Partner visa status - advice sought

[intrigued]

Difficult to know which forum to post this in, but here goes.

Be interested to know what first hand experience people have had of your partner entering Singapore on a social visit permit but then wishing to stay for an extended period.

Is it as easy as leaving the country and re-entering every 3 months (has this changed recently - the state immigration service seems to indicate that social visit stays are granted for 14 or 30 days at-a-time).

Will the authorities be difficult after the first couple of social visit pass re-issues on re-entry?

Advice on this delicate matter would be appreciated.

[jpatokal]

Is it as easy as leaving the country and re-entering every 3 months (has this changed recently - the state immigration service seems to indicate that social visit stays are granted for 14 or 30 days at-a-time).

Will the authorities be difficult after the first couple of social visit pass re-issues on re-entry?

Yes. AFAIK the maximum length of a legally extended social visit pass is 3 months, you'll need an official Long-Term SVP to stay longer than that.

[intrigued]

Thanks jpatokal for the information. I guess the Singapore authorities may take a fairly dim view of same sex partners?!?

[jpatokal]

Now that's an interesting question... until last year I would have said "yes", but last year the Garmin did a bit of a policy turnaround and now even openly accepts gays for civil service jobs. So my answer now is... I don't know. Go for it, esp. if you can get some sort of registration in your home country...

[intrigued]

So many views... so few replies (though with due thanks to jpatokal for the two he/she posted).

Would appreciate any first-hand experience / tips for dealing with the situation at hand. We don't want to risk being forcibly separated.

[dormer]

coomon with same sex partners in Singapore. The people do take a dim light onto it, but the governmenet is helping to open up. but making the whole system or culture change all at once, is very difficult. Nothing much we can do- in an asian society.

[intrigued]

Thanks dormer. So what would you suggest? Partner comes in on normal SVP, then applies for an extension once there? Or just leaves SIN every couple of months hoping that it'll be renewed on re-entry?

[jpatokal]

Apply for a LTSVP for your partner. Watch Singaporean bureaucrats go " " when they realize you are H-O-M-O-S-E-X-U-A-L-S, and then flip a coin for the results. Your odds are probably less than 50%, but the worst that can happen is that they reject your application...

You might also want to check Sing gay sites like Fridae, I'm sure you're not the first one in this position. Or call SIR and ask!

[intrigued]

jpatokal I'm sure your reply was meant in jest, but it does make light what is a really serious decisision for both me and my life partner - not some weekend date. We can't take the risk of a 50/50 chance that the authorities might look favorably on such an application.

There must be some lurkers with some more qualified advice to offer? (please)[/i]

[jpatokal]

intrigued, my style is flippant but I was actually completely serious about my advice. Do you have anything to lose by applying for an LTSVP? Yes, the odds of success are not very high, but the only alternative is to repeat short-time SVPs, which is guaranteed to end in failure sooner or later. Having your partner's application fail shouldn't have any adverse effect on your employment pass, which is contingent only on your own job (and not being named "Ryan Goh").
And the mere act of filing for the LTSVP will be a little nudge for extra tolerance in Singapore.

In practice, the most workable approach would probably be for your partner to get his own EP, but naturally this requires finding a suitable job in Singapore as well.

[Beegee]

Hi

i have just arranged a long term social visit pass for my partner, who is from the Phillipines (I'm UK) it wasn't too difficult but there were a few hoops to jump through. (sworn statement, consular endorsement and then the application process) all in all toook 3 weeks and a permit of 2 years was granted.

B

[Jaytee]

Hi Beegee,

Thanks for posting your experience.
Are you able to elaborate more on what you both had to do and any tips you can give for one who needs to go thru the same process.

Look forward to your advice.
cheers,
J