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Response to "Granting PR Status To Foreign Spouses Can Raise Birth Rate" , (The Straits Times Online, 11 Feb 2016)
The Straits Time Online
18 February 2016
Help available for foreign spouses of Singaporeans to obtain longer terms of stay: ICA replies
Every application is assessed holistically, based on a range of criteria, including the ability of the Singaporean sponsor to support the family.
Over the years, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has introduced measures such as the Long Term Visit Pass-Plus scheme (LTVP+) and Pre-Marriage Long Term Visit Pass Assessment (PMLA) to better help Singaporean-foreigner couples.
The LTVP+ scheme, introduced in 2012, provides a range of benefits to foreign spouses of Singapore citizens whose marriages have proven stable over time.
LTVP+ holders can enjoy greater certainty of stay here, with longer periods of residency.
ICA will consider factors such as the duration of marriage, whether the couple have children from the marriage, and the ability of the Singaporean sponsor to support the family, when considering whether to grant the foreign spouse the LTVP+.
More recently, in January last year, ICA introduced the PMLA.
The PMLA helps prospective Singaporean-foreigner couples plan better for the future.
It provides greater clarity, prior to marriage, on whether the foreign spouse can qualify for long-term stay in Singapore.
Prospective Singaporean-foreigner couples are strongly encouraged to undergo the PMLA before marriage.
For more information on the LTVP+ and PMLA, please visit the ICA website on www.ica.gov.sg
Ronnie Tan Ben Jee
Head, Public and Internal Communications
Corporate Communications Division
Immigration and Checkpoints Authority
<Original Letter>
The Straits Times Online
11 February 2016
Granting PR status to foreign spouses can raise birth rate
It was reported that there were at least 33,793 births last year ("600 more babies for SG50"; Feb 3).
Although this is an increase, the numbers could be higher if the Government did more to aid couples.
The trend of Singaporeans marrying foreign brides continues.
But the authorities certainly do not help couples in which one party is a foreigner.
Couples do not have the certainty to settle down to form strong family bonds if the foreign brides are made to return to their home country every so often, leaving their Singaporean husbands behind.
The Singaporean husbands have to go through a lot of hassle to apply for visa extensions or long-term passes for their foreign wives.
What is the issue behind all these requirements when couples are already married?
They want to settle down and start a family.
Not having a guarantee of being able to live in Singapore is a huge hurdle for many couples.
I am sure birth rates would increase even more if Singaporeans' foreign spouses are able to get at least permanent resident status after a year of holding a long-term pass.
Better yet, the Government should accord such women PR status when they marry a Singaporean.
I hope the Ministry of Social and Family Development will work closely with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority to give couples a chance to form strong family bonds in order to boost Singapore's dwindling birth rate.
Raymund Koh Joo Guan
18 February 2016
Help available for foreign spouses of Singaporeans to obtain longer terms of stay: ICA replies
Every application is assessed holistically, based on a range of criteria, including the ability of the Singaporean sponsor to support the family.
Over the years, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has introduced measures such as the Long Term Visit Pass-Plus scheme (LTVP+) and Pre-Marriage Long Term Visit Pass Assessment (PMLA) to better help Singaporean-foreigner couples.
The LTVP+ scheme, introduced in 2012, provides a range of benefits to foreign spouses of Singapore citizens whose marriages have proven stable over time.
LTVP+ holders can enjoy greater certainty of stay here, with longer periods of residency.
ICA will consider factors such as the duration of marriage, whether the couple have children from the marriage, and the ability of the Singaporean sponsor to support the family, when considering whether to grant the foreign spouse the LTVP+.
More recently, in January last year, ICA introduced the PMLA.
The PMLA helps prospective Singaporean-foreigner couples plan better for the future.
It provides greater clarity, prior to marriage, on whether the foreign spouse can qualify for long-term stay in Singapore.
Prospective Singaporean-foreigner couples are strongly encouraged to undergo the PMLA before marriage.
For more information on the LTVP+ and PMLA, please visit the ICA website on www.ica.gov.sg
Ronnie Tan Ben Jee
Head, Public and Internal Communications
Corporate Communications Division
Immigration and Checkpoints Authority
<Original Letter>
The Straits Times Online
11 February 2016
Granting PR status to foreign spouses can raise birth rate
It was reported that there were at least 33,793 births last year ("600 more babies for SG50"; Feb 3).
Although this is an increase, the numbers could be higher if the Government did more to aid couples.
The trend of Singaporeans marrying foreign brides continues.
But the authorities certainly do not help couples in which one party is a foreigner.
Couples do not have the certainty to settle down to form strong family bonds if the foreign brides are made to return to their home country every so often, leaving their Singaporean husbands behind.
The Singaporean husbands have to go through a lot of hassle to apply for visa extensions or long-term passes for their foreign wives.
What is the issue behind all these requirements when couples are already married?
They want to settle down and start a family.
Not having a guarantee of being able to live in Singapore is a huge hurdle for many couples.
I am sure birth rates would increase even more if Singaporeans' foreign spouses are able to get at least permanent resident status after a year of holding a long-term pass.
Better yet, the Government should accord such women PR status when they marry a Singaporean.
I hope the Ministry of Social and Family Development will work closely with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority to give couples a chance to form strong family bonds in order to boost Singapore's dwindling birth rate.
Raymund Koh Joo Guan