Boyfriend is on student visa. I am a Singaporean.

[leahlee]

Hi,
I am pretty puzzled by the whole immigration process and am not familiar with the law. I hope someone can help answer my questions.

My boyfriend is here on student visa. He is european and is absolutely in love with the idea of living here. He hopes to be able to work here and eventually stay here with me.

I am a Singapore citizen. Let's just say love finds us at the most unexpected times and places. What are some alternatives he can consider and how can he go about executing it? (Mariage is somewhere in the picture on the long run.)

Thanks in advance for the feedback:)

[sundaymorningstaple]

He need to find a job and hope that MOM will grant him an employment pass, but at the moment that's highly unlikely. Your best bet is to plan to be separated for a couple of years until he gets established in a career and gets a couple years experience in something needed by this country.

Marriage to a local will NOT get it done in the short term. I can vouch for that.

[ecureilx]

Marriage to a local will NOT get it done in the short term. I can vouch for that.

100% correct - unless you exploit some loophole like setup your own company, and nominate him as a director ..etc. etc. and then pray the ICA doesn't go around nosing into your business ..

[leahlee]

Thanks for the prompt replies.

This is so hard:( I want to believe in hope but pragmatism > idealism.
That's how life screws you over.

In that case, does anyone have an inkling of what employers look for these days? He is into business. What are some skills an employer can't resist?

On the employer's side, why do they have to be so selective when hiring foreigners? What do they have to present to MOM should they decide to hire foreigners? Just want to gain some insights..

[sundaymorningstaple]

The best answer is to tell you to spend a week reading the various threads on this board in the various forums regarding careers & relocating,moving to Singapore. After that, if you are still in the dark we might be able to enlighten you a bit more. Unfortunately, you really need to go to the MOM and ICA websites (same acronyms followed by .gov.sg ) and have a good read there as well.

sms

[ecureilx]

Thanks for the prompt replies.

This is so hard:( I want to believe in hope but pragmatism > idealism.
That's how life screws you over.

In that case, does anyone have an inkling of what employers look for these days? He is into business. What are some skills an employer can't resist?

On the employer's side, why do they have to be so selective when hiring foreigners? What do they have to present to MOM should they decide to hire foreigners? Just want to gain some insights..

Gosh - are you a Singaporean or do you live in Singapore ???

Well, you should start reading up on the classifieds, and the papers on Saturday would do a lot of justice in that direction ..

As for the other questions about why foreigners have to go to MOM You are not serious aren't you ???

Cheers ...

PS: SMS reply preceded mine - and his suggestions stand .. but sounds like a very normal fairy tale - Boy Meets Girl, Falls in love ..

In the future it must be Boy Meets girl, checks the criteria for the boy to move the girl's country or vice versa, and then fall in love

[leahlee]

@ecureilx

Haha, I am a Singaporean.

My question was.. What do employers have to present to MOM should they decide to hire foreigners? Was curious about that so I know how one (who is in need of a job) would get a better standing and hence, stand a higher chance at being employed.

I do know why foreigners have to go to MOM. That wasn't a concern but thanks anyway for pointing me to the papers. I'm sure that's a great way to start

And thanks sms

[ecureilx]

My question was.. What do employers have to present to MOM should they decide to hire foreigners? Was curious about that so I know how one (who is in need of a job) would get a better standing and hence, stand a higher chance at being employed.

First you find an employer, and then the employer gets the form from ICA site, and the form is self-explanatory ...

If you want to evaluate whether your BF is in demand - no comments Employers choose foreigners over locals, generally, if it is a proper and Equal opportunity employer, for the talent, experience, exposure etc, and smaller companies (don't quote me) choose foreigners because for some jobs locals don't want it or the locals are expensive ...

AS I said before, a Saturday Straits times can be a good start ...

If you ask again - probably Sms can eloborate more on the specifics, but essentially, as he said - you need to find an employer who values the talents/expertise/experience

cheers

[leahlee]

@ecureilx Thanks a lot. Appreciate the help

[ksl]

@ecureilx Thanks a lot. Appreciate the help

I would ask ICA why foreigners are allowed into Singapore that are not married? Maybe they will say, if you get a document from the local solicitor to document you are cohabiting, as he is already in Singapore, they may give him a LTVSP If you do not ask, you will never know! So move him in with the you and your family. Besides they have the power to reject him anytime if they want, and you aim to get married and have children make sure they know this.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Have my doubts her family will agree or be amicable to that kind of arrangement.

For the record, Singapore ICA will not recognize co-habitation that is inaugurated in Singapore. If it did, the SPG's would love it! The only way that ICA will allow it is if the "arrangement" existed BEFORE the arrival in Singapore by the foreigner and the only reason for them doing that is to ensure that the government does not possibly lose talent that it needs solely because of a living arrangement that goes against Asian (Singaporean) norms. If the guy is a fresh grad who schooled here, it ain't gonna happen.

[ecureilx]

Have my doubts her family will agree or be amicable to that kind of arrangement.

Who knows ??? Love is blind, deaf, mute aint it ???

For the record, Singapore ICA will not recognize co-habitation that is inaugurated in Singapore.

Yes, you are correct: I had this query from a lot of friends from Thailand / Philippines, who were enquiring about 'fiance' visa, and when I told them there is no such 'fiance' visa, they were not only shocked, but very violently complaining about lack of basic human rights etc. etc. Go figure

If it did, the SPG's would love it!

The only way that ICA will allow it is if the "arrangement" existed BEFORE the arrival in Singapore by the foreigner and the only reason for them doing that is to ensure that the government does not possibly lose talent that it needs solely because of a living arrangement that goes against Asian (Singaporean) norms. If the guy is a fresh grad who schooled here, it ain't gonna happen.

Chief - you sort of summed it up No more words can mean anything

[Teatree]

Hi,
I am pretty puzzled by the whole immigration process and am not familiar with the law. I hope someone can help answer my questions.

My boyfriend is here on student visa. He is european and is absolutely in love with the idea of living here. He hopes to be able to work here and eventually stay here with me.

I am a Singapore citizen. Let's just say love finds us at the most unexpected times and places. What are some alternatives he can consider and how can he go about executing it? (Mariage is somewhere in the picture on the long run.)

Thanks in advance for the feedback:)

He can get employment pass when he finds a job after his studies. It's not that hard. You don't have to worry.
As long as he finds a job, the company will do all the pass stuff for him.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Teatree, I hate to have to be the one to tell you, but your leaves have wilted. A fresh graduate foreigner is not going to get a job under the current scenario with MOM as there will be sufficient Local/PR to do the same job (with no experience) therefore, MOM will not approve fresh foreign graduates. In the past, yeah, possibly. Today? Nyet! Nada, No.

[ecureilx]

In the past, yeah, possibly. Today? Nyet! Nada, No.

You are such a nay-sayer

If he can come in as a CEO of a company - yes, why not ? Or a 5 figure salary ???

Coat, Hat, Umbrella ...