Long-term visit pass priority processing for post-birth childcare support in mixed-citizen marriages

Question:

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim: To ask the Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs for Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) applications for spouses in mixed-citizen marriages who are about to give birth, as well as for their own parents (a) whether priority is accorded to such applications beyond ICA's usual considerations to assess LTVP applications, to assist with providing immediate post-birth childcare; and (b) if so, whether such priority is weighed against any other considerations.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs:

1. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) assesses each Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) application on its merits. Singapore citizens with a foreign partner are strongly encouraged to use the PreMarriage LTVP Assessment (PMLA) before they get married. That will let them know the likelihood of the foreign partner obtaining long-term stay facilities. This will give them greater transparency on whether their partner can stay in Singapore – even before marriage. Applicants who have completed the PMLA can also benefit from faster processing of six weeks or less for their LTVP application. Foreign spouses who are applying for or renewing their LTVP will also be granted LTVP+ if they qualify, which will make them eligible for healthcare subsidies and longer duration of stay.

2. Parents of foreign spouses can stay on a Short-Term Visit Pass and apply to extend it if they wish to stay longer to support caregiving for the child. If applicants declare specific caregiving needs or special circumstances which may warrant longer stay, ICA will take this into consideration.

3. There are a large number of applications for various passes, to stay in Singapore. The different needs for the stay need to be assessed.