Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP) for foreign wife

[natcin]

Hi all, chanced upon this forum searching up on LTVP matters and seems to be many here with experience regarding relocating back to singapore, so thank you all in advance for any help.

I am a singapore citizen (born and bred), and have been working in shanghai for 3 years. My fiancee is German/Cypriot (dual passport) and we are both living in shanghai now.

We are moving back to SG in early 2017 and will have the marriage registration in SG once we return, and then proceed to applying for LTVP right after. We intend to move back permanently (well at least for the foreseeable future) and to settle down and start a family there.

I tried applying for the pre-marriage LLE previously but was rejected. I did head down to ICA to ask (happened to be in SG for a business trip then) and while the officer at the counter was unable to provide explicit reason behind the rejection, he did mention that a "very possible reason" to be the fact that i am working overseas and thus they were unable to check my income records, thus no income = reject.

He did however very strongly (not exaggerating) urge me to move back to SG as planned, get my marriage certificate locally, and submit the actual LTVP application and skip the pre-marriage LLE altogether. (this was after telling him the above-mentioned plans) He said that during the LTVP application, i will be able to support my application with my pay-slips and/or chinese bank statement as an income-proof.

From my conversation with the officer, he seemed pretty confident and 'no problem, don't worry' the whole way, whenever i brought up a concern.

Some info about us:

Together for 4 years now, met when she was in SG as an exchange student (she spent 1 year in SG then)

Me
singapore citizen
almost 30
currently employed in Shanghai* (>7000SGD/month)
economics degree (honors)
*after moving back, i will 'switch' to a local self-employed status but be hired by my company for services so will contribute to SG income tax


Her
german/cypriot (dual passport)
mid 20s
business degree (honors)
fluent english (degree from UK)
unemployed currently as she spent the last 2 years in Shanghai learning Mandarin (currently full conversational fluency, maybe a plus in SG?)

Any advice?

Also, would her dual citizenship be an issue? Would it matter which passport she used to apply for the LTVP? Maybe German would be better?

Sorry for the wall of text, and once again, thank you all in advance.

[natcin]

anyone?

[SaraAbdul]

anyone?

Hi
I did not check on official website but i reccon you should get married in China at Singapores embassy (using her G passport). Bring her back with you on tourist visa and apply LVTP or PR for her right away.

[PNGMK]

LTVP+ is designed exactly for what you want to do. Marry anywhere (actually somewhere you can get an English language marriage cert or an easy official translation). Once you get back apply for LTVP+ If you have the wherewithal to provide a home for your spouse you will be approved.

[natcin]

LTVP+ is designed exactly for what you want to do. Marry anywhere (actually somewhere you can get an English language marriage cert or an easy official translation). Once you get back apply for LTVP+ If you have the wherewithal to provide a home for your spouse you will be approved.

i don't think i will be eligible for LTVP+? since its usually for long marriages or couples with kids.

we will be staying with my parents when we go back (temporarily of course), at least until we get her settled down and find a decent place to move to 'permanently'.

Hi
I did not check on official website but i reccon you should get married in China at Singapores embassy (using her G passport). Bring her back with you on tourist visa and apply LVTP or PR for her right away.

is there a reason for recommending registering marriage overseas instead of in SG? the guy i talked to at ICA gave a very definite "do it in singapore, its better for your case" when i asked "can i register my marriage anywhere?"

would i be eligible for PR right away? considering the short marriage and not exactly top 1% income.

and i guess general consensus is to use German passport?

thanks all for the help.

[SaraAbdul]

LTVP+ is designed exactly for what you want to do. Marry anywhere (actually somewhere you can get an English language marriage cert or an easy official translation). Once you get back apply for LTVP+ If you have the wherewithal to provide a home for your spouse you will be approved.

i don't think i will be eligible for LTVP+? since its usually for long marriages or couples with kids.

we will be staying with my parents when we go back (temporarily of course), at least until we get her settled down and find a decent place to move to 'permanently'.

Hi
I did not check on official website but i reccon you should get married in China at Singapores embassy (using her G passport). Bring her back with you on tourist visa and apply LVTP or PR for her right away.

is there a reason for recommending registering marriage overseas instead of in SG? the guy i talked to at ICA gave a very definite "do it in singapore, its better for your case" when i asked "can i register my marriage anywhere?"

would i be eligible for PR right away? considering the short marriage and not exactly top 1% income.

and i guess general consensus is to use German passport?

thanks all for the help.

Hi,
I recommend it because it is a legal process. Singapore gov will not say no to it. I also agree with PNGMK that getting married in country with English words is better. But you are legal in China, get married from the authority (local or embassy) there or in Germany coz your wife is German but do get marry now as ica will count your time.
I also recommend PR (if nothing holding it) coz I am PR right away without those LTVP (oh is it because I am an EP for 2 years before?).

[sundaymorningstaple]

It's a combination of both. The fact that you were assessed on both and the best combination of each would have gone into the equation. Two years on EP and if you were otherwise weak with the PTS the fact that you were married to a SGC provided the uplift needed. (I basically got mine the same way-albeit a quarter of a century ago).

[natcin]

thanks for the reply. will look into if its possible to get it done in sg embassy in china. but it seems to be very complicated to get married in china from what i heard from friends, especially for 2 foreigners.

[PNGMK]

It looks as though the Singapore consulate in Shanghai may do marriages. It will be per Singapore law as it is on Singapore soil. Nothing to do with China. https://www.mfa.gov.sg/content/mfa/over ... rview.html

[PNGMK]

Ltvp + is for spouses of Singapore citizens. Your wife to be boleh lah

[natcin]

It looks as though the Singapore consulate in Shanghai may do marriages. It will be per Singapore law as it is on Singapore soil. Nothing to do with China. https://www.mfa.gov.sg/content/mfa/over ... rview.html

thank you. will call to check.


PNGMK: im pretty sure LTVP+ is not for all foreigners married to singaporean citizens. its usually only given to those with 3+ year marriages with citizens or those already with kids. at least thats what i recall from ICA's website. will be happy to be proven wrong though haha!

[natcin]

seems like the only marriage service allowed is to do a check and provide a letter proving your martial status obtained from ROM.

"Please note that the Consulate-General is not authorised to solemnise or register marriages of citizens in China."

[PNGMK]

Don't panic about LTVP or LTVP+. As a SC you will be fine. Get married.

[natcin]

sounds great, thanks!

[Helpinghand91]

Hello even i am facing the same issue here my wife an india masters in business honors worked in india for 3 yrs and myself bachelors in computers singapore citizen born here but studied in india i applied for pre marriage assesment which got rejected i am getting married in India this october and planning to bring her now i am worried wat if they create prblms for giving long term anybody here can help me with what should i do somemore i have a criminal record didnt enlist for my national service on time will that affect ??? But i have finished NS with really good testimonies and all .please guys anyone can help me with what should i do