Long Term Visit Pass sponsored by Singaporean Wife

[Energiepac]

Hello! This is my first post here and have found this forum already very helpful. I have some questions in regards to LTVP as I'm realizing from reading other posts, it's not that easy to receive a LTVP for a foreign spouse.

One month ago, my Singaporean wife and I got married in Singapore. I'm Caucasian with a European passport (get 90 days). We just applied online for Long Term Visit Pass and was told it would take 6 weeks to process. My wife has a Masters degree and is a GM/$5,000+/month and will then be the local sponsor. I have a Bachelor degree, we're both in our early 30's with no children.

We applied online as I was in Singapore at the time as I needed a D/E card. Currently, I'm not in Singapore as I'm finishing up my current position in a different country.

1) Do you think me not currently staying in Singapore will affect the outcome of the LTVP application?

2) Will there be an interview with both of us?

3) They did not require any scanned documents on the online application like university degrees etc, like on the hardcopy version. Is there anything else I can do/prepare now other than the documents listed on:

http://www.ica.gov.sg/page.aspx?pageid=175&secid=171 ?

Thanks in advance!!

[zzm9980]

1) No it doesn't matter. If anything, it may help since they don't want you sticking around if they say no.
2) No interview.
3) If they ask for a document, scan and upload it. Nothing to do but wait. It probably won't take the full six weeks for you unless something is fishy about your application.

[ecureilx]

Hello! This is my first post here and have found this forum already very helpful. I have some questions in regards to LTVP as I'm realizing from reading other posts, it's not that easy to receive a LTVP for a foreign spouse.

One month ago, my Singaporean wife and I got married in Singapore. I'm Caucasian with a European passport (get 90 days). We just applied online for Long Term Visit Pass and was told it would take 6 weeks to process. My wife has a Masters degree and is a GM/$5,000+/month and will then be the local sponsor. I have a Bachelor degree, we're both in our early 30's with no children.

We applied online as I was in Singapore at the time as I needed a D/E card. Currently, I'm not in Singapore as I'm finishing up my current position in a different country.

1) Do you think me not currently staying in Singapore will affect the outcome of the LTVP application?

2) Will there be an interview with both of us?

3) They did not require any scanned documents on the online application like university degrees etc, like on the hardcopy version. Is there anything else I can do/prepare now other than the documents listed on:

http://www.ica.gov.sg/page.aspx?pageid=175&secid=171 ?

Thanks in advance!!

My 2 cents ..

ICA is a bit strict in giving out LTVP for those who have been married for less than 2 years or so .. it is not written in black and white, but that's from what i know and seen ..

Answers

1) not clear, but from some applicants I saw, when they went to attend interview / submit documents, you key in your DE card # and if you had exited, and have a new DE card, that plays havoc in the ICA systems I guess .. you got a 90% chance of getting your application voided, if you are not here when they call for additional documents (mostly copy of Marriage Cert, Passport, sponors's pay slip etc)

2) From what I know and seen, no interview. The officers in the counter who collect the additional document are the ones you will see, unless they sent you an IPA

3) If you apply online, yes, those documents are checked when they need. If you get a letter asking you to submit the documents, they do give a deadline, like 7 working days, or the application will be deemed to have been withdrawn .. I don't know if they will only accept the copy, but they insist on seeing the original passport, and marriage cert and all in between (i.e. those listed in the letter when you get it .. )

And for following ..

Local sponsor's Letter of Employment stating Date of Commencement, Designation and Salary per month (for self-employed: sponsor's valid Registration Certificate from the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) and Company's Profit & Loss Statement for the last 12 months)

Some companies may take some time to give the letter. so plan ahead.

Local sponsor's Income Tax Notice of Assessment for the last 3 years and CPF Statement showing monthly CPF contribution for the last 12 months. Alternatively, the sponsor may choose to complete Appendix VP to give consent for ICA to obtain and verify financial information provided in respect of this application with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) and Central Provident Fund Board (CPF) directly instead.

you may be asked to submit the last 6 months pay slip .. *I mean the sponsor's pay slip

PS: your wife's pay : Is it basic or gross ?

[JR8]

We applied online as I was in Singapore at the time as I needed a D/E card. Currently, I'm not in Singapore as I'm finishing up my current position in a different country.

1) Do you think me not currently staying in Singapore will affect the outcome of the LTVP application?
2) Will there be an interview with both of us?
3) They did not require any scanned documents on the online application like university degrees etc, like on the hardcopy version. Is there anything else I can do/prepare now other than the documents listed on: <edit>
Thanks in advance!!

1) Not in my opinion. I mean the ICA site doesn't say you have to does it? Plus Singapore is a tiny place, and people DO travel a lot here.

Plus what would you do it you were from a country that only gets say a 30 day SVP on arrival (of which there are many), and the LTVP takes 6-8 weeks to process?

2) Not in my experience, you just go and collect the pass from ICA at Kallang Road.

3) Apart from getting together the originals ready for when you're asked for them... no.


[I'm being slightly hesitant, as although my circumstances were really very like yours when I first went through the process, the pass and application method has subsequently changed significantly].

[ecureilx]

what I wrote is from last three month or so ..

Plus what would you do it you were from a country that only gets say a 30 day SVP on arrival (of which there are many), and the LTVP takes 6-8 weeks to process?

Well, when you submit an online application, rightfully, they ask you if you want an online extension of the SVP .. and for US Citizens, they can get upto 90 days, right ? that you get only 30 days is NOT an excuse and as a spouse of an SC / PR, you can extend to 89 days even for non-US Citizens, online ...

And now mostly they do one round of "document" verification .. before the approved/'rejected letter.

I am not gonna fight for it, but somehow I got the impression that the chance of getting the LTVP junked is higher, if you travel while you application is pending .. vs staying put until ICA says yes or no .. for the staying put, those who stayed put, got a 100 % hit, vs those who traveled - got a 100% failure .. and that's from my knowing just about a dozen or so cases .. here there, and in the church ..

Again, I could be wrong though as to my connection between DE card and LTVP application in progress.

[JR8]

I am not gonna fight for it, but somehow I got the impression that the chance of getting the LTVP junked is higher, if you travel while you application is pending .. vs staying put until ICA says yes or no .. for the staying put, those who stayed put, got a 100 % hit, vs those who traveled - got a 100% failure .. and that's from my knowing just about a dozen or so cases .. here there, and in the church ..

Again, I could be wrong though as to my connection between DE card and LTVP application in progress.

Ok, so the apparent 'statement of fact' you made was an 'impression'. Probably better not to alarm the OP too much!

Imagine you're a Brit, you marry a SGn girl (who still lives with her parents). You can't stay at their home... you cannot rent anywhere as you're only on an SVP... that would mean that you'd have no choice but to get a hotel room and sit there for 6-8 weeks (?) until ICA's decision.

And all of that simply because leaving the country would cause ICA terminal confusion, because you'd get a new D/E card on re-entry to Singapore?

I know a lot of bureaucracy can be pretty stupid, but I simply don't believe that anything in SG could be THAT stupid.

[ecureilx]

my reply vanished.

So let me summarise

Few cases: applied LTVP, didn't extend online, went overseas, came back and Application rejected.

Few cases:applied LTVP, went overseas, saw letter to submit documents, and went to counter, counter said "record missing" since the DE card is new (yes, they scan the DE card to retrieve the record) and after submission of documents, within a week, rejected

Few other cases: applied LTVP, stayed put, and got visa extended, and when asked to submit documents, same DE Card as the one submitted was presented (yah, they do verify the DE Card too .. ) and after few weeks, IPA comes.

Above is not exhaustive, and OP may have a different story to tell us all.

And the best bet is ICA wants to know if you really need an LTVP and If you travel a lot, then why get an LTVP and boost the 'resident population' number here when the govt wants to reduce it or re-adjust it ??

As for the excuse that the applicant can't get a place for rental .. jeez .. are you serious ? You mean his wife can't even put him up in her own house ?? Is it a case of a Upper-class/lower-class where the new Son-In-Law is deemed to be of low class to reside in the wife's house till things get fixed ? or the other way around that the guy thinks it is demeaning to put up in his wife's pad ?? You are kidding right ?

PS: for the ICA / DE Card thing, of course, our company style, you can to raise an Enhancement request, to rectify the 'missing link' if ICA Doesn't automatically update the NEW DE Card when the candidate comes back to Singapore ..

[JR8]

As for the excuse that the applicant can't get a place for rental .. jeez .. are you serious ? You mean his wife can't even put him up in her own house ?? Is it a case of a Upper-class/lower-class where the new Son-In-Law is deemed to be of low class to reside in the wife's house till things get fixed ? or the other way around that the guy thinks it is demeaning to put up in his wife's pad ?? You are kidding right ?

'Applicant' who has no residency status cannot rent private property.

Wife 'can't put up in own house'? How can she, they're just married a month ago, hence she wasn't entitled to primary market HDB until just now.

No idea what the rest of your post means, within the context of the hurdles that will have faced up until now.

[Energiepac]

PS: your wife's pay : Is it basic or gross ?

Thank you all for your quick responses. I have to say it seems quite interesting on who gets a LTVP etc... I guess I'll find out soon how it's in my case. I can understand that becoming a PR is a bigger deal, but would think that a marriage certification should be enough to just receive a LTVP. How long are the LTVP good for? I thought it only was 6 months..?

ecureilx, my wife's pay is 5500 gross.

Thanks again for you input!

[ecureilx]

PS: your wife's pay : Is it basic or gross ?

Thank you all for your quick responses. I have to say it seems quite interesting on who gets a LTVP etc... I guess I'll find out soon how it's in my case. I can understand that becoming a PR is a bigger deal, but would think that a marriage certification should be enough to just receive a LTVP. How long are the LTVP good for? I thought it only was 6 months..?

ecureilx, my wife's pay is 5500 gross.

Thanks again for you input!

ICA sees "basic Pay" .. not gross

LTVP can range from 6 months (which was a rarity those days .. but common now...) to upto 5 years .. especially if the spouse is SC .. the latter is closer to the period.

[sunnymummy]

Hi everyone,

This is such a helpful forum! Learning lots from all of you. This is my first post forum and hope you don't mind if I post a similar question. (Figured if anything, useful reference for people of similar situations- if inappropriate, moderators pls let me know and I can start a new thread).

I’d like to ask what is the quickest way for the family of a S’porean citizen (all Canadians) to relocate to Singapore so we can be close to our S’porean family.

Our Background:
- I'm an SC married to a Canadian citizen (6+years, Canadian marriage cert) and have two preschoolers (boy and girl- Canadian citizens). We're considering the possibility to move to Singapore for work and to be closer to my family.
- I've studied till Masters level in Sg and worked 6 years before moving to Canada after marriage.
- Have been working continuously all this while between undergrad degree and post-grad and even after moving to Canada.
- I've not found a job in Sg yet but prospects are good once I come back. Industry is Healthcare and I've kept in touch w my Sg ex-colleagues and also on good terms w senior executives in my last Sg hospital job, told my skillset is in demand (they even also asked me previously if I would move back). (So my job prospects are good). Husband is in financial services and had phone interviewed w a few Sg banks for senior roles recently. They seem interested in him, but most stopped the process because he does not have a PR or LTVP yet. (they can’t wait that long for someone to start work and can’t be seen hiring foreigners. Say it affects their quotas of hiring S’poreans/PRs)

Questions are:
1. Am I able to apply for this LTVP+ for my husband if I am not employed yet? We would stay w my parents till we both found jobs and can afford to rent/ buy. They live in a landed property so enough room for the extra 4 of us.
2. Must I work for a minimum period before I can sponsor my family? If no job before arriving back in Singapore can we show assets, income taxes etc that we can support ourselves? (Canadian and Singaporean statements- since I’ve 6+years work in Sg and 6 in Canada)
3. Is it possible to apply before we arrive in Singapore? The Canadian passport only allows them a 30 day stay and I understand the processing time for LTVP is 6 weeks. Is the process to apply for short term visa, one after another (and spend 5 days out of the country say in JB or Bintan then come back in for another short term visa). All the while waiting for LTVP to be approved?

My husband and I don’t want to arrive separately from each other or our children (they are not even in nursery yet). Any advice you could give so we do not have to be split up would be much appreciated.

I’m just kinda lost - we’ve checked ICA, Contact Singapore, even talked to a few immigration consultations from relocation companies, but can’t find clear answers. I read articles about Singapore’s “brain drainâ€Â

[JR8]

You're all fine, clear and covered on your SGn military duties?

[beppi]

My first reaction was they should all apply for PR - if anybody can get PR before arrival it is be a family like yours. Your kids might even be eligible for citizenship!
But if you don't want to show that commitment towards Singapore, the authorities will probably clearly see the reason behind (avoiding NS) and penalize you for it: Is a non-working husband (because he's only given LTVP, not LTVP+, if your kids are not Singaporean) and the various headaches of schooling without "local" status really what you want?

[sunnymummy]

Wow thank you for your quick replies! Really appreciate it. And you reading my long post!

I'm the Singapore citizen but because female so no need to do NS. My husband is Canadian and no PR so no need to do NS either.

We are certainly open to PR in the long run, but want to be sure first since it is a big commitment (especially for my son as he will have to do NS.) My husband and kids have never lived here and want know they settle well first (if husband can find job, etc). I read about people who take on PR for their sons only to give it up at 11yrs old or before NS, after having squeezed the Sg govt for all the healthcare and schooling benefits. I don't want cheat the system that way. If for any reason we can’t stay in Sg (say mother/father in law in Canada fall sick and we need to go back for them, or my husband can't find job, etc) I’d rather not become an “abuser" of the system. Worse, if son falls in love w Sg girl, wants to come back he will be blacklisted because he gave up his PR to avid NS. Just trying to plan ahead and take sure but steady (and legal) steps.

If things work out well, we will apply for PR after the LTVP, son will do NS and I will sit in the front row at his Passing Out Parade with a hanky cheering him on!

I know it sounds like we might be the type of family Singapore wants to include (i.e. S’porean bringing back her young family add on to the population, etc) but it does seem hard logistically because the LTVP rules imply we need to separate for a year at least before I can bring them over. (I need to come to back to Sg, find job, work for a year, show that via paychecks, CPF statement then sponsor them across). There must be a way for us to come back together? Not sure if anyone heard of a similar case? I figure my situation must be fairly commonplace these days?

[JR8]

http://www.contactsingapore.org.sg/

If you haven't studied the above site, you should be able to find an answer there, or indeed contact them and ask them.


p.s. You sound pretty much the kind of people SG does want to help 'come home', and the linked site is pitched at helping you do so.