Help for PR mothers: Each case assessed on its merits

The Straits times

11 Jul 2009

I REFER to Tuesday's letter by Ms Radhika Bangaru, 'How ICA can help PR mothers who work'.

The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) does not consider it appropriate to discuss details of individual cases in the media. We will get in touch with Ms Radhika about her appeal, which is under review. Each case is assessed based on its own merits.

Chia Hui Keng (Ms)
Head, Public & Internal Communications Branch
Corporate Communications Division
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority


How ICA can help PR mothers who work

The Straits Times

7 Jul 2009

I HAVE been a permanent resident (PR) for the past four years and have enjoyed every bit of my stay in Singapore. It was a conscious decision to move to this city-state, considering the quality of life, pro-family approach and proximity to my home country, India.

Recently, I gave birth and was glad when my mother agreed to take care of my child for the first year. It came as a great relief, especially as I do not trust a maid to give as much care as a family member, and considering the criticality of such care and attention for a good upbringing.

However, when I applied for my mother's long-term visa, it was rejected not once but twice. I have appealed again, but the response is not expected to be favourable.

Why is this so? Why would a country that prides itself on its pro-family approach and encourages women in the workforce to consider childbirth reject an application for a long-term visa, despite clarification with proof that the application is to allow my mother to take care of a newborn child?

In my case and that of a friend who is in the same boat, the response from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has been that the maximum stay is 90 days, and the visitor must wait at least a month before returning to Singapore for another 90 days. So who takes care of the child when the mother returns to work after 90 days of maternity leave?

I understand that flexibility is possible in applications for long-term visas. My appeal is that the ICA approves genuine applications by facilitating extended family support for newborns of working PR women.

Radhika Bangaru (Ms)