Question:
Ms Carrie Tan: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs of the
average of 24,255 applications received each year from Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) holders who requested for the
renewal of their pass through non-spousal sponsorship (a) what is the breakdown by relationship to sponsor; (b) what
is the approval rate for each category and what are the common reasons for rejection; and (c) what are the
circumstances under which LTVP holders married to Singaporean citizens can seek sponsorship from other Singaporean
citizens.
Answer:
1. The average number of applications received each year from
2015 to 2020 for the renewal of a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) which is not sponsored by a local spouse, was about
23,500.Of this, 46% were from foreign parents and 37% were from foreign children, of Singaporeans or permanent
residents (PRs).The remaining 17% were from LTVP holders with other types of relationship to their sponsor, such as
foreign family members of Student’s Pass holders, foreign former spouses (of Singaporeans or PRs) who are widowed or
divorced, and foreign still-married spouses who are undergoing divorce proceedings.
2. In the same time period, nearly all LTVP renewal applications
from foreign parents and foreign children of Singaporeans or PRs were approved. For applications from LTVP holders
with other types of relationship to their sponsor, about 98% were approved.A small minority of applications were
rejected, mostly due to (i) the applicant not having local family roots, (ii) the sponsor or applicant having
adverse records, or (iii) because the sponsor was not able to demonstrate the ability to financially support himself
or herself and the applicant.
3. While the general rule is that foreign spouses should renew
their LTVP under the sponsorship of their local spouse, those who are unable to do so can seek sponsorship from
other Singaporeans or PRs. ICA will consider if there are valid reasons for the foreign spouse to stay in Singapore,
such as whether the foreign spouse has custody of Singaporean children or is undergoing divorce proceedings in
Singapore.
