The Straits
Times
16 Feb
2013
Assessing citizenship applications:
It's about keeping families together
WE REFER
to the letters ("Close 'escape route' of PR spouses" by Mr Chan
Hean Boon, "Allow dual citizenship for S'porean kids with foreign
parent" by Mr James Westberry, and "Dilemma of a foreign bride with
no long-term pass" by Madam Pham Thi Ngoc Anh; all published on
Tuesday).
Strong
families are the bedrock of our society. Those who apply for
Singapore citizenship and permanent resident status as a family
unit will be considered more favourably, as this demonstrates a
commitment to settle down in Singapore.
In
assessing applications for long-term visit pass/long-term visit
pass-plus from foreign spouses of Singaporeans, we consider factors
such as the length of marriage and whether the couple have
Singaporean children.
It is also
important that the Singaporean spouse demonstrates the means and
ability to support the family financially.
In Madam
Pham's case, her long-term visit pass application was not
successful as her Singaporean husband did not meet the criteria
then.
Nonetheless,
we granted her a six-month long-term visit pass on compassionate
grounds.
Upon
expiry of her long-term visit pass in the middle of this year, we
will reassess and review her case, given that her husband has
recently found employment.
The
Government has no plans to allow dual citizenship at this
juncture.
Singapore
citizens make a commitment to Singapore as their home and see their
long-term future with the country.
Therefore,
those who wish to become Singapore citizens should be prepared to
give up their foreign nationality.
Vincent Ng
Head, Public & Internal
Communications
Corporate Communications
Division
Immigration & Checkpoints
Authority
<Original
Letters>
The
Straits Times
12 Feb
2013
Close 'escape route' of PR
spouses
ONE of the
key points in the Population White Paper is to take in between
15,000 and 25,000 new citizens each year to halt our citizen
population from shrinking because our total fertility rate is way
below the replacement rate of 2.1 ("Goal: 15,000-25,000 new
citizens a year"; Jan 30).
Over the
past few years, as the Government sharpened the distinction between
citizens and permanent residents (PRs), I noticed a disturbing
trend whereby one spouse would apply for citizenship while the
other spouse remains a PR, especially when they are about to start
a family, so that they can enjoy benefits such as extended
maternity leave, baby bonuses and priority in primary school
balloting.
These
families regularly travel back to their home country, especially
during festive seasons.
I strongly
urge the Government to reassess this group of applicants
holistically.
Having one
spouse remain a PR with no intention of becoming a citizen leads to
the conclusion that they are keeping an "escape route" open should
Singapore fail.
Though
Singapore may have gained more new citizens, the allegiance to
Singapore from this cluster of Singaporeans shall be severely
tested when the time comes.
Chan Hean Boon
The Straits
Times
12 Feb
2013
Dilemma of a foreign bride with no
long-term pass
I AM a
31-year-old Vietnamese national in Singapore on a six-month visit
pass since giving birth here.
My
husband, son and aged mother-in-law are all born-and-bred
Singaporeans.
I am a
university graduate and was a teacher in Ho Chi Minh City before
getting married here in September 2010.
My
application for a Long-Term Visit Pass-Plus was
rejected.
Instead, I
was issued another six-month visit pass that, according to the
Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, is not renewable.
While I
may not be currently contributing economically, I do so socially by
raising my Singaporean son and looking after my widowed 80-year-old
mother-in-law.
My son
will one day serve national service.
My husband
also served national service and has finished his stint as an
operationally ready national serviceman. He is currently employed
as a full-time tutor with the Chinese Development Assistance
Council, helping children from low-income families who would
otherwise not have access to tuition.
This sense
of uncertainty has put our plans to have a second child on
hold.
My husband
paid almost $20,000 for the delivery charges of our son at KK
Women's and Children's Hospital.
I am not
even applying to be a permanent resident, let alone a citizen. All
I am seeking is a Long-Term Visit Pass-Plus, which would entitle me
to some subsidy from the hospital.
What I
find staggering is the number of foreigners living in our
condominium, who are permitted to bring in their spouse, children,
parents and even parents-in-law, while I am not not allowed to stay
in Singapore despite my entire family being
Singaporeans.
Pham Thi
Ngoc Anh (Madam)
The
Straits Times
12 Feb
2013
Allow dual citizenship for S'porean
kids with foreign parent
THE
article on foreigners taking up Singapore citizenship is spot on
("Home in Singapore, heart in homeland"; Feb 4).
I can
understand the Government's desire to have citizenship applicants
who are highly educated. However, serious consideration should be
given to migration expert Leong Chan Hoong's observation that Asian
wives raising Singaporean children contribute to society in an
invaluable way ("Many want citizenship because of their children";
Feb 4).
Mothers
who stay home to raise their children are in no way less valuable
than mothers who contribute to society through their
careers.
At the
very least, the Government could grant these wives permanent
resident (PR) status to help make their standing in Singapore more
secure. These women are mothering Singaporean children. Without
them, Singapore's birth rate would be even lower than it presently
is.
Second, I
also agree that many highly educated foreign husbands are not
willing to give up their native citizenship to take up Singapore
citizenship.
I am in
such a position. Personally, I am happy with my PR status, as it
gives me the best of both worlds.
But I
would be interested in taking up Singapore citizenship were dual
citizenship allowed.
However,
the greater concern for me is Singaporean children with dual
citizenship from birth.
For
teenagers such as mine (who have a Singaporean mum and foreign
dad), the Government faces a high risk of losing their citizenship
by forcing them to give up one nationality at age 21.
The risk
would be lower if these Singaporeans were allowed to continue as
dual citizens into adulthood.
With this forced choice,
Singapore risks losing citizens who have spent their entire lives
here, and are likely headed towards higher education and a
society-contributing career.
These are the very type of
people Singapore is trying to attract. It would be sad to lose
these citizens just as they are becoming productive members of
society.
My hope is that the Singapore
Government will soon allow dual citizenship for such children who
have been born and raised in Singapore.
James
Westberry
