PR Approval Chances 2025

[hoping4TheBest]

Without a birth certificate listing him as the father, I'm honestly not sure if there is another way as only the Birth Certificate will show father's parentage.

Having said that, I recently had DNA searches for me and both of my adult children. I basically knew of my ethnic origins but my wife is Tamil so my kids are mixed Caucasian-Indian. My daughter married a S. Western Indian and my son married a Ceylonese Burgher/Peranakan Chinese mix. Both now have two children each so my daughter asked me if we could do a DNA search for all three of us (Wife not necessary as she is pure Tamil). But the DNA searches show both of my children had historical links through my wife to not only Tamil but also Sri Lankan Indian. The whole purpose was the give the four grandkids a better understanding of where they came from (they age from 2 to 9 years old at the moment).

I don't have a clue if it's ever been done here or not, but it might be worth contacting ICA on the possibility of having a legal DNA search on yourself to show your ethnic make up as well as a DNA Search for your mother as it would also show the ethnic linkage from both parent in your DNA. They would have to be a legally valid searches and not just the run of the mill search (most of the DNA organizations provide both or it could possibly done locally with a bit of searching) If the father was born in China and is ethnically Chinese then up to 100% of his DNA would show that which would translate to up to 50% of your DNA being Chinese. The other 50% would be your mother's DNA which, if Filipina, could be a mixture of various Indonesian, Spanish, American, Asian and any other race that helped populate the 'peens over the centuries. But the father's DNA should show Chinese. Possibly a number of ethnic Chinese groups depending on where the ancestors originated from within China.

Other than that I cannot think of another way with having the fathers name/race appearing on a same legal document with your name. Let us know how it goes.

sms

Thanks sundaymorningstaple for this expert view. Yah, I think this will be my go to in the worst case for now. Though expensive but I rather give it a try, yes he is from China and moved to Philippines so I'm expecting I'm 50% Chinese. Noted that it should be from legal organization, I will try to have it here in SG if possible. And yes, will update you with the status in the future. btw, do you think if I will have the proof and ICA accepts it, it can push our chance significantly?

[Potato321]

Hi everyone, been lurking around this forum for a while and decided to ask for feedback as I'm planning to apply for PR very soon.

Below are my details
Race, Nationality: Chinese, Indonesian
Gender: Male
Status: Single
Age: 24 y/o
Education: Bachelor of Computer Science at a university in Indonesia
Occupation: Software engineer at a tech start up (< 25 PMET)
Salary: Fixed S$8500 monthly
Length of stay: 2 years 6 months
Length of employment: 2 years 3 months (All in SG)

Additional notes:
1. Have around $17k invested in SSB. Likely won't swing the chances, but idk.
2. My latest EP application took 2 months instead of 3 weeks to get approved. Don't know if this could be a bad omen.

Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Hi @SoloRelo
Do you have any updates about PR?

[sundaymorningstaple]

Thanks sundaymorningstaple for this expert view. Yah, I think this will be my go to in the worst case for now. Though expensive but I rather give it a try, yes he is from China and moved to Philippines so I'm expecting I'm 50% Chinese. Noted that it should be from legal organization, I will try to have it here in SG if possible. And yes, will update you with the status in the future. btw, do you think if I will have the proof and ICA accepts it, it can push our chance significantly?

As noted, I would suggest contacting ICA to see if it would be considered before spending any money. If so, my feeling is yes, it would likely be a big push in the right direction. However, having said that, there are no guarantees but that would be the best bet. You have to give it your best shot and without the Birth Cert showing the father the DNA test would be the best shot and it would probably be the final option short of the plan B. I'd go for it. Good Luck.

sms

[malcontent]

An option I would consider is to hire a private investigator in the Philippines to track down your father and get it officially documented by the Philippines authorities — to me, that seems like a more concrete and safer way to make it happen. Since Singapore defaults to the race of one’s father, you can confidently put that on your application once it’s official. I have some doubts that the ICA will help you… in fact, I worry it might backfire if they view it as you trying to exploit the situation when reality is, you were not raised in a Chinoy household.

[NYY1]

Both replies here have good points. If you put a gun to my head, I'd probably go with the second one. Part of the issue is that you've already applied several times under your current classification. I don't doubt that getting into the largest bucket is preferrable to being stuck in the smallest one. At the same time, they (ICA) may wonder what you are (suddenly) doing. To some degree, there is what box an applicant can check and who they are (practically speaking).

Anyways, you have some pros and cons; one way or the other, roll the dice and hope for the best. Good luck.

[hoping4TheBest]

thanks Guys, I really appreciate the different views here, it feels a lot is really helping with their wisdom and experience. Somehow, I feel a red flag after reading @malcontent points but I think no need to hire private investigator (I feel it's too much..), my plan is to visit him or my parental siblings if he is not alive and explain the situation. But in the end I'm really looking forward to this path because I don't and and will not go to plan B, so its all or nothing and ya hope for the best!

[smoulder]

If both only on S pass, can only say try again but also think about a Plan B. If all three are boys and in local schools you might get lucky. But all you can do is keep trying and also making a Plan B might not be a bad idea.

Thanks, Sundaymorningstaple. Yes, we are both holding S Passes, and right now I don’t see a way to switch back to an Employment Pass due to the salary requirement.

Could you help guide me on this idea? I’m looking for ways to increase our chances. My father is Chinese, but he was not married to my mother, so only my mother’s maiden name appears on my birth certificate. They separated when I was 2 years old, and both have their own families now. I lost contact with him when I was in university, but I can try to reach out since I know where he is staying. What I don’t know is whether he is still alive. If he isn’t, I will try to seek support from my stepbrothers instead. Given my situation, do you think this can help? Also, what kind of proof or evidence would ICA be looking for to show that I am of Chinese descent? (so I can prepare in advance)

Have you tried to indicate that you are of Chinese descent in your previous applications?

I recall there was a member here @gold.spot, who is a former Indian citizen but of Chinese ethnicity. If I'm not wrong, they didn't really ask him for any proof.

[hoping4TheBest]

If both only on S pass, can only say try again but also think about a Plan B. If all three are boys and in local schools you might get lucky. But all you can do is keep trying and also making a Plan B might not be a bad idea.

Thanks, Sundaymorningstaple. Yes, we are both holding S Passes, and right now I don’t see a way to switch back to an Employment Pass due to the salary requirement.

Could you help guide me on this idea? I’m looking for ways to increase our chances. My father is Chinese, but he was not married to my mother, so only my mother’s maiden name appears on my birth certificate. They separated when I was 2 years old, and both have their own families now. I lost contact with him when I was in university, but I can try to reach out since I know where he is staying. What I don’t know is whether he is still alive. If he isn’t, I will try to seek support from my stepbrothers instead. Given my situation, do you think this can help? Also, what kind of proof or evidence would ICA be looking for to show that I am of Chinese descent? (so I can prepare in advance)

Have you tried to indicate that you are of Chinese descent in your previous applications?

I recall there was a member here @gold.spot, who is a former Indian citizen but of Chinese ethnicity. If I'm not wrong, they didn't really ask him for any proof.

I haven't tried and I don't think it's proper to do that without evidence. Maybe he is lucky he did not get questioned or worst is no need to question because it won't affect the outcome. I better come prepared else if need for evidence and I can't provide in time, it will be a false claim..

[sundaymorningstaple]

I have some doubts that the ICA will help you… in fact, I worry it might backfire if they view it as you trying to exploit the situation when reality is, you were not raised in a Chinoy household.

ICA wont help him do a DNA search, but may concede that obtaining a Legal DNA Search would be allowable for proof of ethnicity. (Not done by ICA but by a certified provider of such services). Never have I heard of ICA requiring that a person needed to be raised in a Chinoy household. Especially if it's a mixed ethnicity marriage in a non-Chinese country.

[malcontent]

I have some doubts that the ICA will help you… in fact, I worry it might backfire if they view it as you trying to exploit the situation when reality is, you were not raised in a Chinoy household.

ICA wont help him do a DNA search, but may concede that obtaining a Legal DNA Search would be allowable for proof of ethnicity. (Not done by ICA but by a certified provider of such services). Never have I heard of ICA requiring that a person needed to be raised in a Chinoy household. Especially if it's a mixed ethnicity marriage in a non-Chinese country.

I was thinking of the “cultural affinity” aspect, which would include things like the culture you were brought up in and which culture you more closely identify with. A local example would be Halimah identifying more with her mother’s Malay side than her father’s Indian side. I doubt they would ask applicants this directly, they would just assume based on the facts. This is why I think it would be a lot cleaner to present hard evidence from the Philippines side to avoid revealing the lack of (or perceived lack of) Chinese cultural affinity.

[seminarian3]

Good Morning! has anyone recently received their PR approval, particularly those who applied less than 3 months ago?

[malcontent]

Good Morning! has anyone recently received their PR approval, particularly those who applied less than 3 months ago?

Are you gathering random statistics? How would it even be relevant to anything?

[gold.spot]

Have you tried to indicate that you are of Chinese descent in your previous applications?

I recall there was a member here @gold.spot, who is a former Indian citizen but of Chinese ethnicity. If I'm not wrong, they didn't really ask him for any proof.

They didn't ask me for 'proof' but my surname is very Chinese.

"Ah, Mr Chan. Looks Chinese, sounds Chinese, talks Chinese. Must be Chinese." (Not my real surname....also, joke)

That said, your mileage may vary.

[smoulder]

Have you tried to indicate that you are of Chinese descent in your previous applications?

I recall there was a member here @gold.spot, who is a former Indian citizen but of Chinese ethnicity. If I'm not wrong, they didn't really ask him for any proof.

They didn't ask me for 'proof' but my surname is very Chinese.

"Ah, Mr Chan. Looks Chinese, sounds Chinese, talks Chinese. Must be Chinese." (Not my real surname....also, joke)

That said, your mileage may vary.

I have a colleague with a Chinese last name. And a western first name. And then we met him in person - he looked completely Indian. Turns out that his paternal grandfather was Chinese and the other 3 grandparents were from Kerala. If he was ever in your position, I wonder how that conversation would have turned out

[Potato321]

Just a little update that our PR has been approved. We collected our blue ICs earlier this month. We applied in Jan 2025 and received IPA in Oct 2025. In between, we kept informed every changes to ICA especially EP renewal, salary increment, passport renewal, etc.
Thanks for every single member who shared experiences, thoughts, and ideas. It helped a lot.