Applying PR/LTVP for foreign spouse while overseas – timing advice?

[sambalstingray]

Hi all,

My husband and I are currently based in the UK, and we’ve been discussing moving back to Singapore in 2029 after I secure my ILR here. I’m Singaporean, he’s British/Portuguese. We’re expecting our first baby (a boy!) early next year, and I plan to register him as a Singapore citizen from birth — so yes, we’re aware he’ll need to serve NS in the future.

Our goal is to eventually settle in Singapore for the long term.

Some background:
• Me: Singaporean citizen, no degree, comfortable salary, remote work.
• Husband: British/Portuguese, no degree, comfortable salary, also remote work.
• We will be overseas until our target move date in 2029.

From what I’ve read, it seems there’s a chance to apply for PR for a foreign spouse even while overseas, especially if you have an SC child — and even better if the child is already born and registered. Has anyone here done this successfully from abroad?

[MOCHS]

Based on this topic, possible to have successful LTVP while overseas.

Having PR granted while abroad, only one anecdote so far.

However, I still find it highly unlikely for a successful PR approval from overseas if the foreigner spouse has never lived or worked in Singapore before. I think ICA needs to see the foreigner having at least made the effort to be physically here in the country and making some contributions…

[SalwaFares]

Totally anecdotal, but I thought I’d add a data point since we just got our LTVP outcome back - unsuccessful.

My husband and I share a similar profile to you two - he works, I’m the unemployed SC who’s pregnant with a baby girl due early next year (congrats to you guys btw!), we’re based in the United States, and we applied for an LTVP for him because we want to move back next year especially now that we have kid.

I have a bachelor’s degree and am currently unemployed (by choice!) and he has a master’s degree and is employed in his field and is the sole breadwinner of our family. We’re comfortable, and whatever money I used to make at my old job was a fraction of what he makes, and would certainly not be adequate to “sponsor” him. We’ve both also previously lived and been employed in Singapore prior to moving to the States. In spite of all that, our LTVP application was unsuccessful. I suppose another point that counted against us is that we’re both “Others” if we’re following CMIO - I’m born and raised Singaporean but have a parent who was originally from a non-Asian country - but who’s long since naturalized.

It’s frustrating because it’s not like I can move back first with a newborn because we have no extended family to take care of baby while I work and reapply for his LTVP. You’d figure they WANT us to have Singaporean kids in Singapore given the low birth rate there.

[MOCHS]

You’d figure they WANT us to have Singaporean kids in Singapore given the low birth rate there.

I suppose they are already assuming you are gonna register the child as Singaporean by descent. Doesn’t matter which part of the world they’re born in as long they are Singaporean.

A rejection stings but this is the part where you have to play the game correctly with ICA, not assume that you/your spouse deserves a long term visa because you are expecting a future Singaporean.

I’m not being mean here, just realistic. You’re not the only Singaporean-foreigner couple to be married and/or having children. There are countless transnational couples in Singapore. Play the game right and you’ll be rewarded.

I don’t think being under “Others” was counted against you. It seems neither of you not being currently employed or physically in SG could be the cause of rejection. Most of the time they trigger LTVP application while abroad, move back to SG while the application is processing, update ICA that either spouse is employed in SG, then the LTVP is approved.

You can read up about Sunjackal’s experience as well. However, that was during covid when things were different but still has useful info. Primarily where his SC wife was unemployed but he had a job here and got LTVP approved.