As promised, wanted to share my journey which was not planned at all
Knew my Mrs in 2009. I was a regular traveler to Thailand for both work and vacation. Proposed somewhere in 2012/13 (men can't recall things as you can see) but some of you may be aware in Thailand, marriage certificate formalities are not extremely valued traditionally. Was still living apart but I tried my best to visit once a month and look after my wife. She is older than me and we never planned to have kids. We have a cat. At this stage we did not know how our long term was, Singapore or Thailand. My wife rarely made trips to Singapore, it was me who usually flew over.
Fast forward 2016, managed to get a job in Thailand but at big sacrifice. Not only was my salary below 50% of current but income tax was much higher (almost double rate). It was doable to have a normal life in Bangkok. We rented a small condo and used the trains mostly, no car or luxuries. We were happy 3 of us. Thailand work not much drama. I cannot read or write but picked up the language quickly on a conversational basis. My wife can't read, write or speak English at all. Thus my preference not to move to Singapore
My relationship was always kept low profile. My parents were only told in 2017. They were strict Muslims and my wife was Buddhist. However, somehow it all worked out till now. Chicken and duck talking due to language barriers. This was where I underestimated my wife and parents. Me being worried all the time and apprehensive. Our faiths were well respected with no pressure from either side to convert. I consider myself either atheist or agnostic but respecting belief overall. Compromise has been the key to my marriage thus far.
We got married by certificate in 2017 before my dad died thankfully. It was a low key affair, just getting the certificate with no banquet. 1 witness from each side, my wife represented by her sister who came in from the North East province. We had lunch in a halal restaurant in Siam Paragon.
Some steps for Singaporeans to fulfil for paperwork involving Embassy, ROM and CID (usual no previous marriage and certificate of no criminal record etc). Thereafter I did further paperwork to notarise/translate my papers
And then COVID hit all of us globally. I found myself in new situations unencountered previously. Being fleeced at immigration, being treated like a genuine second citizen, I also saw the bad side of Thailand governance (wife not being able to get vaccine but I was via the assistance of Singapore embassy). My mum alone in Singapore as my dad died before the pandemic. Me not being able to go home was a big blow for almost a year. I was desperate to return home, for my mum and also for my wife. I'd rather die in Singapore if I had to.
Thankfully I managed to find a job similar to my old salary. However I experienced the delta variant and was unable to fly back on many occasions. I tried so many things to "cure" myself. Drink ginger water, gargle salt water, apply saline to my nose daily, follow my wife to the temple but always hefty PCR checks that did not bear fruit. My MP stepped in and we managed clearance on a specific date via Singapore Airlines. ICA also granted my wife a travel status to join me in my relocation. We flew back in 2021 without our beloved cat whom we put under the care of a trusted family friend who loved cats as well. Till this day, one of my biggest worst decisions in my life, I will never do it again. Living apart is never easy from a loved one
Apologies for the long narration above, hope you enjoyed it
So we arrive in Singapore, my wife is elevated from homemaker to domestic engineer status at home. We live in my parents humble HDB. I start work immediately during quarantine (about 10 days at that time)
- I applied for LTVP end 2021
- My wife gets her vaccine in Singapore (her first shots) – relieved and grateful
- LTVP+ of 3 years granted in March 2022 which is her birth month. Did medical and paperwork formalities
No drama here. All straightforward but surprised I got LTVP+ at first try. Many of my friends got 1 year usually at start. Thankful and grateful it was smooth for us. One thing to note was I applied for LTVP without work requirement. But I still needed to fill some paperwork for MOM. Maybe that helped as well, ie – not requiring or expecting my wife to work or contribute financially to our household (purely my guess with no science to back up)
- We get Singpass for her and also a bank account
- Supplementary credit card also even though she has no work or salary
Also this period, converted my Thai marriage cert to Singapore ROM one. Some fees and paperwork but very easy. We celebrated at Prego's since it was nearby to Fort Canning. We had to pay for the cert and a Thai translator to ensure my wife understood. This translator is from the same list the Thai embassy uses as mentioned for other type of services. Since it was adhoc (same day), paid more for translator time who had been living here for 30 years or something. Maybe $250? She also helped to take photos for us at ROM, bless her soul. She knows the SOP inside out. If you schedule a date and time, I think it would be below $150 in all. Had to pay her transport and all that for my case as urgent for me.
- February 2023, some of you advise me against an accelerated PR application but I still gambled with $100. My thought process was she is too old to have kids and I just bought my first HDB home in June 2022 so I thought it helps
Paid income tax for first time in long while. My assessable income was SGD200k for the first year
- Quiet for long period and then something came up in August / September. They needed her birth certificate which I marked as "do not have" during application. This was where some frustration kicked in
o Went to my MP to see if we can waive such requirements. They took some time to reply and asked for physical attendance to MPS but my job requires heavy travel thus did not materialize
o My wife's family from her province sent some documents which I translated privately. Wasted $120 as ICA declined as classified them as private translators.
So far Thai citizens, you can go to the Royal Thai Embassy (which is great in Orchard Claymore), you can have a power of attorney done for a small fee
With this, fly back to Thailand to obtain whatever is needed. However, it cannot be done in the capital. You can only do this from the village or district where the original records are kept. This cost me $1K in totality, usual flights, hotels, transfers, paperwork
Thereafter she returns to Singapore, we bring these documents to one of the approved translators that the Royal Thai Embassy has (they have a list to use). Translation is cheaper than my $120 above (joke's on me, but I call this "school fees")
And finally translated documents back to Royal Thai Embassy where another fee certifies it. This was sent to ICA and the magic happens in about 3 weeks
As my wife did LTVP medical, this was not required for PR as within 2 years per ICA guidelines
Slight comment, ICA did call me personally to try and find solutions and it was summarized that flying back was the surest way of getting everything in order. The timelines are quite tight, like 2 weeks to do all of above. You can seek an extension but thankfully my $1K was well spent and we got everything done by the period. Credit to my wife who literally had to fly back to Bangkok and her hometown and get all the paperwork done and back to Singapore within 5 days and then the translation and Thai embassy part took 2 days, One shortcut is, my wife took photos of documents which was passed to translator in advance. That saves time. When you bring these documents to Royal Thai Embassy and then ICA – you have to show all the originals
Did all the ICA PR formalities after making appointment. Fast fast as always. Paid my $120 for re entry and nric. Met yet another friend in the queue applying for his LTVP which was granted for 1 year. Again I am thankful for my lucky stars
Our profiles:
Wife
Thai native
No education or work record or salary
6 year older than me
No kids
Married by official Thai cert since 2017. Converted to ROM cert in 2022
Useless husband
Singapore native
Distant learning Bachelors
Leaving away from Singapore for some time, so worried that no income statements as didn't pay income tax for years
Income – about $15K base a month, financial services industry for 20 years overall
Home – 3 room HDB, our first property bought in 2022. We don’t have any assets in Thailand previously
That's my story guys. Thanks for reading
If you need any information or assistance. Ask away. Extremely happy to assist
