. I have nothing to hide and I have never done anything illegal in my life. But the next time I will be visiting here, I would definitely put 25days for sure.
short answer:
stay for as long as you've written down your stay is for. no more than that unless you have a good reason (heart attack, lost passport, etc).
long answer:
as you're a woman only in your mid-20s, it's never too late to travel smart.
as you've found out the hard way, putting in very few days on the customs/immigration form(s) when you have intended to stay for (much) longer is actually making a false declaration - in whatever country you visit.
ACCOMMODATION:
just put the full duration in along with your contact number. if you think it's important to include the full list of accommodation where you'll be staying at, print it out and hand it over without demand.
pulling everything out on the phone/laptop when they ask for it takes too long and you don't want an irate immigration official pushing you into secondary because of their impatience. if you're a business owner, you have access to a printer (whether paid or otherwise).
"TOURIST" STATUS:
you may be well educated and have very good english, it doesn't matter to the immigration officer. they want to know that you're a bona fide tourist.
that probably means staying in singapore for <90 days a year. other durations elsewhere may be 14 days, 30 days or 180 days per year.
FUNDING:
if you're able to show proof of funds to the immigration officer, that would help greatly too. this does not have to be in a form of cash. you are allowed to bring your CC statements and your CCs, print out of your paypal balance, etc.
i used to bring along a recent-dated letter from one of my banks - it included how long i've had been a customer, my average bank balance and current balance. i now just bring along an older print out and e-banking access (bank token + roaming data cell phone) as i'm a little tired of paying something like $60 or $90 for such a letter from some banks.
JOB:
if you have a job, great. bring a long your name cards, or any other work-related professional ID you may have. having a company website, fb page and/or photos may help too. as would any publicity clippings, articles, etc. i also prepare copies of my personal and corporate tax returns for the past few years.
if you don't have a job because you're a trust fund baby (even if it's a minor fund), then i would prepare documents attesting to such. if you don't have a trust, but just rich parents, they are bound to have a family office/company secretary/lawyer/accountant/etc that can prepare an official-looking document on your parents' behalf stating your annual allowance (and amount they are managing if you think that figure helps). in this case, i would also prepare a copy of my birth certificate just in case...
TRAVEL HISTORY:
if you travel often and have a job, and it's reflected in the passport you are using at immigration, be prepared to explain how your business is operated with you regularly away from it.
if you've traveled to "risky" countries and observed a higher incidence of being stopped, just make a new passport.
ONWARD TICKET:
if you do not have a return ticket because you prefer to use budget airlines and buy cheap(er?)/last minute tickets/deals before going home, it might help if you have prepared payment vouchers beforehand (in lieu of an open ticket).
i have traveled this way before and i buy them with my credit card. or else, simply fly premium and make sure they KNOW you flew in/out in a premium cabin. just include the BP (and lounge invites) with your passport.
CUSTOMS:
even after immigration, don't hang around duty free too long on your way into a country - if your have priority on your checked bags, get them and get out before customs start thinking of reasons to stop you. you can always shop at duty free on your way out...
ETC:
it's a bit tiresome to prepare the above, but it will prevent you from getting delayed or even banned. once that happens, you're gonna regret not taking the time to do so.
as you're eligible, consider getting an ABTC. that will pre-screen you for many countries well before arrival.
my asian wife, before she got married to me, traveled in this manner that i've advised after she was detained in Australia... and she wasn't even entering Australia! she's been stopped a few times since, but once she produces her travel folder with all the above-mentioned items, she is quickly sent on her way even before she has gone beyond taking out 3 documents.
we are both almost-perpetual travelers that usually stay in any one country for between 2-4 months.
