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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Next to come when new couples want to make babies must first apply clearance online before action, “illegal entry is prohibited” iggit? LOL
can a singaporean get married with a maid werking in singapore?
I’m one of them…mine is 11 times rejected already…now i’m hoping for the number 12….how i wish that those who work in MOM ( Marriage Department ) will have the same thinking as you people…..
Sham, you can marry a maid. Question is can you secure her stay here after marriage. Is the real question.
Ali, can’t be sure which department don’t approve you because you mentioned marriage department Which most of the time they don’t reject your marriage with foreigner. Please note that marriage department is (ROM), ministry of manpower is the work permit department (MOM) and immigration department is (ICA). Cheers
ya my future wife is ex work permit holder…that’s y i need to go through M.O.M….so many times go & see MPs…all letter’s have been rejected whitout any reason….even my Mother who is very old go and see the MPs and BEG them to let us married….the asnwer they give is….I ONLY CAN WRITE LETTER….is up to M.O.M to decide..i dnt know how long they want to HOLD my application…i’m not young anymore…i need to have a future…..now even ICA officer dnt let her come in to Singapore without approval letter from M.O.M…i dnt knw who to seek help from…
Hi Ali14sg and Logical son,
I was a work permit holder b4…work permit holder need to seek approval from MOM before they want to get married inside or outside of the country.I know it”s already too late for u both,but i only want to share this to u…sopposed to be , u and ur wife can apply a permission to the MOM first b4 her work permit expired coz MOM allow all work permit holder to apply for approval while she”s holding a wok permit here.It won”t affect her work permit and her employer must know of her applying for married coz MOM wants to know her monthly income.i”ve been in this situation ‘I just got married wif my singaporean husband.
A friendly advised from me….don”t give up! God knows the best.
Hi,Logical son
Based from my experienced as a work permit holder before….u and ur wife has no approval from MOM ,no marriages certificate from ROM of singapore,The ICA will know her record if u hadn”t seek approval from MOM.ICA will banned her for given them a false report.
God Bless!!
Hi ms pop,
Wow..that’s great that u & ur hubby manage to get married….i think is ur husband income….cause they keep on remind me of my income…they dont say how much they want but they say mine is not enough…& i just got the number 12th letter…and its rejected again….i dnt knw how long they want to play this game…i have a stable job and also a part time job & my life is nothing but work…but they dnt care they still rejected my application just because she’s a WORK PERMIT HOLDER before…sometimes i just think is it a crime to be an ex work permit holder…didn’t they know even animals need love….& i realise that mostly Singaporean the one who become a burden to the state cause they let them married without checking their income status…..and if u dnt mind maybe u can share your exprience with me…my email is ali14sg@yahoo.com ….thank you.
Hi I’m a Singaporean Lady who married to a Nigerian man one yr ago in Singapore. I earn $3k per mth and my husband long term visit pass has been rejected twice. Me too did go thru MP but was shocked to hear from the ICA officer for his last application that was being rejected by the MP. My husband has to be in and out from Singapore inorder for us to be together. He only allow to be in Singapore for 30days and ICA officer normally act like we owe them millions when we asked for extension. I really don’t understand the rule of marriage in Singapore. I don’t know what our government want from us. I really think that government should list out type of man Singapore Woman can marry and rule to apply for long term visit pass or S’pore PR.
Nigerian man recently had been in the recent blacklist according to the newspaper. It was reported that there were too many cases of Nigerian Singapore wife involved in drug cases overseas. To protect Singapore passports, government must have discourage Singapore woman from getting involved with the Nigerian man directly.
For your case, I believe your hope of getting approval might be never.
red man, i need your advise .. pls… i just ROM with a work permit holder who working here over 5 yrs . Both of us are Malaysian and I just get my PR on yr 2008. We forgot to apply the approval letter from MOM before we ROM at Malaysia, so what should i do now ??? I got call to MOM to provide them our details on yesterday and I have to wait 14 days to know the result… I really scare and sad, i worry my husband’s work permit will be cancelled and ban entry to S’pore again … are we have chance to get the approval letter ?? ?
Hi Guys..
Im facing same problem here.
I am a work permit holder ( Malaysian) and my girlfriend is singaporean.
I am earning S$1700.00 and she is earning S$1000.00. Can i marry my singaporean GF ?
Daniel
Hi to all. I have read all your comments here and it send shivers to my spine. I would like to seek mr RED-man advice. My boyfren is a Moroccan. He will be coming to Singapore under social visit by March. We plan to marry on May tiz year. I havent seek any approval from MOM yet but will be doing so soon as possible. And also we will be registering marriage in Singapore and not overseas. Im an admin manager wt salary of 1300 while he has Diploma in Fitness Coaching. He hasn’t been working in Singapore before, neither a work permit holder. Im scared and sad if the MOM reject the my application for approval. Please I need your guidance on my case here. Im totally new to this. Do I have to seek from the MP too ?
Hi MistyRieusGerl,
I think you dont need to seek approval from M.O.M cause he never work here before….only I.C.A.
Hi REDMAN,
My wife to be is holding her working S-PASS now….so what should i do….i mean do i need to go to MPs for help regarding our marriage or wait for her to apply for PRs….?
Hi Ali14sg. I would like to thank you for your response. Ok, regarding ICA, tell me what should i enquire on my partners case.
Hi MistyRieusGerl,
I think you can just go ahead with your marriage at Singapore R.O.M….then apply for him Long Term under spouse at I.C.A but you must have Marriage Cert first….then follow up by PRs…the best is make baby A.S.A.P so you’ll have the reason to get ur husband a PRs…MistyRieusGerl i just give you some of the picture that you have to go through…the best is we wait for the Seniors in this Forum to answer your questions…..Best of Luck !!!
Hello Ali14sg
Refering to your comment for MistyRieusGerl, I just want to ask you a question. Currently I am facing the same problem as her. My fiance who has never worked in Singapore will be coming here to get married. We plan to do everything as you mentioned. But when it comes to making the baby, will that really work? And wil they consider that kind of situation because based on what i’ve read so far, they usually consider on wealth and status, and not on hardship of the spouse if visa application is rejected.
#68, just like to share with you.
If your fiance who has never worked in Singapore, you need not go thru MOM.
What you have to do is go directly to ROM.
Making baby fast to get LTP? Not true!
You are right! They usually consider on wealth and status. Your annual Income must exceed S$30K (for pass 3yrs).
Thanks for the reply *Cool*.
I’ve read so many forums and some information are just very misleading. There is one member from some other site who said that her low education uncle and his PRC wife got a child together after getting married. When they applied for PR, it went through instantly without any problems.
So now i really wonder …. *hmm* / confused
Hi Sonjablade…..sometimes information are not misleading…it happened !!! recently i meet a guy who married a Philippino woman…and guess what this woman is a maid before…and what more supries me is this guy earns only $1300 per month as a driver…..So no body knows what’s ur application would be unless you try it urself….just like me…13th times rejected by M.O.M…NO MERCY !!! but that guy 2 times rejected after appeal Approved !!!
Yeah I totally agree with you because you wouldn’t know how its like for you until you try it youself.
Ali14sg, can i ask you a question regarding your situation? Did you actually go to your member of parliament to appeal? Because I’m thinking of doing that if mine were to get rejected.
We are also ready to exit Singapore to Malaysia and come back to renew his short term social visit everytime it expires if he still hasn’t got a job or a reply from the ica regarding our application. Have anyone done that before? Because i heard when you exit to malaysia, you’d have to stay there for a minimum of 5 days. The reason why I asked is because I dont think we would have the time to do the exiting every 14 days and stay in malaysia for 5 days.
Hi Sonjablade,
Yes i did see my MPs but none of them can help….they just keep on writting & writting & writting for 13th times…no changes all letter’s REJECTED !!! i really piss off…as i said they are going to loose a BIG amount of vote this coming election…ok back to ur case…i think you can try to seek help from them….cause sometimes there r luck !!! but i think the best is if u can write it urself & pass it to them and let them ( MPs ) sign the papers and submit….cause frankly speaking i dnt even know what r they writting…they dnt tell you..and if they do, they wont express their feeling like we do…so if u have a very good command in english…just write it urself….and as for exiting from Malaysia i think its not a good idea…GOOD LUCK !!!
If you need a professional to draft the letter, you can consider hiring my services. As much as I would love to, I am not able to offer complimentary assistance and need to charge a fee. However, I will try to keep the cost as low as possible.
I have a great deal of experience in producing customised letters of correspondence for specific purposes and have helped many acheive the results they seek. If you need to, feel free to drop me an email at gangasudhan@email.com to discuss further.
Good luck and all the best….
ali.. think you can go ahead to marry your gf now that she is on an S-Pass. She just needs to inform her employer to update her marital status.
for my problem now, i intend to marry my gf who is an employment pass holder, do i need any approval from any govt unit? and my gf is intending to quit her job, so if we decide to register at ROM after she cancels her EP, do we need to apply for any approval or inform any govt unit?
Ali, thank you for your comments. Yes i will definitely go to one of my MPs for help if our application is rejected. Yeah i heard the exiting to Malaysia won’t work so we’re not going to use that plan then. My main concern for my fiance once he comes to Singapore and after we ROM is to apply for a long term pass first simultaneously with PR. At least he will have some time to look for a job here.
I am seriously thinking of doing what you suggested; make baby BUT I dont think the people at ICA would care. I read on some other forum that its a common sight at ICA office to see couples with babies while applying for PR, to get some sympathy from the officers.
RR, if I were you, I would call MOM or go there and check with them first before you ROM. Just to be on the safe side.
MOM called me, told me EP holder dun need apply approval to get married.
RR Congrats !!! all the best….as for me i already check with MOM about S PASS holder…and they confirm with me that no need to seek approval from them…but to get PRs is difficult…so i think i would just wait for her to apply PRs first then i proceed with my marriage….any suggestion ???
Thank you.
Hi all, I happened to browse thru online and saw this site. I am currently facing a very bad time. I am a Singaporean lady and got married to a Pakistani man in year 2007. He was holding an EP at that point of time. After 1 yr, we applied for his PR under his own EP but it was rejected. We then went to MP and again it was rejected until the 3rd time, we decided to wait for awhile. After that, my husband’s EP was supposed to b renewed but they rejected the renewal strangely after 2 times pass was renewed without any problem. We did not appeal then as my husband was tired of all the crap. Then we applied for him a long term pass in Feb 09 and they gave him 2 mths to stay in singapore and wait for the result and till today have yet to get any reply. My husband is now in Pakistan as he had went to attend his brother’s marriage on March 16th. I applied for him an entry visa so that he can enter Singapore again just in case his long term pass gets approved but I was really shocked that they gave me the answer as “After careful consideration, the application is not successful.”
What the ???$$%%^?!
Its really time consuming and waste of money. Is the govt only need money?? I am soo dissappointed.. n all this while, I have always loved Singapore, proud of it and its governance.. but now, im half hearted..
My husband told me not to worry as worse come to worst, we will migrate.. to US perhaps..N myabe I have to stay in Pakistan for awhile.. tat place is rather dangerous.. dun singapore government care about their citizens at all?? I am really at a loss..I dunno wat to do.. I am afraid if his long term pass gets rejected as I am only earming 2k…
Till today I havent heard anything from them.. And all these waiting costs money as we call internationally everyday.. at times we do chat and using a webcam but its all different as having the person here with us.. now i cant concentrate at work also. If my application gets rejected, what should I do?? I have been to Pakistan, even I have a lot of family members there but I still prefer singapore. As my family is in singapore and I am originally a born singaporean. I have been to UK but still it does not suit me as my friends are not there.. I am soooo confused.. :( anyone can offer advise?
Hi Mrs Khan,
I really feel sorry for you…i think you are having the same feeling as i am…..all i can say is ( MAYBE ) the Goverment dnt really give a DAMM to people like us & singapore is like a COMPANY not a COUNTRY anymore….the locals need help they cannot help….but they want VOTE….they want us to DEFENCE our country…but what do they give us…NOTHING !!! totally ZERO !!! i belived those people from the Goverment sector missuse their power…..didn’t they know life is very short.
Hi Mrs Khan
Me too having the same problem with you. I’m a Singaporean who married to a Nigerian man in 2007. Till now…… really don’t know what exactly ICA looking for.
I go thru MP to appeal t’ll ICA asked me to give them a break last year. My husband went back to his country last in Dec 2008 and he is in Singapore now.
Today, we went to ICA to extend his stay for another mth. And yes, they did approve our application but I really hate the way they written beside the stamp in the passport “To Leave”. I really really hate that!
Sometime, I feel that our govert just do not care about how we feel as a Singaporean ladies. We too need to take care of our old parent and we too need a man by our side to assists us.
Anyway, I’m going to try to apply the LTP for my husband again and I really hope
that we will get thru this time (no confident and tried).
Regards
Hi all,
I’m Lobs,
,…was searching for answers on the web, happen to
found you this site.
I also have the same “Big Headache”… I’m 35 years old &
a work permit here for 5 years now with $1700 salary.
My girlfriend is a local with $1500 salary. I’m planning to
marry her but dont know how to go about. She’s been very
good to me and I do like to give her security & happines.
.
..So my question to you all are ;-
– can we get marry?
– can I apply for PR after marry?
Please do help for advise coz it wont be fair for my girlfriend if we
can get marry but I cant get my PR & have to go back
leaving my girlriend.
“Please Help to give me advise”
- Thank you very much -
LOBS
hi all,
I don’t think MOM just look at applicant’s salary.
My income is more than $35,000 a month, but was rejected as well.
The only reason I could think of is that she was once my domestic helper.
Now, I have to fly occasionally to visit my son and my wife to be .
But I didn’t give up!
Maybe, the authority should make it clearer to all employer about the seriousness so that we will not
fall in love with our worker.
Ignorant
I think the need to change those ( OLD TIMERS ) in M.O.M to a young officers who can understand what Love & Life is……
Hi Ali
No use changing to a young officers cos’ they are still following the same boss under the same rules.
i just hope that everything will turn better for everyone of us with all these problem one day.
Regards
Sometimes i just taught that we should all write a letter to a higher Minister regarding our case….cause this is our future…..and age is catching up…if i or you just write they will not entertain us….so maybe we can write it as a group and tell the Minister that we are serious about this & The Minister should know that there are people like us….begging for our future….
I just want a fair treatment. If I’m being rejected, I just want to know why.
Me too, did want to write to the Minister who can listen and look into it.
I’m staying with my old parents and I need my husband to be with us in order to
help me to take good care of my old folks. My mum went thru the implant of knee surgery and she can’t walk properly. I’m having my owe flat and I have a good job but I just don’t understand why I’m being rejected.
I intend to write in and have a cover letter to be attached to my coming application.
I will never give up!
Regards
Hi everyone…me too is facing the same problem.Anyway I’m a Filipina married to a Singaporean. WE got married in my country and applied for long term visit pass during my stay there in Singapore many years ago. My application was rejected and I was forced to leave the country and been banned from entering again. Until now my husband is begging MOM to lift the ban through MP but rejected for countless of times. WE are appealing to them for almost 10 years now and sad to say that we are living separately with my son with me who is very confused with our situation. Its so depressing but we are still hoping that this policy will be revised or change and I’ll be allowed to go back to Singapore again even just a visitor, that will be enough for me because I’m not a criminal, I’m not a sex worker or have worked in Singapore illegally. I have a very clean record there and never offend anyone there. We just happened to fell in love…
Fruit full infor
I’m a Singaporean 25f and I married my husband, 27 from Solomon Islands. We met in New Zealand where we were working for 2 years, and after my work pass expired and Immigration NZ mysteriously refused to extend my permit, I came back to SIngapore with my husband and we got married while he was on a social visit pass.
He applied for a Long term visit pass which wasn’t approved but they gave him 6 months to look for a job. He has a trade certificate in Horticulture and found it really hard to find a job cos there’s no market here. I have a diploma from Singapore Poly and am working as a writer earning $2k a month.
The problem is, it’s very difficult for him to find a job as employers want PR and Citizens, while those who employ foreigners underpay and make them work 12 hours a day, 2 off days a month for $900.
His permit expires in Nov 09, and I suspect he will be unable to find any job here, so he will have to leave the country. The airfare to Solomon Islands cost $2k one-way, which means we might not even be able to afford the air fare.
I would really like to stay with my husband here, and take care of my elderly parents as I’m the only child. But Singapore Government is really making me exasperated.
To make matters worse, in my course of work I often have to interview Ministers like GCT and LHL, and hear them go on and on about the greatness of PAP and how we should welcome foreigners. Sometimes I feel like just stepping out from the circle of reporters and shout at them,”Then why don’t you just leave married couples alone you bloody hypocrites!”
Reading about all these cases of rejection even though they’re earning ten times my salary, what hope do I have? I think I better get ready to move to Solomon Islands and fish for a living.
At least the Gov here is giving your husband a chance to find a job before they can approve his PR. Unlike the rest, your husband is not ban from entering Singapore. I would suggest he look for a job asap and don’t look at the what kind of pay. Employer will accept his application if he can produce evidence that he it’s not illegal to employ him. Good Luck!
Hi i have some questions,
my wife to be is pregnant and she is holding a work permit and is living with me, what should i do now? see mom for approval ? will we get approve easily ? my income per year is 40080 and my gf is 24000+ so can it be easily be approved or not ? can she be a pr as well ? or only the baby can be the singaporean ? please help
Well if we talk about income you both are stable…..but it still depend on M.O.M….just pray…..wish you both have a good result in the future.
If she is not a domestic helper, your chance of getting MOM to approve your marriage is higher that also apply that both of you are not employer and employee related. However, do take note that if MOM reject your application, she might be ban from coming into Singapore until your appeal is successful. That could be many many years.
ok one more thing is that she her occupation is a beautician so will that count as a domestic helper ? and she currently is living with me. will there be any issues on that ?
If you are not her employer, the chances is higher. I would suggest you to apply Permission to marry a work permit holder from MOM as soon as possible. With both your pay, i don’t see any reason they will reject your application. Do take note that it will be too late if your girl friend give birth before marry to you.
should i tell them that she is pregnant ? or not
Call MOM, Marriage restriction policy department and ask for the application form.
You don’t have to tell them if they didn’t ask you this question.
But, you need to declare that you do not have a child outside your marriage.
meaning to say i dont have a child outside my marriage ?
i have the form which is named
Application for Permission to Marry a singapore citizen / singapore permanent resident
her boss take it for her through mom theres one column for me to fill stating that
Did your relationshop with each other lead to the birth of any child in or outside singapore ?
i called mom yesterday regarding this matter to ask about the marriage thingy they asked for my nric and my full name so i told them that my wife to be is pregnant so what should i declare ?
I assume that the answer to the question ” Did your relationshop with each other lead to the birth of any child in or outside singapore ?” should be “No” since your girlfriend had not given birth to any child.
It’s better to check with MOM. I suggest you don’t declare your name for this case.
Just ask them should you indicate “Yes” or “No”.
It seem to me that you have a merit to your application.
Good Luck!