Singapore Expats

Hello, I'm new here and I'm desperately in need of help.
I am South korean and my family and I have been living here for almost 8-9 years now. I graduated from primary, secondary and junior college here last year so I spent most of my childhood in this country. So I guess, Singapore is really my home now. But due my unsatisfactory A level grades, I decided to re-take one of my H1 papers near end of Nov and 2 SAT exams here, which means this year will be my gap year. (i was hesitant on taking up a gap year but all the travelling ideas and my friends who would be joining me on this made me feel a lot better)

I surrendered my student pass days before expiration to avoid overstaying and I got a 90 days social visit pass which was also renewed when I paid a visit to Korea in late July. During my entry to Singapore then, I had zero problem with immigration. And now my 2nd 90 day social visit pass is expiring around end of Oct.

Can anyone advise me on this? I am aware that continuously re-entring Singapore can be suspicious to immigration officers but I do need to be back in Singapore to finish studying for my papers. And it is so natural for me to come back to here because I've lived here for almost half of my life; my family still lives here and my sister still goes to school as well. I called ICA to explain my situation but the woman over the phone was extremely rude and she literally said that she "couldn't help me" and kept asking me to register myself to a school as if she did not understand the concept of "taking a gap year".

So now, I'm really lost as to how to deal with my legal issues here. If I go to uni here, that would be until next August where school term starts for freshmen. That's almost another year and to maintain my legal visit pass here, I may have to keep entering and exiting Singapore and I'm quite worried that I might be detained entry during one of those times. Can anyone give my any advice on how to deal with this situation...

tofumilk wrote:Hello, I'm new here and I'm desperately in need of help.
I am South korean and my family and I have been living here for almost 8-9 years now. I graduated from primary, secondary and junior college here last year so I spent most of my childhood in this country. So I guess, Singapore is really my home now. But due my unsatisfactory A level grades, I decided to re-take one of my H1 papers near end of Nov and 2 SAT exams here, which means this year will be my gap year. (i was hesitant on taking up a gap year but all the travelling ideas and my friends who would be joining me on this made me feel a lot better)

I surrendered my student pass days before expiration to avoid overstaying and I got a 90 days social visit pass which was also renewed when I paid a visit to Korea in late July. During my entry to Singapore then, I had zero problem with immigration. And now my 2nd 90 day social visit pass is expiring around end of Oct.

Can anyone advise me on this? I am aware that continuously re-entring Singapore can be suspicious to immigration officers but I do need to be back in Singapore to finish studying for my papers. And it is so natural for me to come back to here because I've lived here for almost half of my life; my family still lives here and my sister still goes to school as well. I called ICA to explain my situation but the woman over the phone was extremely rude and she literally said that she "couldn't help me" and kept asking me to register myself to a school as if she did not understand the concept of "taking a gap year".

So now, I'm really lost as to how to deal with my legal issues here. If I go to uni here, that would be until next August where school term starts for freshmen. That's almost another year and to maintain my legal visit pass here, I may have to keep entering and exiting Singapore and I'm quite worried that I might be detained entry during one of those times. Can anyone give my any advice on how to deal with this situation...

Who don't your parents do the necessary paper work?

my mom doesnt speak english and I've been in charge of doing all this kind of pass application all the time being eldest and all haha

You should try to apply for an LTVP as a dependent child.

tofumilk wrote:my mom doesnt speak english and I've been in charge of doing all this kind of pass application all the time being eldest and all haha

So what is your mom's pass?

She's been here so long no English speak eh?

You want a gap year?

Are you kidding? You lived here but no clue about the way Singapore operates?

This is Singapore.

Want a gap year, go to other countries.

You are a male I presume?

Why are you being so rude?
Are you actually questioning my mom's ability to speak the English Language? Why does that concern you....? It takes time for a someone who's middle aged to take up a complete foreign language.
My mom is on a long term pass and I am a female.
I am not "kidding", I didnt have a choice but to take a gap year, if you read carefully enough I did state the reason for it, which is to retake my a level paper. I have to go for tuition classes here, which is why I can't leave the country.

Look, if you are here to scold me, just because I appear to be young, please don't trouble yourself with that. My situation is already stressful enough. Thanks.

Oh right, I've never heard of a dependent pass. Does it apply for parents with Long term pass though? Mostly they require the parent to have an EP...

tofumilk wrote:Why are you being so rude?
Are you actually questioning my mom's ability to speak the English Language? Why does that concern you....? It takes time for a someone who's middle aged to take up a complete foreign language.
My mom is on a long term pass and I am a female.
I am not "kidding", I didnt have a choice but to take a gap year, if you read carefully enough I did state the reason for it, which is to retake my a level paper. I have to go for tuition classes here, which is why I can't leave the country.

Look, if you are here to scold me, just because I appear to be young, please don't trouble yourself with that. My situation is already stressful enough. Thanks.

Who's being rude?

Oh sorry.

I asked you a valid question.

Taking a gap year while on some pass in Singapore wasn't the most brilliant idea.

Good luck!!

Thanks,
mmhmm I know which is why I do not know what to do because I was so focused on re-taking my exams and applying for universities, I didn't come to realise what situation I am in. Other than wishing me good luck, do you have any other advice as to what I could do?

My other international friends were telling me that I would not have a problem at immigration if I could explain my situation well; that my family resides here and am taking a national exam, and that these are valid reasons. What say you?

tofumilk wrote:Oh right, I've never heard of a dependent pass. Does it apply for parents with Long term pass though? Mostly they require the parent to have an EP...

What is the immigration status of your mother and further? Both of them on LTVP? AFAIK, that hardly possible. How old are you?

Only my mother lives here and she is on a Long term pass. I have turned 21 this year but I just read on some government website that I need to be under 21. Oh dear.

tofumilk wrote:Only my mother lives here and she is on a Long term pass. I have turned 21 this year but I just read on some government website that I need to be under 21. Oh dear.

You don't have father living long term in Singapore, so basically your mother has her LTVP because of her studying children?

yup thats right

I am afraid you are out of options.

Your only choice is the short term visit pass (so a tourist visa) and I reckon you probably already exhausted the visa run capacity.

But do you think my reason for visit is valid? Upcoming national exam, family lived here for 9 years or so?