Multiple entries as a tourist

[zzm9980]

Is there an executive summary to your manifesto? Or are you just trying to use as many words as possible to tell us what we already know?

[chyrasg]

Hi Leo99

Thanks for the comprehensive research. Much appreciated. My other half is a Czech caucasian and speaks fluent English. Hopefully that helps!

I found out from a Malaysian friend who comes here regularly on social stay that ICA had told him that he is allowed to stay in Singapore upto 30 days within a 60 days rolling period. Can anyone confirm this?

It seems to point towards the theory that one can stay upto 6 months per year as long as he is not from the "high risk" group.

In any case, we'll probably head out to ICA office when he is here to get some clarity around the "rule". Our fear though is that despite what the ICA office tells us, application of the "rule" may still highly subjective and dependent on the mood of the duty immigration officer at the airport.

[Leo99]

Thanks for the comprehensive research. Much appreciated. My other half is a Czech caucasian and speaks fluent English. Hopefully that helps!

I found out from a Malaysian friend who comes here regularly on social stay that ICA had told him that he is allowed to stay in Singapore upto 30 days within a 60 days rolling period. Can anyone confirm this?

The following claims they can stay 60 days in 90, but they were written 3 & 5 years ago, respectively, so a bit dated, & with no indication if this can be done continually:

http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/in ... 350AAHGm8O
http://sg.answers.yahoo.com/question/in ... 038AAg9rXw

It seems to point towards the theory that one can stay upto 6 months per year as long as he is not from the "high risk" group.

In any case, we'll probably head out to ICA office when he is here to get some clarity around the "rule". Our fear though is that despite what the ICA office tells us, application of the "rule" may still highly subjective and dependent on the mood of the duty immigration officer at the airport.

Is there some rational basis for this fear? Would immigration have any idea of what type of relationship your partner is in, if he arrives at the airport alone? OTOH, if you go to ICA together after his arrival, might they be suspicious & ask questions? What will you say then? You're looking to try him out for the position of live in maid/security guard?

In any case, best of luck. Let us know how it goes.

[seanw]

There is no right or wrong answer to this it clearly lies with who ever the ICA person you get when you enter Singapore through one of the Immigration checkpoints. I have lived and worked in Singapore for almost 12 years and I know of people coming in and out many times with no issues from countries like Thailand and also of people driving into JB and coming back 2 hours later and getting another 30 day extension. On the other hand others being turned around after two visits. In your case I think its a little different.

Leaving the gay thing aside, first and foremost you are a Singapore Citizen, if I were you I would go to this website http://www.ica.gov.sg/data/resources/do ... rmV39I.pdf fill in that form and give it to your partner, but only use it if he is hassled. I would mix up the dates he comes and goes. If he stays for 30 days and leaves and comes straight back a number of times then pretty obviously something is fishy. But if you break up the dates then i doubt you would have problem. HOWEVER if you mention the gay thing to the ICA then "game over" IMHO.

The above is all based on my opinion and also having lived and worked in this fantastic country for a long time, but trust me, the Singapore Government in General and the ICA in particular are not idiots so you should always be prepared to suffer the consequences if you try and buck the system as it were, that's buck with a "b" by the way

The best solution is for your partner to try and get a job here that comes with an Employment Pass, easy for me to say !. Or you could always wait for the Singapore Government to change the laws on gay marriage which I think is on the Parliamentary agenda for January 4679

[sundaymorningstaple]

He will have a better chance of continued success if he isn't showing a residential address on his embarkation/disembarkation card. Technically, he cannot rent any property (room/flat/etc) while on a social visit pass, therefore he is limited to living in commercial properties, e.g., hotels, hostels, backpacker hotels etc. If they keep seeing a residential they will know something is funny and then the jigs up. They are a very observant bunch.

[seanw]

Like I said there is no right or wrong answer. We can pontificate all we want about this, but at the end of the day it will probably come down to what the ICA offcer he gets at the checkpoint has for lunch !

As to the address, not so sure I agree with that. Clearly what they are trying to stop is people coming into Singapore to work illegally, of that there is no doubt. Now if he shows that he is being financially sponsored by either a Citizen or a Pr and he looks like a well off Caucasian then why would they care if he comes for 30 days leaves and then comes back and does the same thing over and over ?. What will then come into play is that he is a male being sponsored by a male and that may well make a big difference to what the will do.

[Leo99]

There is no right or wrong answer to this it clearly lies with who ever the ICA person you get when you enter Singapore through one of the Immigration checkpoints. I have lived and worked in Singapore for almost 12 years and I know of people coming in and out many times with no issues from countries like Thailand and also of people driving into JB and coming back 2 hours later and getting another 30 day extension. On the other hand others being turned around after two visits. In your case I think its a little different.

I would think it "clearly lies" with much more than the "ICA person you get when you enter Singapore", since they have rules they must follow, or else. I doubt that they are little dictators who can deny people entry based on something like what they "had for lunch" or however they feel at the moment. They have people watching them, checking their work, their superiors to whom they are accountable. If they screw up they'll be hearing the words "You're fired!".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27re_fired!

As an aside on the subject in general, this comment caught my eye:

"Singapore does limit the number of ASEAN women entering the country, and many are turned back each day at Changi."

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/635 ... ne-ticket/

Obviously this wouldn't effect those who appear as men when they enter who thereafter dress up as women, e.g. ladyboys, until the time they depart from Singapore.