Chitchat Anxiety grows among foreign spouses due to MOM’s rule change for dependant’s pass holders

[Hypocrite-The]

About the Singapore Dependant’s Pass Scheme | Immigration | GuideMeSingapore
Singapore Dependant's Pass Scheme
If you are planning to move to Singapore with a family member who has moved there for work, you will need a Dependant’s Pass (DP). Here’s how you can apply for one.
What is a Dependant’s Pass?
A Singapore Dependant’s Pass (DP) is a relocation visa issued to selected family members of Employment Pass, S Pass holders, EntrePass holders or Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) holders.

Dependant’s Passes are valid as long as the holder of the main Singapore work visa is actively working in Singapore. DP pass holders can live, enter and leave Singapore freely without having to apply for separate Singapore entry visas.
Who is eligible for a Dependant’s Pass?
Spouses and unmarried children under 21 years old (both birth and legally adopted children) of Employment Pass, S Pass, EntrePass or PEP holders who are earning at least S$6,000 a month can apply for a Dependant’s Pass.

If the baby of a Singapore work visa holder is born in Singapore, the hospital will give you a Notification of Live Birth and Advisory Note from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). These documents can be used to register for a birth certificate. It also acts as a Special Pass to allow the newborn to stay in Singapore for 6 weeks. During this time, you should apply for a passport for your baby from your embassy or high commission.

Common law spouse of Singapore work visa holders are not eligible for a Dependant’s Pass. However, subject to certain conditions, they are usually eligible for a Long-Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP).

What documents do I need to apply for a Dependant’s Pass?
A completed Dependant’s Pass application form
A copy of the personal particulars page of your /your child’s passport
A copy of the official marriage, birth or adoption certificates as proof of relationship
Educational details, if any
School enrollment details in an educational institute in Singapore, if any
Salary details for the most recent employment held, if any
Do note that application forms for children under 16 should be signed by the parent on behalf of the child. Relevant certificates that are not in English must be translated by a certified translator and submitted along with the original certificate copy.

How do I apply for a Dependant’s Pass, and how long does the process take?
Dependant’s Pass applications can be submitted either online (for dependants of Employment Pass and S Pass holders) or manually (for dependents of EntrePass, Personalised Employment Pass and Employment Pass (sponsorship) holders). DP applications must be applied by the employer of the Singapore work visa holder and filed separately for each eligible family member.

DP applications are usually processed between 3-5 weeks. If the DP application was submitted together with the Singapore work visa application, the outcome will be most likely known at the same time.

How do I know if my Dependant’s Pass has been approved, and how do I collect it?

When your Dependant’s Pass application is approved, an In-Principle-Approval (IPA) letter will be issued by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The DP applicant must be in Singapore in order to collect the pass.

You will need to present the following documents when you collect your Dependant’s Pass:
The IPA letter you received
Your/your child’s passport
Any other documents requested in the IPA letter such as medical test reports, embarkation/disembarkation cards, etc.
How do I renew my Dependant’s Pass?
When the work pass of the Singapore work visa holder is due for renewal, MOM will send Dependant’s Pass renewal forms to the his/her employer, where they can be renewed simultaneously.
I’m a Dependant’s Pass holder. Can I study or work in Singapore?
If your Singapore work visa holder possesses an Employment Pass, PEP or EntrePass, you can work in Singapore. To do so, your potential employer needs to apply for a Letter of Consent (LOC) from MOM by completing the LOC application form. LOCs are usually processed within a week.

Your LOC will expire at the same time as your Dependant’s Pass. Therefore, you should renew the LOC whenever your DP is renewed and issued.

A child on a Dependant’s Pass can freely enroll in local or international K-12 schools in Singapore. However, DP holders pursuing higher education in Singapore are required to apply for a student visa.
Can Dependant’s Pass holders apply for permanent residence?
Yes, Dependant’s Pass Holders can apply for permanent residence (PR) in Singapore together with the Singapore work visa holder. If the Singapore work visa holder’s PR application is approved, the PR application of the DP holder will be approved as well.
Get help to apply for your Singapore visa(s)
Hawksford are renowned for supporting entrepreneurs and foreign companies and their employees establish their roots in Singapore.

More questions? Let us guide you further
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[bobby]

Stupid fucking Jo Teo chee bye...what a stupid policy to allow the foreign wives the right to work.

Dependency Visa just means you are a dependent on the main visa holder and not be independently working and stealing a job from a local.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

So basically a foreigner married to a local has less benefits n priorities to a foreigner spouse on a DP to a foreigner pmet working in singkieland?


Some foreign spouses on short-term passes worry about being separated amid Covid-19
Published Sep 20, 2020
Updated Sep 30, 2020
Singaporean Melissa Teo and her husband, Mr Thapelo Molekoa. He may be sent back to South Africa if his short-term visit pass expires.
Raj Nadarajan/TODAY
Singaporean Melissa Teo and her husband, Mr Thapelo Molekoa. He may be sent back to South Africa if his short-term visit pass expires.
Short-term visit passes, which are typically between 30 and 89 days long, are given to some foreign spouses of Singaporeans
But the pandemic has made it difficult for the spouses to move in and out of the country as before
ICA has approved nearly all pass extensions and considers the difficulties caused by the pandemic
Some couples said they had been granted one- or two-week extensions, which caused them anxiety
SINGAPORE — It has become a pattern that every month or so, Ms Melissa Teo would have to worry about the possibility that her husband may be sent back to his native South Africa if his short-term visit pass (STVP) expires and his extension application gets denied.

Her husband, Mr Thapelo Molekoa, has extended his STVP around five times. If his pass expires, he will not be permitted to remain in Singapore and will need to book a flight home — a difficult prospect amid Covid-19.

Life plans will thus need to be put on hold, said Ms Teo, a Singapore citizen in her 30s. “We want to have kids, but having children in this type of circumstances where we don't have a permanent pass feels reckless.”

It is a reality for thousands of foreign spouses who, amid a pandemic, worry about the possibility of being sent home in the most uncertain of times.

From February to July this year, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) received 8,395 applications for renewals of STVPs from foreign spouses of Singaporeans, Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam said in a written reply to a parliamentary question in September.

Read also
Mr Shanmugam added that only around 2.8 per cent were rejected — a fact which transnational couples interviewed by TODAY said was reassuring.

Yet, amid the pandemic, the stakes are far higher if their STVP expires for some reason, they added.

Covid-19 has curtailed their ability to shuttle back and forth between countries due to travel restrictions. There is also no guarantee they can return to Singapore — short-term visitors need to have a SafeTravel Pass or approval from the Government.

Mr Molekoa, who is taking a course in fitness instruction in a Singapore educational institution, said: “It is like living life on the edge, because I never know when I will have to pack up and leave my wife for a long time.

“I really don’t want to go back to our previous long-distance relationship, now that we are married.” Mr Molekoa and Ms Teo had dated since 2017 after meeting online, and got married in January this year.

In general, STVPs have a 30-to-89-day period. Ms Teo said they have applied for a long-term visit pass (LTVP), which has a validity period of three years and, unlike STVP, can allow for local employment.

Read also
ICA has rejected a previous LTVP application.

Plan B, said Ms Teo, will mean moving to South Africa instead, which will entail selling her three-room flat and quitting her job as an operations writer who crafts permanent residency applications for a company here.

"But with the flight situation and all, we can't have any plans… A longer STVP extension would certainly help us," she said.

Ms Teo is worried that she will have to be forced to give up a career that she enjoys.

UNCERTAINTY REMAINS DESPITE PASS EXTENSION

Another Singaporean-Polish couple, who wanted to be known only as Daniel and JT, recalled their stress over missing their child’s birth as Daniel’s STVP would have expired before JT’s pregnancy due date this month.

Read also
Daniel arrived in Singapore from Britain on June 24, shortly after the circuit-breaker period ended, to be with his wife during her final pregnancy term.

His anxiety faded somewhat after his STVP, which was to expire on Sept 22, was extended to Oct 22.

“I was hoping for another 90-day extension so I can be with my (newborn) child and my wife for a longer time, but it’s a 30-day extension so it’s not the best situation for us,” said Daniel.

In Mr Molekoa’s case, one of his STVP extensions gave him only a further two weeks — from July 31 to Aug 14. His pass has since been extended twice, expiring on Nov 9.

Each extension application costs S$40 upon approval and is payable if the accumulative period of stay exceeds three months.

Speaking to TODAY, Association of Women for Action and Research senior executive Chong Ning Qian said it has seen some STVPs extended by a week.

Read also
Said Ms Chong: “There is also no consistency in the length of extension, which adds to the uncertainty that they face.”

The gender equality advocacy group has called on the authorities to grant an automatic five-month extension for foreign spouses of Singaporeans and permanent residents in view of global travel restrictions.

Since July, Ms Chong said her group has seen six cases of migrant spouses on STVPs who are hoping for an LTVP. Only one has succeeded so far, she said.

“One common refrain that they sometimes get (from people) is the suggestion that they could just ‘go back to your country’. However, some of these migrant spouses have already been spending many years of their lives outside of their birth country or in Singapore, and may even identify Singapore as their home.

“The pandemic is certainly a trying time for all, but we urge for greater empathy to the situations of these couples and families who are trying to build their lives in Singapore,” said Ms Chong.

In response to queries, ICA said that it considers genuine difficulties arising from the pandemic, such as prevailing restrictions in travel and flight connectivity.

“Applications for immigration facilities are considered holistically based on a range of factors, which includes whether the applicant has any adverse records, the duration of the marriage, whether the couple has any children from the marriage and the ability of the Singaporean sponsor to support the family financially,” said a spokesman.

The agency urged prospective Singapore-foreigner couples to submit a Pre-Marriage Long-Term Visit Pass Assessment before they get married, which will provide prospective foreign spouses of Singaporeans with “greater clarity on their eligibility for long-term stay in Singapore”.

It added: “As with most countries, the ICA does not grant immigration facilities automatically to foreign spouses of Singapore citizens.”

Topics

 

[Hypocrite-The]

In the first place, MOM is wrong to even allow these foreigners on dependent visas to work.

Simi lan jiao LOC.....

The article has highlighted how the gahmen has benefitted foreigners at locals expense

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Cant these spouses on DP convert to LTVP? Isnt tat a loop hole?

Employment Rules for Foreign Spouses of Singaporeans - Rikvin Pte Ltd
loc for foreign spouses
The new rules are aimed at streamlining the work visas processes for foreigners married to Singapore citizens and permanent residents.

From February 1, 2015, all foreigners married to citizens and permanent residents in Singapore may apply for a Letter of Consent (LOC) in order to gain employment in the country. While the practice of issuing LOCs was already in place for Long Term Visit Plus pass (LTVP+) holders, the changed rules will benefit the other type of such foreigners in Singapore – the Long Term Visit pass (LTVP) holders.

Until recently, such LTVP holders needed to obtain a work permit from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Singapore in order to be legally employed in the country.

Types of Passes/Visas for Foreigners married to Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents
Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP)
A foreigner whose spouse is either a Singapore citizen or a permanent resident can either apply for citizenship or permanent residency; or if he or she doesn’t satisfy the criteria for these as yet, can go for the Long Term Visit Pass.

Notably, LTVP is also issued to certain qualifying family members of Employment Pass (EP) and S Pass holders who earn at least S$6,000 per month. For this, the employer needs to submit a separate application for each family member, which although, can be submitted together with the EP or S Pass application.

The family members eligible for LTVP include common-law spouse, unmarried handicapped children above 21 years, step-children under 21, and parents (only if the EP or S Pass holder earns more than S$12,000 per month).

LOC for LTVP holders
Long Term Visit Plus Pass (LTVP+)
This scheme was introduced in 2012 to give foreigners married to Singapore residents and citizens greater certainty of stay in the country, as well as make them eligible for healthcare (i.e. nearly similar to the benefits enjoyed by Singaporean PRs) and employment benefits (i.e. able to work with no need for a work permit, just LOC).

Notably, there is no separate application for LTVP+ as those eligible are automatically considered when they apply for LTVP. In general, couples with at least one Singaporean child are considered favourably for the LTVP+. For couples with no children, the duration of marriage (for example, being married for at least three years helps) plus other factors are taken into account.

The LTVP+ is granted for a duration of three years initially and can be renewed for up to five years for each subsequent renewal.
Interestingly, LTVP+ holders issued with LOCs are not counted under the foreign workers quota of their employers, who subsequently are also not required to pay any foreign workers’ levy for employing the LTVP+ holders.

The scheme came at a time when there’s an increasing number of Singaporeans marrying foreigners, with the decade between 2000 and 2010 seeing a 23 percent increase in marriages involving a Singapore citizen and a foreigner. In fact, in 2010, of the 20,273 marriages involving at least one Singapore citizen, 30 per cent were of this nature.

LOC for foreign spouses of Singapore citizens and PRs
Procedure for a LOC Application
LOC eligibility for LTVP holders
If LTVP+ holders (and LTVP holders, w.e.f. February 1, 2015) wish to work in Singapore, the prospective employer will need to apply for a Letter of Consent (LOC) at MOM’s Employment Pass Online (EP Online) portal. The employment can begin only after the LOC is issued and ceases once the LTVP/LTVP+ is canceled or expires.

Do note that all supporting documents are to be either in English or an official English translation must be provided while making the application. MOM processes 80 percent of all the LOC applications within seven working days. Moreover, like an EP or a S Pass, a LOC can also be renewed at least three months before it expires. However, they will need to ensure that their LTVP is valid.

For foreign spouses (married to Singapore citizen/ permanent resident only) already holding a work permit, they can continue their employment on the existing work permits until its expiry. Subsequently, a LOC will be issued to them instead of a work permit if they want to work in Singapore. But the MOM has encouraged foreign spouses on work permits to convert to LOC as soon as possible because it will no longer be issuing such work permits from May 1, 2015.

MOM has also clarified that the new rules are applicable for LTVP holders only. “Employers of foreign spouses on Short Term Visit Pass who wish to work would need to apply for a regular work permit for them. This is subject to the prevailing quota, levy and source country restrictions,” noted the Ministry in a statement.

The Benefit to Singapore Companies
Apart from the obvious benefits to the married couple who will have greater certainty regarding the eligibility of foreign spouse’s continuous stay in Singapore, the new rules come as a boost from Singapore companies already struggling from manpower shortage and increased operating costs.

Since LOC holders are not counted as foreign workers, and with the increasing number of LTVP and LTVP+ in the country, the labor pool in Singapore will increase. Prospective employers will also save on government levies when they choose to employ LTVP/LTVP+ holders, thereby reducing their costs overhead.

letter of consent for ltvp holders

 

[syed putra]

You cannot attract foreign talents without giving incentives to family members to earn a living in the country., which should include, wife, parents, brothers and sisters, children..

 

[Hypocrite-The]

You cannot attract foreign talents without giving incentives to family members to earn a living in the country., which should include, wife, parents, brothers and sisters, children..

Wat about cousins, uncles, aunties n in laws?

 

[Leongsam]

Wat about cousins, uncles, aunties n in laws?

Lovers and mistresses too. A man has his needs.

 

[syed putra]

Wat about cousins, uncles, aunties n in laws?

Later, once they have obtained citizenship.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Foreign DP holder with $1.5K salary says no company will pay more to hire Singaporeans for her job - The Online Citizen Asia
by Correspondent
16/03/2021
Reading Time: 3min read

TODAYOnline published an article on Sunday (14 Mar) highlighting that anxiety is growing among foreign spouses due to the recent rule change by the Manpower Ministry (MOM) for dependent’s pass (DP) holders.

From 1 May, DP holders who are family members of foreigners working here on work pass, will need to obtain formal work passes on their own if they want to work in Singapore. Previously, as dependents, they would just need a letter of consent (LOC) to work in Singapore, which is not restricted by other MOM rules like quota limits.

MOM said that the rule change is to harmonise the employment rules for DP holders with the overall work pass framework.

“No company will pay more to hire a local for this”

One of the dependents interviewed by TODAYOnline was an Indian national, Ms Patel. She told the media that she would probably lose her job due to the rule change.

“I have to renew my DP in May, but my company won’t be able to continue hiring me because they don’t have the quota (for me),” she said.

Ms Patel was referring to the dependency ratio ceiling — the maximum ratio of foreign workers to the total workforce that a company can employ, depending on the sector it is in. Companies that already hit the quota will not be able to apply for new permits or work passes unless they hire more locals.

The company apparently only pays her $1,500 a month, which would not qualify her for the S-Pass. The minimum salary for S-Pass holders is $2,500 and has a different quota.

Ms Patel said she is an “essential service worker” who especially toiled through the circuit breaker period last year so that food supplies are not disrupted for Singapore. She said she is disappointed that her hard work has come to nothing because of the rule change.

When asked about Singaporean taking over her job, Ms Patel is dubious that her employer could easily find one with her current $1,500 monthly wage. “No company will pay more to hire a local for this,” she said wistfully. When her LOC expires, chances are that both the position and her employment will disappear, she added.

Three other DP holders interviewed by TODAYOnline also said that they were disappointed by the new rule. They said their families might have to move out of Singapore eventually because the rules would force them to become housewives to their working husbands, even though they are capable of working.

“Time for Singaporeans getting their jobs back!”

On Tuesday (9 Mar), Victor Mills, chief executive of the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce, criticised the rule change, saying, “The new rules impact women disproportionately because they are the majority of working expat partners and spouses. Some work in foreign national business chambers, others in private education teaching foreign languages. Others are entrepreneurs. Much of the work they do does not take a job away from a Singaporean.”

This also means a lot of unhappy foreign expatriate families, and relocating them here will be harder if they know their partner or spouse will not be able to work, he said.

“The image of Singapore as welcoming talent takes another hit which we can’t afford. Our society will be the poorer for it and yet, will there be a significant increase in jobs for Singaporeans? Probably not,” said Mills.

However, Singaporean PMET Ng K H disagreed.

He told TOC, “By not allowing the spouses to work, they might not want to stay in Singapore anymore. Also, with the family depending on only one income earner now, they may no longer afford to stay here.”

“That means even the work pass holders may give up Singapore too, thereby freeing up middle management positions which hopefully would go to Singaporeans,” Mr Ng explained.

“Time for this nonsense to stop and Singaporeans getting their jobs back!”

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[Scrooball (clone)]

At her current monthly income of S$1,500, she would not qualify for the S-Pass, which has a different quota, unless her employer is willing to bump her pay up to hit the S-Pass minimum criteria of S$2,500.

So this actually benefits her? wtf

 

[CPTMiller]

another reason to vote against pap
knn
in the first place, why they allow this loophole
fuckup pap

Its not a loophole.
They wanted it easily for Dp holder to work earn money to support family.
Its not easy for FT alone to support financially whole families village here bearing in mind the cost of living here.
Yes, FT can bring SGD back hometown built castles but not here.
So DP abilities to work will support FT to be here long time.
Singapore welcome FT.
You know I know how Singapore support it.

 

[Leongsam]

If their anxiety is growing the government can provide them with free Xanax prescriptions.

https://www.drugs.com/xanax.html

1. Treatments
2. Anxiety
3. Xanax

Xanax
Generic Name: alprazolam (al PRAY zoe lam)
Brand Name: Xanax

Medically reviewed by Kaci Durbin, MD. Last updated on Feb 2, 2021.

What is Xanax?

Xanax (alprazolam) is a benzodiazepine (ben-zoe-dye-AZE-eh-peen). It is thought that alprazolam works by enhancing the activity of certain neurotransmitters in the brain.

Xanax is used to treat anxiety disorders and anxiety caused by depression.

Xanax is also used to treat panic disorders with or without a fear of places and situations that might cause panic, helplessness, or embarrassment (agoraphobia).

It is dangerous to purchase Xanax on the Internet or outside the United States. The sale and distribution of medicines outside the U.S. does not comply with safe-use regulations of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These medications may contain dangerous ingredients, or may not be distributed by a licensed pharmacy.

Warnings

Xanax may be habit-forming. MISUSE OF THIS MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.


Fatal side effects can occur if you take Xanax with alcohol, opioid medicine, or other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow your breathing.


Xanax is a federal controlled substance (C-IV) because it can be abused or lead to dependence. Keep this medicine in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or giving away Xanax may harm others, and is against the law. Tell your healthcare provider if you have abused or been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines or street drugs.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

The move to require DP holders to apply for work pass is 'a step in the right direction', says SPP's Khan Osman Sulaiman - The Online Citizen Asia
The move to require Dependent Pass (DP) holders to apply for a work pass is “a step in the right direction”, said Singapore People’s Party (SPP) member Khan Osman Sulaiman.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday (16 Mar), Mr Osman asserted that DP holders “should not be allowed to work” in the first place, adding that their “participation in the workforce displaces many Singaporeans who are in need of employment”.

His post was referring to an article published by TODAY earlier on Sunday (14 Mar), which highlighted the growing anxiety among foreign spouses due to the recent rule change by the Manpower Ministry (MOM) for DP holders.

From 1 May, DP holders who are family members of foreigners working in Singapore on work pass will need to obtain formal work passes on their own if they wish to also work in the city-state.

Previously, as dependents, they would just need a letter of consent (LOC) to work in Singapore, which is not restricted by other MOM rules like quota limits.

Manpower Minister Josephine Teo said during the Committee of Supply debate on 3 March that the change was made “for consistency with recent work pass moves”.

Foreign DP holder with S$1.5K salary says no company will pay more to hire Singaporeans for her job
One of the dependents interviewed by TODAY was an Indian national, Ms Patel, who noted that she would probably lose her job due to the rule change.

“I have to renew my DP in May, but my company won’t be able to continue hiring me because they don’t have the quota (for me),” she said.

Ms Patel was referring to the dependency ratio ceiling – the maximum ratio of foreign workers to the total workforce that a company can employ, depending on the sector it is in. Companies that already hit the quota will not be able to apply for new permits or work passes unless they hire more locals.

The company apparently only pays her S$1,500 a month, which would not qualify her for the S-Pass. The minimum salary for S-Pass holders is S$2,500, and it has a different quota.

Ms Patel told TODAY that she is an “essential service worker” who especially toiled through the circuit breaker period last year so that food supplies are not disrupted for Singapore. She expressed that she is disappointed that her hard work has come to nothing because of the rule change.

When asked about Singaporeans taking over her job, she was dubious that her employer could easily find one with her current S$1,500 monthly wage. “No company will pay more to hire a local for this,” she said wistfully, adding that when her LOC expires, chances are that both the position and her employment will disappear.

Three other DP holders interviewed by TODAY also expressed their disappointment with the new rule. They noted that their families might have to move out of Singapore eventually because the new rule would force them to become housewives to their working husbands, even though they are capable of working.

Availability of cheap labour has impacted negatively on Singapore’s effort to increase productivity, says Mr Osman
Citing Ms Patel’s plight in his post, Ms Osman asserted that the “availability of cheap labour has impacted negatively on Singapore’s effort to increase productivity”, adding that companies have “no incentive to innovate”.

“The abundance of cheap labour, has also contributed to the problems of unemployment and stagnating wages of many low-wage workers,” he continued.

Mr Osman went on to laud the MOM’s move in requiring DP holders to apply for a work pass, saying that it is “a step in the right direction”.

He concluded his post saying, “If DP holders have to move out of Singapore eventually, so be it. We would rather have these job positions made available to Singaporeans.”

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