Singapore Expats

Hi all,

I've been offered the chance to move to Singapore from London with my company and after discussing with my fiance we've decided it's too good an opportunity to pass on.

My company are working on covering my visa costs and have also offered to apply for a 5 year visitor pass for my fiance.

I've been reading some other posts as well as the new(ish) rules and was wondering if with a long term visitor pass she will be able to look for work without any issues?

Also, if my company do not manage to get her pass will she be restricted from moving with me?

Thanks...

bp7 wrote:Hi all,

I've been offered the chance to move to Singapore from London with my company and after discussing with my fiance we've decided it's too good an opportunity to pass on.

My company are working on covering my visa costs and have also offered to apply for a 5 year visitor pass for my fiance.

I've been reading some other posts as well as the new(ish) rules and was wondering if with a long term visitor pass she will be able to look for work without any issues?

Also, if my company do not manage to get her pass will she be restricted from moving with me?

Thanks...

Great stuff, and welcome aboard the ark!

5 year spouse visa. Not heard of that. I think the LTVP is two years. But google on this forum on things like 'common law wife'. It points towards her getting here on an LTVP [search on that too].

If she pre-qualifies, she can tick on the LTVP application and to seek, and probably get an 'LTVP+'. The '+' being the right to work....

JR8 wrote:

bp7 wrote:Hi all,

I've been offered the chance to move to Singapore from London with my company and after discussing with my fiance we've decided it's too good an opportunity to pass on.

My company are working on covering my visa costs and have also offered to apply for a 5 year visitor pass for my fiance.

I've been reading some other posts as well as the new(ish) rules and was wondering if with a long term visitor pass she will be able to look for work without any issues?

Also, if my company do not manage to get her pass will she be restricted from moving with me?

Thanks...

Great stuff, and welcome aboard the ark!

5 year spouse visa. Not heard of that. I think the LTVP is two years. But google on this forum on things like 'common law wife'. It points towards her getting here on an LTVP [search on that too].

If she pre-qualifies, she can tick on the LTVP application and to seek, and probably get an 'LTVP+'. The '+' being the right to work....

Not quite right. OP, since she is your fiance and not a spouse, she does not qualify for any type of social pass based upon your employment pass. She needs an employment pass in her own right or you two need to get married.

There are threads here discussing common law marriage. Do a search for that as well. Some have succeeded, more recently, others have run into issues trying to get a common law marriage certified.

With respect to passes, your actually married spouse would qualify for a dependents pass (DP) on your EP. A common law spouse could qualify for a LTVP. Neither permits work but a person on a DP can apply for a letter of consent to work. The person on a LTVP cannot work, period.

LTVP+ passes are issued only to spouses of Singapore citizens or permanent residents. LTVP+ holders can also work on a letter of consent. More info at:

http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/ ... fault.aspx

If the UK has registered civil unions/domestic partnerships for heterosexual couples, that could be an option if you're not ready to get married. You could then submit that documentation and Singapore might recognize it.

Thanks for the info guys. Is it possible to get an LTVP converted to an EP?

As much as she would like to not have to work she'd start to get bored of it very soon

bp7 wrote:Thanks for the info guys. Is it possible to get an LTVP converted to an EP?

As much as she would like to not have to work she'd start to get bored of it very soon

#1 Yes.

#2. Hell no. A life of indolence, decorating the side of the pool is way superior to having to work.

bp7 wrote:Thanks for the info guys. Is it possible to get an LTVP converted to an EP?

As much as she would like to not have to work she'd start to get bored of it very soon

Yes but there is no guarantee of getting an EP. The government (MOM) may approve it depending on her education, work experience and the offered salary. If she is qualified only for an SPASS, the company hiring her must have the required quota.

bp7, I'd suggest you read the following thread as it may be relevant to your situation:

http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... common+law

Executive summary - In order to consider granting a LTVP to your partner, the Singaporean authorities now require a "Letter from Main Pass Holder's respective Embassy or high Commission confirming the status of common-law marriage." However, the UK authorities will (apparently) not issue a letter with that wording, because 'common-law marriage' is not an officially recognised term in the UK.

More details in the thread I mentioned. Good luck and please let us know how it goes.

Strong Eagle wrote:Neither permits work but a person on a DP can apply for a letter of consent to work. The person on a LTVP cannot work, period.

The last time I checked this was pretty much just a formality.

My opinion: if this is the woman you intend to marry then... hurry up.