Breakdown of Number of Applications Received to Extend Social Visit Pass, Long Term Visit Pass or Long Term Pass Plus of Foreign Spouses of Singaporean
Ministry of Home AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song’s inquiry regarding the statistics and success rates of visit pass extensions for foreign spouses of Singaporeans between 2019 and 2020. Minister K Shanmugam provided data showing that Short-Term Visit Pass (STVP) rejections remained below 3%, while Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) and LTVP+ renewal rejections were under 1%. Rejections were primarily attributed to adverse records, an inability to justify the need for further extensions, or a failure to demonstrate sufficient financial support for the family. Minister K Shanmugam explained that the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority conducts holistic assessments, considering the specific merits and records of both the sponsor and the applicant. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, additional factors such as travel restrictions and flight connectivity are currently included in the assessment process to assist those with genuine difficulties.
Transcript
7 Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) how many applications has ICA received to extend the social visit pass, Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP) or Long Term Visit Pass Plus (LTVP+) of foreign spouses of Singaporeans (i) between February and July 2019 and (ii) between February and July 2020, with a breakdown by social visit pass, LTVP and LTVP+; (b) what are the success rates for each category; and (c) what are the most frequent reasons for rejection.
Mr K Shanmugam: From February to July in 2019 and 2020, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) received 6,419 and 8,395 applications respectively for extension of Short-Term Visit Pass (STVP) from foreign spouses of Singaporeans. 2.6% and 2.8% respectively were rejected.
From February to July in 2019 and 2020, ICA received 4,503 and 4,243 applications respectively for renewal of Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) from foreign spouses of Singaporeans. In both years, about 0.4% of applications were rejected. Over the same period, ICA received 987 and 1,554 applications respectively for renewal of Long-Term Visit Pass Plus (LTVP+) from foreign spouses of Singaporeans. 0.9% and 0.5% respectively were rejected.
Applications for STVP, LTVP and LTVP+ are considered holistically and there may be a number of reasons why a pass is not extended or renewed. STVP extension applications are rejected mostly because the sponsor or applicant was found to have adverse records, or the applicant was unable to substantiate the need for further extensions. For LTVP or LTVP+ renewal applications, reasons for rejection were mostly because the sponsor or the applicant was found to have adverse records, or was not able to demonstrate the ability to support the family financially.
To assist those with genuine difficulties during the current COVID-19 situation, ICA considers additional factors, such as the prevailing travel restrictions and flight connectivity, when assessing the extension or renewal of passes.