Fewer PR & Citizenship applications approved in
past year
Posted: 18 May 2010 1917 hrs
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Office workers in Singapore
SINGAPORE : Fewer Permanent Resident and Citizenship
applications went through in the past year due to more stringent
requirements.
Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Law, Ho Peng Kee,
said eligibility rules were tightened in the last quarter of 2009
to manage overall numbers.
Some 46,300 Permanent Residents were approved between April last
year to March this year, out of 124,600 applications.
Another 19,300 Singapore Citizenship went through, out of 24,000
applications.
Associate Professor Ho said: "There would be applicants who may not
meet our new criteria and who no longer qualify for PR or
citizenship.
"Others, even though they meet the new criteria, may take a longer
time before they are granted PR, or citizenship, as the residency
requirements have been stretched out in the new framework."
Those who do not yet qualify can apply for Long Term Visit Passes
to remain in Singapore.
In the same period, authorities received over 70,300 applications
for Long Term Visit Passes. About 80 per cent of them or 56,300
were approved.
As to whether Singaporeans can get foreign relatives in to help
with care arrangements, each application is assessed on its own
merit.
Assoc Prof Ho said: "Where a Singaporean family has critical needs
and has no other immediate options available locally to provide
care to a family member, such as, when there's a newborn baby, ICA
may, on a case-by-case basis, allow a foreign relative such as a
foreign spouse's mother, to extend her stay here.
"Sir, this is to help the family with interim care-giving for a
limited duration while they look for alternative arrangements for
long-term care."
- CNA/al
