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22 Dec 2011
Each PR application carefully assessed based on its own merits, says ICA
Letter from Koh Wee Sing, Head, Public & Internal Communications, Corporate Communications Division, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
We refer to Ms Cecilia Yong's letter "Better to have face-to-face PR interviews" (Dec 17).
In assessing applications for citizenship, permanent residence (PR) or immigration facilities, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority adopts a holistic, calibrated approach, which includes interviewing the applicant and sponsor, where necessary.
Each PR application is evaluated on its own merits based on a set of criteria, including the individual's economic contribution, qualifications, age, family profile and ability to integrate well into Singapore society.
Marriage to a Singapore citizen does not automatically qualify a foreigner for long-term stay, PR status or citizenship. Each application for long-term stay is similarly assessed on its own merits.
Among other things, the ability of the sponsor to financially support his or her foreign spouse, the marriage duration and good conduct records of both applicant and sponsor are important considerations.
Original Letter
Today
17 Dec 2011
Better to have face-to-face PR interviews
Letter from Cecilia Yong Jyh Fong
Singapore is one of the few countries in the world where there is no face-to-face interview for permanent residency applications. How does the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority assess an applicant's genuine intentions without one?
The decision to apply for permanent-resident status is a serious one. Can the decision to grant or deny an application then be decided solely by points?
How does this weed out those taking advantage of the system because they are of a desired race, age, gender, paper qualification, income tax level, etc, but who have no real intention of staying here for the long haul?
The e-Appointment with ICA is a formality to check documents; the ICA officer does not really talk to the applicant.
I also have a suggestion for spouse visas: A foreigner married to a Singaporean could be granted a special visa that allows him/her to live here as long as they are married.
It is unsettling and stressful for a married couple to not know if they can live here for the long term. A spouse's employment pass, for instance, is renewable on a shorter-term basis and subject to policy changes.
Life must be more permanent than this, with some form of long-term planning. To prevent abuse, this special visa could be revoked automatically if the couple divorces or gets separated.
Response to, "Better to have face-to-face PR interviews" (Today, 17 Dec 2011)
Today
22 Dec 2011
Each PR application carefully assessed based on its own merits, says ICA
Letter from Koh Wee Sing, Head, Public & Internal Communications, Corporate Communications Division, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
We refer to Ms Cecilia Yong's letter "Better to have face-to-face PR interviews" (Dec 17).
In assessing applications for citizenship, permanent residence (PR) or immigration facilities, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority adopts a holistic, calibrated approach, which includes interviewing the applicant and sponsor, where necessary.
Each PR application is evaluated on its own merits based on a set of criteria, including the individual's economic contribution, qualifications, age, family profile and ability to integrate well into Singapore society.
Marriage to a Singapore citizen does not automatically qualify a foreigner for long-term stay, PR status or citizenship. Each application for long-term stay is similarly assessed on its own merits.
Among other things, the ability of the sponsor to financially support his or her foreign spouse, the marriage duration and good conduct records of both applicant and sponsor are important considerations.
Original Letter
Today
17 Dec 2011
Better to have face-to-face PR interviews
Letter from Cecilia Yong Jyh Fong
Singapore is one of the few countries in the world where there is no face-to-face interview for permanent residency applications. How does the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority assess an applicant's genuine intentions without one?
The decision to apply for permanent-resident status is a serious one. Can the decision to grant or deny an application then be decided solely by points?
How does this weed out those taking advantage of the system because they are of a desired race, age, gender, paper qualification, income tax level, etc, but who have no real intention of staying here for the long haul?
The e-Appointment with ICA is a formality to check documents; the ICA officer does not really talk to the applicant.
I also have a suggestion for spouse visas: A foreigner married to a Singaporean could be granted a special visa that allows him/her to live here as long as they are married.
It is unsettling and stressful for a married couple to not know if they can live here for the long term. A spouse's employment pass, for instance, is renewable on a shorter-term basis and subject to policy changes.
Life must be more permanent than this, with some form of long-term planning. To prevent abuse, this special visa could be revoked automatically if the couple divorces or gets separated.
Today
22 Dec 2011
Each PR application carefully assessed based on its own merits, says ICA
Letter from Koh Wee Sing, Head, Public & Internal Communications, Corporate Communications Division, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
We refer to Ms Cecilia Yong's letter "Better to have face-to-face PR interviews" (Dec 17).
In assessing applications for citizenship, permanent residence (PR) or immigration facilities, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority adopts a holistic, calibrated approach, which includes interviewing the applicant and sponsor, where necessary.
Each PR application is evaluated on its own merits based on a set of criteria, including the individual's economic contribution, qualifications, age, family profile and ability to integrate well into Singapore society.
Marriage to a Singapore citizen does not automatically qualify a foreigner for long-term stay, PR status or citizenship. Each application for long-term stay is similarly assessed on its own merits.
Among other things, the ability of the sponsor to financially support his or her foreign spouse, the marriage duration and good conduct records of both applicant and sponsor are important considerations.
Original Letter
Today
17 Dec 2011
Better to have face-to-face PR interviews
Letter from Cecilia Yong Jyh Fong
Singapore is one of the few countries in the world where there is no face-to-face interview for permanent residency applications. How does the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority assess an applicant's genuine intentions without one?
The decision to apply for permanent-resident status is a serious one. Can the decision to grant or deny an application then be decided solely by points?
How does this weed out those taking advantage of the system because they are of a desired race, age, gender, paper qualification, income tax level, etc, but who have no real intention of staying here for the long haul?
The e-Appointment with ICA is a formality to check documents; the ICA officer does not really talk to the applicant.
I also have a suggestion for spouse visas: A foreigner married to a Singaporean could be granted a special visa that allows him/her to live here as long as they are married.
It is unsettling and stressful for a married couple to not know if they can live here for the long term. A spouse's employment pass, for instance, is renewable on a shorter-term basis and subject to policy changes.
Life must be more permanent than this, with some form of long-term planning. To prevent abuse, this special visa could be revoked automatically if the couple divorces or gets separated.
22 Dec 2011
Each PR application carefully assessed based on its own merits, says ICA
Letter from Koh Wee Sing, Head, Public & Internal Communications, Corporate Communications Division, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
We refer to Ms Cecilia Yong's letter "Better to have face-to-face PR interviews" (Dec 17).
In assessing applications for citizenship, permanent residence (PR) or immigration facilities, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority adopts a holistic, calibrated approach, which includes interviewing the applicant and sponsor, where necessary.
Each PR application is evaluated on its own merits based on a set of criteria, including the individual's economic contribution, qualifications, age, family profile and ability to integrate well into Singapore society.
Marriage to a Singapore citizen does not automatically qualify a foreigner for long-term stay, PR status or citizenship. Each application for long-term stay is similarly assessed on its own merits.
Among other things, the ability of the sponsor to financially support his or her foreign spouse, the marriage duration and good conduct records of both applicant and sponsor are important considerations.
Original Letter
Today
17 Dec 2011
Better to have face-to-face PR interviews
Letter from Cecilia Yong Jyh Fong
Singapore is one of the few countries in the world where there is no face-to-face interview for permanent residency applications. How does the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority assess an applicant's genuine intentions without one?
The decision to apply for permanent-resident status is a serious one. Can the decision to grant or deny an application then be decided solely by points?
How does this weed out those taking advantage of the system because they are of a desired race, age, gender, paper qualification, income tax level, etc, but who have no real intention of staying here for the long haul?
The e-Appointment with ICA is a formality to check documents; the ICA officer does not really talk to the applicant.
I also have a suggestion for spouse visas: A foreigner married to a Singaporean could be granted a special visa that allows him/her to live here as long as they are married.
It is unsettling and stressful for a married couple to not know if they can live here for the long term. A spouse's employment pass, for instance, is renewable on a shorter-term basis and subject to policy changes.
Life must be more permanent than this, with some form of long-term planning. To prevent abuse, this special visa could be revoked automatically if the couple divorces or gets separated.