Good news for foreign spouses - Introduction of Long Term Visit Pass Plus (LTVP+) from 1 April 2012

New pass lets them stay for longer periods and find work more easily

By Teo Wan Gek & Andrea Ong, The Straits Times, 2 Mar 2012

FOREIGN spouses of Singaporeans can stay here for longer periods, find work more easily and even enjoy hospital subsidies, under a new scheme starting on April 1.

Called the Long Term Visit Pass-Plus (LTVP+), it will benefit foreign spouses who have not been granted permanent residency or citizenship.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean announced the new scheme yesterday during the debate on the Prime Minister's Office budget. It was a nod to four MPs who had asked if more could be done to help foreign spouses of Singaporeans, especially those with Singaporean children.

There are about 9,400 foreign spouses here each year on the existing long-term visit pass. They have to renew the pass every year, and cannot work unless they have an employment pass, S-Pass or a work permit.

MPs interviewed described the scheme as a more compassionate one that will help families stay intact. They said that it will likely benefit the foreign wives of blue-collar Singaporeans, who appear regularly at their Meet-the-People Sessions to appeal to get permanent resident (PR) status or renew their visiting pass.

With the new LTVP+, foreign spouses can stay here for three years in the first instance, and up to five years for each renewal. This is instead of the current one-year validity period.

Such pass holders will also enjoy health-care subsidies for in-patient services at restructured hospitals, at a level close to that for PRs.

They can also work to supplement the family income, said Mr Teo. They can ask their prospective employer to apply online to the Ministry of Manpower for a letter of consent. Those issued with the letter will not be counted in their employers' foreign worker quota. Their bosses will also not be required to pay the foreign workers' levy for them.

But not all foreign spouses will be given the LTVP+. Couples who have at least one Singaporean child from their marriage will be eligible to apply.

For those without, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority will look at factors such as the duration of marriage, and will generally consider those married for at least three years more favourably.

Yesterday, Mr Teo said more Singaporeans are marrying non-citizens. In 2010, almost a third of marriages involving a Singaporean were between a citizen and a foreigner, excluding PRs.

But while the Government sympathises with these families, there have also been instances where the foreign spouse suddenly divorces the Singaporean upon receipt of PR status, said Mr Teo.

That is why PR and citizenship status is given out only after the marriages are stable and have been in existence for a substantial period of time, he added.

Four MPs contacted by The Straits Times applauded the new scheme, saying a significant number of residents married to foreign women have approached them for help in the last few years.

Ms Indranee Rajah (Tanjong Pagar GRC), for instance, gets around five such appeals a week.

Said Mr Inderjit Singh (Ang Mo Kio GRC): 'Currently, there is no guarantee that the LTVP will be renewed each year. This creates a lot of anxiety and stress.'

Mr Hri Kumar Nair (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC), speaking in Parliament, asked Mr Teo if the three-year timeframe could be shortened as the wait could delay couples from starting a family.

Mr Teo said the Government is taking a step-by-step approach.

For China-born Ms Tan Xiao Yan, 31, it was a moot point. She moved to Singapore three years ago after marrying a deliveryman, and is raring to apply for the LTVP+. She is glad she can now help supplement her husband's monthly income of $1,150. She said: 'I feel so much better. At least now I can work and help to shoulder some of my husband's burden.'

Most welcome new pass for foreign spouses
Long Term Visit Pass-Plus may relieve labour shortage, benefit those who need help most

By Jessica Lim & Ng Kai Ling, The Straits Times, 6 Mar 2012

EVERYTHING was going well for Mr Clement Kang and his wife from China after they married in July 2010. Their future plans included having a child.

But despair set in a year later when Madam Fu Shiying's Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP) was up for renewal. The first attempt to do so failed and so did the next five tries.

In January, Mr Kang, 54, a taxi driver, finally secured a one-year pass after appealing through Hougang PAP adviser Desmond Choo. 'The reason they gave was they were afraid that I could not support my wife because my income was irregular,' said Mr Kang, who earns an average of $2,000 a month.

From next month , things could get better for people like Mr Kang. The Government said last week it is introducing a Long Term Visit Pass-Plus (LTVP+) that will allow foreign spouses of citizens to stay for three years in the first instance, and up to five years for each renewal.

Each year, about 9,400 foreign spouses are here on the existing LTVP which has to be renewed yearly. They cannot work unless they have an employment pass, S-Pass or work permit.

LTVP+ holders, however, are allowed to work and are also eligible for health-care subsidies for inpatient services at restructured hospitals.

The new policy has led to much discussion on The Straits Times' Facebook page and other online forums. Most welcome the move although some expressed concerns that it may lead to a rise in fake marriages.

While National University of Singapore sociologist Paulin Straughan said there will always be people taking advantage of policies, 'most spouses come here to marry a Singaporean and hopefully grow a family'.

Noting that those on the LTVP tend to be less educated, she added the change will benefit those who need the most help.

Professor Gavin Jones of the NUS Asia Research Institute said the new policy will have 'little impact on resources'. Numbers of existing LTVP are small, he noted, adding that those who can get the new pass may help relieve the labour shortage and shift some families out of poverty.

Ms Bridget Tan, president of Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics, welcomes the change as 'a good first step' but other points need to be addressed too.

'In cases of divorce, will they be able to remain here and find employment since having the pass is dependent on them being married to their husbands?'

Mr Jeremy Khoo, executive director of the Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, said the new pass does not solve the issue of sponsors revoking passes when marriages turn sour, or abuse arising from one party being at the mercy of the other.

MPs told The Straits Times that most of the residents who ask for help to apply for the LTVP are from the lower-income group. They added that those who are rejected usually have husbands with irregular incomes or who are old.

They noted that the LTVP+ does not mean a relaxation of the criteria to qualify for a long-term pass. Dr Lily Neo, MP of Tanjong Pagar GRC, said: 'Those whose husbands do not work would still not get the pass, but at least those who qualify may get to stay longer.'

Ms Lee Bee Wah, MP of Nee Soon GRC, said because of the LTVP's short validity and uncertainties with renewal, couples find it hard to start a family. 'There will be less uncertainty and they don't have to worry about being separated after a year,' she added.

Employers hope they can tap a new pool of workers. The chairman of the Singapore Manufacturers' Federation, Mr Sunny Koh, said: 'Our current workers with foreign wives will also stay longer if the whole family is more stable.'

Others like Mr Wei Chan, 39, owner of Pine Garden Cakes and Vietnamese sandwich chain Baguette, are less optimistic.

'It might trickle down to us, but not by much,' he said, adding that small businesses have to fight with big employers like the integrated resorts. 'The numbers of these spouses are too few to cover the shortfall.'



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New Long-Term Visit Pass Scheme (LTVP+)