Hey forum members, I have a question regarding visas.
I'm Korean, and I got married (ROM) in June 2024.
So, my wife is a PR, and I’m currently on an Employment Pass. Since my job has been unstable lately, my wife sponsored my PR and LTVP applications.
Now, here’s my question.
Before we applied for PR and LTVP, we visited ICA around April to inquire about the application process. We didn’t speak to an officer inside the office but rather to one of the officers assisting with inquiries outside.
At that time, we asked about applying for both LTVP and PR, and the officer told us that we could apply for them together. Instead of submitting them separately, they advised us to go for the bundled application, which allows PR and LTVP to be processed simultaneously.
My wife then asked how the review process would differ between applying separately and applying as a bundle.
The officer explained that with the bundled application, we could save money, both applications would be processed at the same time, and although PR and LTVP would be assessed separately, LTVP could be approved first, followed by PR in sequence. (In hindsight, we should have checked the website instead of relying solely on this information…)
Based on what the officer said, we prepared the necessary documents and submitted the application immediately. This was in early July. Around that time, ICA was also revamping its system and updating its website.
Anyway, based on what the officer told us, even though PR and LTVP were bundled together, they would still be reviewed separately.
We were informed that:
LTVP would take at least 4–6 weeks,
PR would take at least 4–6 months.
So, we expected the LTVP to be approved first and were hoping to get the result by August.
The Issue
By mid-August, we hadn’t received any updates, and the status remained PENDING, which seemed odd. So, we checked the ICA website carefully.
It turns out that for a bundled application, the processing time follows the longest timeline, which means both LTVP and PR will be approved or rejected at the same time.
Realizing this, we acknowledged our mistake in blindly trusting the officer’s explanation, and in mid-August, we visited ICA again to explain our situation.
This time, we managed to speak to an officer inside. However, they told us that the information we received earlier might have been outdated due to the system revamp, and they couldn’t confirm who had given us that information. Their suggestion? Withdraw the current application and reapply.
They also mentioned that if we withdrew the application that day, we could reapply the next day. However, they also warned us that LTVP processing could take up to 6 months because we hadn't completed PMLA.
My Concerns
As I mentioned earlier, neither my wife nor I are Singaporean. She is a PR, and I am South Korean. When we checked, PMLA was only available for Singaporean sponsors, not PRs.
Also, I have been living in Singapore long-term since 2011 on an Employment Pass, and some of the PMLA requirements didn’t apply to us.
From what I know, other South Koreans married to PRs who applied for LTVP under PR sponsorship generally received their approval within 4–6 weeks at most.
So, I asked the officer if there had been another mistake in their guidance, but they didn’t give a clear answer.
What We Have Done So Far
By September, since PR applicants could attend MP Sessions, we explained our situation three times through MP Sessions and asked for ICA’s support to expedite the process.
However, it has now been 7 months (as of February 8), and we still have no response.
This situation has caused a lot of stress, and my wife and I have been arguing frequently because of it.
What Should I Do?
Now, I’m wondering:
Should I withdraw the bundled PR/LTVP application and reapply separately?
Or should I continue waiting, even though there’s no clear timeline for a decision?
Everyone keeps saying to wait, but I’ve seen cases on forums where people have waited over a year for a decision…
Additionally, I was recently informed that if PR is rejected in a bundled application, LTVP might also be rejected. But earlier, we were told that they would be assessed separately.
I’m starting to feel like I’m just wasting time with this process.
If anyone has detailed knowledge about bundled applications, please help!
