FOREIGN SPOUSES MARRIED TO SINGAPOREANS

FOREIGN SPOUSES MARRIED TO SINGAPOREANS

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(Granting of permanent residency status): **

42.

Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs in the last five years, how many foreign spouses married to Singaporeans were not granted permission to reside here permanently.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Over the last five years, on average, about 8,700 Singaporeans applied for permanent residence (PR) status for their foreign spouses each year. The average approval rate has been 60%.

Our policies on long-term immigration facilities take into account the preservation of family unity. However, marriage to a Singaporean does not automatically guarantee that the foreign spouse would be granted PR status. Citizens and Permanent Residents sponsoring their foreign spouses or children for PR status will have to show that they are able to support them financially. Also, to prevent foreigners from using marriage to Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents as a means to obtain PR status quickly, PR status will not be granted immediately upon marriage.

When the foreign spouse is not eligible for PR status, we would still consider granting him or her a Long Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP) so that he or she can remain in Singapore. Over the last five years, the average approval rate of LTSVP applications by foreign spouses has been about 85%. Generally, ICA will try to provide applicants with the reasons for rejection, to help them understand what they can do to improve their eligibility when they re-apply.

In short, ICA's guidelines governing the grant of long-term immigration facilities to foreign spouses are sufficiently compassionate to allow deserving spouses to stay in Singapore.

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