Leong Sze Hian / Columnist
I refer to media reports about Singaporeans who have been unable to get permission to marry foreigners, despite repeated appeals to the relevant authorities and their members of parliament (MPs).
Singaporeans with lower-income, lower education, or lower-skilled jobs, find it harder to get permission to marry foreigners.
For example, a Singaporean male sales manager in an electronics shop, age 44, earning $1,700 a month, was denied permission, with the reason that his income was deemed too low to support a family. Now, after more than 20 appeals to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), more than four years, a few MPs, the answer is still no despite his salary having gone up to $2,500 now.
I find it somewhat ironic that a Singaporean can go to a neighbouring country like Vietnam, pay a few thousand dollars, and marry a bride whom he has met only a few days before.
In contrast, if he wants to marry a foreigner who has ever been to Singapore on a work permit or S-employment pass, he has to apply for permission.
Surely, a relationship of many years with a foreigner in Singapore, may be a more lasting and lovely one, than a “few days” bride transaction.
Will such policies contribute to more marriage strife and increasing divorce rates? At the end of the day, it may be the children of such failed marriages, who may bear the brunt of the consequences.
There are also cases of Singaporeans who have to travel to foreign countries periodically to meet their foreign wives and children, because permission to marry was denied.
Some of these Singaporeans may decide to migrate eventually.
I find it somewhat contradictory that whilst we are encouraging procreation, and are aware of the increasing trend of Singaporeans marrying non-Singaporeans, which I understand is now at an all-time high of about 4 out of 10 marriages, that we continue to deny permission to marry in genuine cases.
As our constitution and national pledge say equality for citizens, why do we discriminate against citizens on the basis of their income, education and occupation?
If the theory that intelligence is due more to genes than to the environment is correct, are we not in a sense, making the lives of the genetically disadvantaged even harder, by denying their basic human right to love, to marry, and to have children?
I understand that those who have ever worked in Singapore have to apply to the MOM for permission to marry, whilst others have to apply to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).
Do they use the criteria of assessment? Why not have just one authority so that the process and criteria may be more consistent?
I would also like to suggest that the criteria be made public, so that Singaporeans don’t fall in love with the wrong people.
With the foreigner population growing at double digits to more than one million now, this problem may continue to grow.
If we are worried about “sham” marriages to get residency in Singapore, we can perhaps learn from other countries like the United States, which has severe penalties for “sham” marriages, whilst maintaining the right of every U.S citizen to marry anyone they truly love.
I also understand that for Singaporean women, getting permission to marry a foreigner is even harder than for our men, as even higher standards of income, education and occupation are required.
Is this a breach of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women(CEDAW), of which Singapore is a signatory?
References:
“We’re not young anymore” (New Paper, Oct 22).
“If only she hadn’t worked here before” (New Paper, Oct 21).———-
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It’s been awhile since the last post..perhaps everyone’s been busy with the recent cny hols and whatnot. It’s been just heartbreaking and mindblowing going through these posts and learning how damn tough it is simply to want to love and live life with a person JUST because his/her nationality differs from yours. Bah. My cousin really wants to marry her fiance who is Thai and working as a chef here earning $2.4k and currently holding an S-pass (he’s been here 6 years). She runs a cafe with her sis although the place isn’t in her name and thus is wondering how hard would it be for them to marry and him being granted pr-ship. Will he have to cancel his S-pass in order to marry her or can he work and still get married at the same time? Thanks so much and any advice will be totally appreciated!
Now you know why they say Singapore is SOULESS.
The government CONTROLS EVERYTHING!…and its people supports it by voting for this punishment each and every time. Who to blame? No balls to vote for change so controlling government keeps people’s balls in locked cupboard. Doomed red dot.
it is not about voting for change.
it is about voting for progress and improvement.
Who in the right mind think pap is doing good for s’poreans? it is all for their own self enrichment.
they don’t even mention about rental flats anymore, you think they actually think about helping the poor?
No need to cancel S-Pass…just go to ROM.
hi ali,
we are going to submit our appliction next week,i hope everything will be fine.,i never cancel my permit we just waiting for the result i hope will be fine
how you think,is that ok?without canceling my wp?
Hi Sweet,
Well you can try…..and best of luck !!!
Do inform the outcome…..
Good day,
Nicely written…my case was the same plight…visa, long term pass and singapore pr denied for my foreign husband…reason being improvement of income…
I feel like I am a single mother to our newly born baby boy who is only 6months…and this week is our wedding anniversary and guess what ICA denied his visa….
Lost for words…my 1 year pain and agony with ICA now…
http://theonlinecitizen.com/2008/11/the-right-to-love-marry-and-procreate/
Cant input the comment website some problem..but it is the best site I have come across…
Michelle
I think now they control Pr applications…..well dnt give up !!!!
hi,
my name is milza am encoountering a similiar problems here.. am a ex wp who has been banned from sg due to my marriage application and my pregnantcy.i married to singaporean once and end up in divorced. i have a two singaporean sons in my custody.given my mother is a singaporean herself still i can get a pr due to financial satuation.they say in order to have pr you have to work.follow the idea given i was werking under work permit when fell in love with my current boyfriend who is also singaporean. we decide to get married and i call up M.O.M for advice.they told me to submit permission(which take one month for the form to reach) in that waiting period i found myself 1week pregnant was confused and again call up M.O.M for advice. Never once they remind me bout the rules neither inform me bout the consequences.what they say was only submit the application. and they reject my application, revoke my permit and banned when i was 5month pregnant.and till today they keep asking me to keep appealing.now i am all alone in malaysia with my newborn baby.am i am missing my two kids and my family so badly.do you have any ways for my cases to apply at least to get a permission to enter singapore as i badly wants to see my kids?
hi. I jus got the 2nd letter of my husband PR application n still got rejected. after we go to MP n he said ‘will write to the ICA n see how’. actuali i dont know wat is the criteria. My husband went for several intrviews all ask for PR. Then if they dont giv PR, how my husband get job? Sum more i heard, if get a work permit n not spass or Epass, wil be vry hard to get PR. I believe that in future, life in sg is harder. I also hv apply new house under BTO but this application i hv to use my bro name to support. N to my surprise my q.no had excess. Im quite disappointed coz I reali wish for new hse to build both of our lives. but if cant, then we hv to rent sum apt. i cnt depend on my bro name coz within tat duration sure 1 day he will ask to remove his name for himself to get married n apply new hse. im a citizen here n my lifes alrdy so difficult. then muz werk part time to support my income. full time job salary not enuf.
Hi, is it still so difficult to marry a foreigner? I have been working in china for like 3 years planning to get married with my China Boyfriend and stay in Singapore. I’m in a dilemma as there are many criteria to marry foreigner. Can anyone help?
Hi,the exit permit for my girlfriend from China was not suceessful.We are planning for our marry this year at Singapore.How should I do ,to let her come over? Can anyone help?
Hi,I got a girlfriend who is holding a wp. I myself is a chef and am getting a $1.7k salary atm. So I guess it is impossible for me to marry her here in SINGAPORE ya? Anybody got any good advice please, I will really appreciate that, thanks a million..
I have a china girlfriend want to get marriage…but go through mom we can’t get approve, because they say my basic salary is too low ???but everyday I have my personal tip around $80 per day…and my basic salary is around $1000 per month…can anyone help me????
Hi, i just wanna now if we work permit holder can get married or allowed to marry here in Singapore with a non PR?
I need help to.. I am currently with a Bangladeshi boyfriend and we intend to get married.. But situation doesnt seem to be on our side.. His S Pass application rejected. Can MP really help on this?
i earning 2k i a singaporean.My gf earning 2.1k shes holding a wp as she asked her boss to apply s pass but was rejected.So we left with not choice to apply from mom is the chance high?afraid there will cancel her permit?
Hi,im widow with 2 kids and im working as cashier earning $1300.I fall in love with WP holder whom so loving and caring with me & children.Kids too love him so much.I wish to marry him in singapore.He currently taking part-time course in diploma engineering.Day and night im worried.What can i do?
Hi helpless and sayma, woud like to knw ur story… contact me at 90270880