Singapore Expats

Student pass rejection - HELP!

Relocating, travelling or planning to make Singapore home? Discuss the criterias, passes or visa that is required.
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blockster03
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Student pass rejection - HELP!

Post by blockster03 » Tue, 13 Sep 2022 3:42 pm

Dear all,

Hello to all. Were a European family and new to the forum having just arrived in Singapore from HK.

Our company applied for an EP for our main worker which was duly approved. We subsequently learnt that after weeks of delays for the HPB to verify our children's vaccination records that this was done via intra-company transfer route and therefore dependants were no longer eligible to apply on this pass, the rules for dependants having changed recently changed for ICT (the company having used that route without problems for families a few times before).

OK, no problem our advisors told us to apply for the EP route with eligible dependents and in the mean time apply for the 'foreign student pass' so our children can attend the school we are paying for. We applied for the student pass via our new 'international school' whilst our EP application is to be submitted (should be today). This was however REJECTED after 2+ weeks.

We have no reason why this has been rejected and we can't seem to find out why. Our International School has never been rejected and our advisors seem puzzled as to why this was the case.

Just to reiterate, All the family are currenly in Singapore, we have a residence, we have a school place and our main worker has an employment pass at present.

Any help or advise would be great. As you can magine we are at a bit of a loss and were alsWo paying a significant amount in fees :cry:

thanks

blockster03
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Re: Student pass rejection - HELP!

Post by blockster03 » Tue, 13 Sep 2022 5:09 pm

Here is the latest copy and paste wordsalad reply:

"We seek your understanding that we do not disclose any specific reasons for approving or rejecting each applications. However, we would like to highlight that there are circumstances where the applications could be rejected due to various reasons which are confidential or due to ICA’s requirements, etc. We would like to assure you that all applications are assessed carefully and in accordance to their own individual merits."

gold.spot
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Re: Student pass rejection - HELP!

Post by gold.spot » Tue, 13 Sep 2022 5:14 pm

Some details of your post are incongruent but I'll try to address your comment.

You said "....the rules for dependants having changed recently changed for ICT" which implies the company applied for an ICT EP.

But you should know that “ An overseas ICT is also generally not eligible for future employment in Singapore after the expiry / termination of their work pass, or for permanent residency.” (see https://www.mom.gov.sg/faq/fair-conside ... sferee-ict)

So unless you're Indian or Australian citizens, you and your kids will not be eligible to apply for DP. Currently I believe only India and Australia FTAs allow for ICT's dependents to come in on a DP.

As for a possible reason for your kids' passes rejection - your kids are too young to take care of themselves and you have no local to take care of them, assuming that you are ineligible for a DP.

I'm afraid your company has put you into this hard position.

Possible solution:
  • You can try to appeal the student pass rejection (the school might have to do it).
    If you are female, you can try to apply for a mama pass along with the student pass.
    You can try to find a job and apply a pass for yourself and put the kids on DPs.
    You can try to have the main worker's EP cancelled and applied via the regular route (risky, unlikely to be approved as per MOM website, and only as a last resort)

MOCHS
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Re: Student pass rejection - HELP!

Post by MOCHS » Tue, 13 Sep 2022 5:33 pm

^ No such thing as a “mama pass” lol even though colloquially they are known as “study mamas” or “pei du mama” in Chinese which directly translates to “mother who is accompanying the child who is studying here”.

Correct pass is called “Long Term Visit Pass” and one of the eligibility is ‘Mother or Grandmother of Child or Grandchild studying in Singapore’.

blockster03
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Re: Student pass rejection - HELP!

Post by blockster03 » Tue, 13 Sep 2022 6:05 pm

Thank you very much for your reply gold.spot

You will have to excuse my ignorance of the visa rules and restrictions relating to Singapore passes. It is my wife's company that relocated her and applied for the pass, I wasn't personally involved. I wrongly assumed all was in order and I'm now just trying to find a solution to my kids being out of school.

I was also looking for answers to why they have been denied the student pass as I am not getting one from the ICA.
Your answer "As for a possible reason for your kids' passes rejection - your kids are too young to take care of themselves and you have no local to take care of them, assuming that you are ineligible for a DP." would make sense. And yes I'm currently here on a tourist visa - 90 days. (I assumed to have my dependant visa before I arrived)

Option 1: As per our advisors; we will apply for the worker's EP via the regular route. They seemed confident this would be granted due to the seniority and specialism requirements, but they probably would I guess.
Option 2: I would also potentially qualify for an EP via the normal route... so I better start looking asap!

I know Singapore shared a rough time during the pandemic. Hong kong schooling was probably one of the worst hit with so many days of online learning/half days so it's just incredibly frustrating for us.

Thanks again gold.spot

nelyanne
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Re: Student pass rejection - HELP!

Post by nelyanne » Tue, 13 Sep 2022 9:13 pm

The changes in ICT schema were announced in January 2021. It's quite shocking that the agency was not aware...

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