Prohibited entry to Singapore for 2 years, can it affect S-Pass application?

[TS1989]

Background Story:

My SVP was about to expire so I went out of Singapore (Malaysia for 6days) and came back. Upon entry to SG around 8am, I was held up at the immigration so I assumed they will not give me a 30day SVP and instead will let me follow the date of my return ticket to my country and stay for just those remaining days. However, upon verification of my return ticket, they said that it was not issued or not confirmed at all. I have informed them that I had purchased the ticket from an agency and was told that it was a confirmed flight. Of course, this is not ICA's problem if I was fooled by the travel agency. So they said they cannot allow entry because my return ticket is not confirmed so they dont have proof that I will return to my home country. I accepted defeat and did not argue anymore. They scanned my finger prints, placed my belongings in a locker, and asked me to wait in a room. As the officer closed the door he said, "FYI, you are prohibited to enter SG for the next 2 years. Unless there's a valid reason like if you have a job, just write in an appeal and attach your IPA, still subject to approval but most of the time they will allow it lah." It took about 3 hours and when an officer came to escort me back to Malaysia, my passport was given to me with a piece of paper to show to the immigration in Malaysia that said "refused entry due to immigration regulations". My first thought upon getting my phone back and stepping out to Malaysia was of course scolding the agency, it was already 12nn so I called them up and I was told that the ticket was in fact CONFIRMED. I tried calling the airline and they had informed me that the ticket was confirmed around 10am that day. Which now makes sense why the immigration said my ticket was not confirmed as it was around 8am when I entered SG that the IO verified it and ticket got confirmed at 10am that day. I had the travel agency cancel my ticket as I dont need it anymore.

Questions:

1. Does ICA really allow entry if I appeal with valid reason like work/IPA as what the IO had informed me? How do I appeal, what is the email address or is it done by post?

2. Would it help if I attach documentation from airline showing my ticket was issued at 10AM that day therefore resulting to "not confirmed" status upon immigration check at 8AM?

3. In the Spass application form, there are declaration questions like "Have you ever been prohibited to enter Singapore?" In which I will answer YES but should I state the reason as "refused entry due to immigration regulations" because this is all info that I have in writing.

4. Will MOM possibly reject the spass application due to that issue?

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[x9200]

The answer is : nobody knows for sure, especially that your case is pretty specific, but I would think you have a good chance for a happy end.
Anyway, for any s-pass application, write a letter explaining what happened and document it as much as you can.

I would also consider appealing to the decision (2-y ban) before applying.

Now one question: how is it nobody asked you about the ticket earlier?

[ecureilx]

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Just my 2 cents

Ica folks never or rarely tell the reason for refusing entry .

Most likely they watched your travel pattern (are you a male or female) and add your county of origin and decided you have done enough site seeing in Singapore

Or in the extreme case your nice face almost matched up with somebody on a watch list.

If you are wanted they would have picked you up. But for grey area they tend to finger print and refuse entry

Go to ica website, download from 14A and with a local sponsor, submit and pray.

S Pass is from MOM and it's not necessary the case where MOM checks with ICA before approving your pass ... because you make a few self declaration and lying on one of them is good cause to revoke your IPA. You have to declare the past issue of denied entry.

[x9200]

.

Just my 2 cents

Ica folks never or rarely tell the reason for refusing entry .

Most likely they watched your travel pattern (are you a male or female) and add your county of origin and decided you have done enough site seeing in Singapore

Or in the extreme case your nice face almost matched up with somebody on a watch list.

If you are wanted they would have picked you up. But for grey area they tend to finger print and refuse entry

So in other words ICA organized a small performance show for the OP. They simply could'ev told him no reason but still decided to make up a story with the airline ticket (and they were so lucky finding his ticket not confirmed) and lied to him.

Go to ica website, download from 14A and with a local sponsor, submit and pray.

S Pass is from MOM and it's not necessary the case where MOM checks with ICA before approving your pass ... because you make a few self declaration and lying on one of them is good cause to revoke your IPA. You have to declare the past issue of denied entry.

I don't know what was it but if this was some alcoholic beverage you had writing the above sentence, please, I would like to have it to.

[ecureilx]

I don't know what was it but if this was some alcoholic beverage you had writing the above sentence, please, I would like to have it to.

I don't hit the bottle (or jug) on work days, and .. I would like to leave it at that

I would still wait for OP to tell which country he/she hails from, and whether it's a male or female, and .. how many times did he/she 'site see' in Singapore, before ICA decided he/she has seen enough of Singapore.

[TS1989]

Hi, I am female, from the Philippines. It was my second time going out of Singapore when this happened.

Now I understand I have to submit an appeal and pray.

1. How long does it take and with a local sponsor, is it done by post? Or the sponsor must go to ICA bldg?

2. Again, would it help if I attach documentation from airline showing my ticket was issued at 10AM that day therefore resulting to "not confirmed" status upon immigration check at 8AM?


There is an employer wanting to hire me. They havent given me the spass application form so I havent told them my situation yet. I am also waiting for HR to call for salary negotiation.

3. Should I tell HR about my situation during salary negotiation or just wait for Spass application form and fill it out and send back to HR and let them read it?

4. Do I write down the story like what I have done in this thread on the Spass form or do I just indicate what was in writing which was "refused entry due to immigration regulations". and then explain the story verbally?

5. What are the chances that MOM will approve the Spass despite the situation?

I really hope MOM approves it, because I need that IPA in order to appeal to ICA as mentioned by the IO. Hopefully, ICA accepts it.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[ecureilx]

Hi, I am female, from the Philippines. It was my second time going out of Singapore when this happened.

That may be the actual trigger/suspicion.

1. How long does it take and with a local sponsor, is it done by post? Or the sponsor must go to ICA bldg?

The procedure that worked most of the times:

Fill the form 14A, http://www.ica.gov.sg/e_services_overvi ... pageid=291

Attach a copy of the local sponsor's IC, and a cover letter explaining what happened during the previous visit, and if they had stamped anything on the passport, copy that page, and send by post. No email submissions are accepted, from what I know. Alternate is for the sponsor to go personally and submit it at ICA.

2. Again, would it help if I attach documentation from airline showing my ticket was issued at 10AM that day therefore resulting to "not confirmed" status upon immigration check at 8AM?

You can attach it, but I doubt it will make much of a difference.

There is an employer wanting to hire me. They havent given me the spass application form so I havent told them my situation yet. I am also waiting for HR to call for salary negotiation.

if you have any communication from the employer, possibly you should attach it to the 14A, to support the request.

3. Should I tell HR about my situation during salary negotiation or just wait for Spass application form and fill it out and send back to HR and let them read it?

That's a doubled edged question: if the HR is understanding and the employer wants you, they would take it positively. If the employer is very kiasu thinking it will complicate their own life, and they may stop talking to you. I can't answer that.

4. Do I write down the story like what I have done in this thread on the Spass form or do I just indicate what was in writing which was "refused entry due to immigration regulations". and then explain the story verbally?

For the employer ? You can say due to misunderstanding on return ticket, refused entry (I hope that is good)

5. What are the chances that MOM will approve the Spass despite the situation?

From what I have seen, and helped, and dealt, most of those who get entry refused is due to one of the reasons I quoted before. The unwritten policy being, if in doubt, refuse the person entry. And it is not ICA's prerogative to check or counter check your claims and counter claims. Or vet your stories or supporting documents, for an entry visa that is a privilege extended to some nationalities. And that includes validating "RED RIBBON" invite letters, if ICA feels there is no need to even validate the document, they will not.

And, ICA folks don't get rewarded for the number of people they refused entry, but they are in a difficult spot when they allow somebody undesirable.

I really hope MOM approves it, because I need that IPA in order to appeal to ICA as mentioned by the IO. Hopefully, ICA accepts it.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

If you have no other story that you forgot, or should disclose to ICA, you should get a successful appeal.

PS, others may have a different view / opinion / experience, on above. Do wait for further input !!!!!!

[zzm9980]

Hi, I am female, from the Philippines. It was my second time going out of Singapore when this happened.

That may be the actual trigger/suspicion.

Second time on the same trip? I'd say most likely. No matter what OP does, too many of her free-lancing fellow filipinas in the pubs probably did her in.

[sundaymorningstaple]

[ecureilx]

Hi, I am female, from the Philippines. It was my second time going out of Singapore when this happened.

That may be the actual trigger/suspicion.

Second time on the same trip? I'd say most likely. No matter what OP does, too many of her free-lancing fellow filipinas in the pubs probably did her in.

Sad to say .. that may be the case ..

OP, if you have a local sponsor, who would that be ??

Back to the original question, the ticket you showed to ICA, did it really say "CONFIRMED" on the ticket ? or was it just a travel itinerary ?

[TS1989]

Hi all, thank you so much for taking the time to reply and answer my queries. Appreciate it very much.

@ecureilx: Im not sure if my sister can sponsor as she only holds an spass. I have a previous colleague/friend, a citizen, whom I can ask.
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Now that you've mentioned it, I cant quite remember. I don't have the print out anymore as the IO took it from me and I dont have an email copy. What I have on email is the confirmed itinerary sent by the airline during my verification process with them and they confirmed that ticket was issued at 10am.

[ecureilx]

Hi all, thank you so much for taking the time to reply and answer my queries. Appreciate it very much.

@ecureilx: Im not sure if my sister can sponsor as she only holds an spass. I have a previous colleague/friend, a citizen, whom I can ask.
-----
Now that you've mentioned it, I cant quite remember. I don't have the print out anymore as the IO took it from me and I dont have an email copy. What I have on email is the confirmed itinerary sent by the airline during my verification process with them and they confirmed that ticket was issued at 10am.

Since you can't remember if it was a ticket or an itinerary, I seriously suspect it was just an itinerary, which is used to fool the ICA officers quite often, and even some went the whole 9 yards getting dummy tickets, which, while ICA has no prerogative to verify with the airline, for them, if it looks dodgy/unconfirmed, then that's what it is.

You need to ask a Citizen of PR to write in the letter. You do sound like committed to Singapore, unlike a few Filipinos, who, when refused entry, go 'bahala nah' and go to middle east and such ..

And, again, since you seem to have no black mark, your appeal should work.

[TS1989]

Since you can't remember if it was a ticket or an itinerary, I seriously suspect it was just an itinerary, which is used to fool the ICA officers quite often, and even some went the whole 9 yards getting dummy tickets, which, while ICA has no prerogative to verify with the airline, for them, if it looks dodgy/unconfirmed, then that's what it is.

I agree. It makes sense as the airline said the ticket was issued at 10am that day and they sent me a confirmed flight itinerary via email. That means the print out given to me by the agency may have been just an itinerary since flight wasnt confirmed yet at the time.

You need to ask a Citizen of PR to write in the letter. You do sound like committed to Singapore, unlike a few Filipinos, who, when refused entry, go 'bahala nah' and go to middle east and such ..

Meaning SC/PR will write on my behalf? Or do I write the letter as myself and just indicate name and signature of a local sponsor at the bottom?

Sorry, this might be a stretch, but I'll ask anyway. Is there any appeal letter format in this forum?

Yes I am quite committed to Singapore as I've worked there for 4 years now. Plus, my sister just started working there, too and I had to leave her so suddenly because of what happened.

And, again, since you seem to have no black mark, your appeal should work.

Thank you so much for saying that. Means so much at a time like this. I dont have any previous record, etc. There's no stamp on my passport, there's only a reference number written with a ballpen. Which is the same ref# on the piece of paper they gave me upon release in Malaysia.


Thank you so mich for all your helpm

[ecureilx]

Sorry, this might be a stretch, but I'll ask anyway. Is there any appeal letter format in this forum?

Yes I am quite committed to Singapore as I've worked there for 4 years now. Plus, my sister just started working there, too and I had to leave her so suddenly because of what happened.

If you read my previous posts, I even provided the link for the form to use.

[TS1989]

Yes I read the post and thank you. ☺ What I was wondering about was the format for the actual letter itself. But no worries, I will draft something. Hmmm back to my other question, should SC/PR write on my behalf? Or do I write the letter as myself and just indicate that I have a local sponsor and write the name and signature at the bottom?