Singapore Expats

I've been struggling with the title, and I wasn't sure how to phrase it, so I just wrote it like that. I didn't ask my dad for the exact details because I think his memory might not be too clear.

In 2009, my dad came from Korea to work in construction for the Marina Bay Sands hotel project. He worked there from 2009 until 2011, when he got his Permanent Residency (PR). Our family has been living in Singapore ever since.

From what I've heard, he was an Employment Pass (EP) holder at the time, and he got headhunted by a pretty big local construction company in Singapore. He moved to the local company, and they applied for his PR, which he got after 11 months.

My dad told me that the government actually made him an offer back then. They asked him if he wanted to get PR for the whole family. (I'm guessing they asked that because he had included all his family details in his PR application.)

At the time, my dad wasn't very good at English, and he didn't know much about Singapore, so he didn't really understand the offer. He ended up just getting PR for himself.

Anyway, after he got his PR, we decided to immigrate here, and my mom and I came to Singapore in 2011.

After graduating from university, I've been working here on an Employment Pass since 2019. I've applied for PR about three times with my work visa until 2025, but I've been rejected every time. Last year, I got married to my wife, who has PR, and we've applied for PR and a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) under her sponsorship. It's been pending for 7 months now.

My dad and I are both curious about whether his decision to decline the government's offer for family PR back then has any impact on my current PR applications, both the individual ones and the one through my wife's sponsorship. My dad kind of regrets not accepting the offer back then, because he thinks things would have been easier for us now.

I'm wondering if anyone on the forum has a similar case to mine!"

Singapore immigration is not like other countries… turning down such an offer can be like refusing a lovers advances… she can feel hurt that you don’t reciprocate, and she never, ever forgets.

Even if this was no fault of your own, you have now dodged NS obligations intended for you as a second gen PR. Going the family ties route with a PR spouse might help distance yourself from that, but no guarantees. At least expect it to be a challenge, along with being an O in the CMIO framework.

malcontent wrote: ↑

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 5:34 pm

Singapore immigration is not like other countries… turning down such an offer can be like refusing a lovers advances… she can feel hurt that you don’t reciprocate, and she never, ever forgets.

Even if this was no fault of your own, you have now dodged NS obligations intended for you as a second gen PR. Going the family ties route with a PR spouse might help distance yourself from that, but no guarantees. At least expect it to be a challenge, along with being an O in the CMIO framework.

Thank you quite poetic reply (rufusing lover )
Hopefully they do not hold the scar from that until nowadays🥲🥲

However, its not My father is intended to dodging NS, because the moments my father get offered, my brother alr in the KoreaNS(23years old and duty finish at 24) and i am 21years old.

My father was try to apply under parents PR scheme at 2012 and 2013 and ICA reply that me and my brother age over 17?18? Unable to do the under parents PR schemes as well as NS unable to join bec of Age ( South korea does not have age limit for NS unless more than 38years old)
P.s: that moment my father also write letter me and my brother intended to join again in SG NS too, if necessary but in the end rejected that from ICA as well

You can't tell what the ICA people think, but my guess is that since you are an adult in your own right, your father's status and prior application have nothing to do with it. Since you're at the age of majority, your application is considered on your own merits and your big problem is that your race isn't one of the standard flavors, Singapore seems to have rescinded most all offers of PR, and without trying to offend, you've got nothing special that would warrant giving you PR at 21. In fact, age may be the primary reason. You're a college graduate, climbing the corporate ladder... and let me ask you... what if you were offered a promotion and a transfer to Korea by your company... would you take it? They may have concluded that the probability that you will move from Singapore in the future is too high.

Your father was PR and his son not PR so it means you have not done national service. Granted it maybe that your father's English not good and did not understand fully but they will assume that your father wanted to avoid NS for his son and now his son want to become PR, they will remmeber that to be sure I feel. Married to a PR wont make much difference . not even married to Singaporean! I dont know where Korean fit into the race category , not counted as Chinese I guess so maybe under others which is a small quota. It is worth a try but there are a lot of applicants since those early Marina Bay Sand days and hardly any Korean come to do consruction jobs. I remember seeing groups of strong Korean men going to work in the old days but now I never see that anymore, Korea has progressed a lot too since those days. Maybe some people can try at the new Singapore JB economic zone in future.

roslind.fong wrote: ↑

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:26 am

Your father was PR and his son not PR so it means you have not done national service. Granted it maybe that your father's English not good and did not understand fully but they will assume that your father wanted to avoid NS for his son and now his son want to become PR, they will remmeber that to be sure I feel. Married to a PR wont make much difference . not even married to Singaporean! I dont know where Korean fit into the race category , not counted as Chinese I guess so maybe under others which is a small quota. It is worth a try but there are a lot of applicants since those early Marina Bay Sand days and hardly any Korean come to do consruction jobs. I remember seeing groups of strong Korean men going to work in the old days but now I never see that anymore, Korea has progressed a lot too since those days. Maybe some people can try at the new Singapore JB economic zone in future.

As you said, the biggest issue seems to be the limited quota for my race. Even my local friends told me that since I fall under the "Others" category, my chances of getting PR might be lower compared to other races.

But my wife keeps telling me not to worry—since we’re going to keep living here, she believes that if we stay positive, it will eventually work out.

Strong Eagle wrote: ↑

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 5:47 am

You can't tell what the ICA people think, but my guess is that since you are an adult in your own right, your father's status and prior application have nothing to do with it. Since you're at the age of majority, your application is considered on your own merits and your big problem is that your race isn't one of the standard flavors, Singapore seems to have rescinded most all offers of PR, and without trying to offend, you've got nothing special that would warrant giving you PR at 21. In fact, age may be the primary reason. You're a college graduate, climbing the corporate ladder... and let me ask you... what if you were offered a promotion and a transfer to Korea by your company... would you take it? They may have concluded that the probability that you will move from Singapore in the future is too high.

This comment really helps take some burden off my father, so I appreciate it. He has always had a tendency to think that I couldn’t get PR because of him.

And you’re right! My local friends and even people who know my background have told me that my chances of getting PR might be lower, not because of my past, but simply because I don’t belong to one of the major racial groups that Singapore prefers.

My friends keep telling me that now that I’m married and have been living here for a long time, it’s just a matter of time before I get it. They keep encouraging me to stay positive.

If I keep thinking positively, I’m sure a good result will come eventually, right?

Does your spouse also fall under “Others” race? That could also be a headwind, especially if they are Korean… not as convincing on the integration aspect, and lends even more to the concerns SE raised.

malcontent wrote: ↑

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 3:32 pm

Does your spouse also fall under “Others” race? That could also be a headwind, especially if they are Korean… not as convincing on the integration aspect, and lends even more to the concerns SE raised.

I am not sure about her race as “Other” category
She is ‘Indonesian Chinese’
Her PR process was very Smooth i remembered Approved just after 8month.
She Currently planning Citizen in SG

underlum918 wrote: ↑

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 3:38 pm

malcontent wrote: ↑

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 3:32 pm

Does your spouse also fall under “Others” race? That could also be a headwind, especially if they are Korean… not as convincing on the integration aspect, and lends even more to the concerns SE raised.

I am not sure about her race as “Other” category
She is ‘Indonesian Chinese’
Her PR process was very Smooth i remembered Approved just after 8month.
She Currently planning Citizen in SG

Her being Chinese definitely goes in the plus column. I am now far more confident that you’ll get PR eventually. If not this time, most probably next time, especially if you have kids.

malcontent wrote: ↑

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 4:00 pm

underlum918 wrote: ↑

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 3:38 pm

malcontent wrote: ↑

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 3:32 pm

Does your spouse also fall under “Others” race? That could also be a headwind, especially if they are Korean… not as convincing on the integration aspect, and lends even more to the concerns SE raised.

I am not sure about her race as “Other” category
She is ‘Indonesian Chinese’
Her PR process was very Smooth i remembered Approved just after 8month.
She Currently planning Citizen in SG

Her being Chinese definitely goes in the plus column. I am now far more confident that you’ll get PR eventually. If not this time, most probably next time, especially if you have kids.

Thanks for the positive comment! I'm staying positive and waiting too!