Dependant Pass for cohabitating partners

[Beablue13]

Hello,

I am looking at relocating to Singapore. i will be an Employment Pass Holder and my potenntial employer has offered to apply for a Dependant Pass for my boyfriend. we are currently living in London, UK. we have been living together for a year but we are not married. my potential employer is asking for evidence of our "common law marriage". this concept does not exist in the UK. The Singaporian authorities website does not seem to distinguish between married and unmarried couples. I have been advised by my local authority in the UK that a declaration in front of a solicitor may be sufficient evidence for applying for a DP. Has anyone on this forum experienced the same problem or has any information on the subject.
Many thanks.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Hello,

I am looking at relocating to Singapore. i will be an Employment Pass Holder and my potenntial employer has offered to apply for a Dependant Pass for my boyfriend. we are currently living in London, UK. we have been living together for a year but we are not married. my potential employer is asking for evidence of our "common law marriage". this concept does not exist in the UK. The Singaporian authorities website does not seem to distinguish between married and unmarried couples. I have been advised by my local authority in the UK that a declaration in front of a solicitor may be sufficient evidence for applying for a DP. Has anyone on this forum experienced the same problem or has any information on the subject.
Many thanks.

Beablue13,

That is probably the best bet. There is nothing set down in stone regarding common-law relationships here aside from the fact that it's not considered a legal framework. I have heard that if such a relationship can be proven to exist for some period of time (that's a subjective term - no idea what they consider some period of time) then it is possible. Proof of relationship? Both names on leases, loan paperwork, car ownership, solicitor document? It would be hard to 2nd guess them. Guess it's worth a try although one year might be a bit on the thin side I'd guess. Give it a try. All they can do is say no. Problem is, I realize that if you cannot then maybe you would want to rethink the move. If it is only for a one or two year contract maybe a Long Term Social Visit Pass could be an alternative (not ideal but something).

Good Luck, maybe somebody else can add to this.....

sms

[La Di Da]

Hiya,
We were in the same situation so went to a solicitor in the UK with a couple of household bills to prove we'd been living together and had a declaration drawn up. It just states how long you've been living together and the solicitor will normally put anything you want as long as you have some proof that you do live together.

Then, when we arrived in Singapore we had to go to British Embassy to get a similar kind of thing, had to submit the UK declaration to the Embassy and they issed a letter stating the same. then had to go to a Solicitor here (we used one at the top of Robinson Rd) who drew up the same kind of declaration, stamped and signed it. We then submitted that to my company who sponsored my "common law" spouses application, MOM advised that only a Long Term Social Visit pass could be issed, so that's what we got, duration same as my EP. This didn't allow my other half to work so he studied for a while and then later applied in his right and set up a business, now has his own EP. It can be a bit frustrating to start with for you and your partner, I guess the thing is to make sure that he has skills that will allow him to find a job once here otherwise could end up staying at home, has happened to a few friends of mine.

Hope this helps,
Cheers,

[Beablue13]

thank you SMS and La DI DA, very useful information.