Option to Let Boyfriends or Girlfriends be Sponsors for Incoming Travellers Removed Since March 2021

When the supposed Vietnamese girlfriend of a Singaporean was found to have frequented multiple KTVs, giving rise to the now largest active COVID-19 cluster in Singapore to date, many questions cropped up:

• A short-term pass holder can work in Singapore meh?
• Her boyfriend let her go to so many KTVs to “layan” (serve) the guys there ah?
• She wasn’t even living with her boyfriend sia…

Fixing an Exploitable Gap in Border Control

It looks increasingly likely that the potentially indexed case of the KTV lounge cluster, a Vietnamese woman, might be illegally moonlighting as a social hostess at KTVs.

She is short-term visit pass holder who was sponsored by her so-called Singaporean boyfriend whom she apparently didn’t even live with.

As a short-term visit pass holder, she “cannot engage in any form of employment, or in any business, profession or occupation in Singapore”.

However, according to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), they had already tackled the issue back in March of this year, essentially fixing this exploitable gap in Singapore’s border control measures.

Guess those people trying to bypass the work pass queue will have to work a bit harder and more creatively now…

The ICA did this during their review of the requirements and application processes for travellers looking to enter Singapore.

A quick check revealed that the option to choose “boyfriend/girlfriend of Singapore citizen/Singapore permanent resident” category when applying to enter Singapore under the familial ties lane is no longer available.

Option to Let Boyfriends or Girlfriends be Sponsors for Incoming Travellers was Introduced in October 2020

According to the ICA, the option to let boyfriends or girlfriends be sponsors for incoming travellers was introduced as one of the expanded categories of profiles allowed for inbound air travel.

“It was to allow Singaporeans who are in relationships with foreign partners, to be reunited after being separated for long periods due to the pandemic,” they explained.

“ICA had received many appeals from Singaporeans in this regard.”

Shoring Up Border Security

Besides fixing that loophole, the ICA has also required the use of Singpass log-in and security screening measures on the SafeTravel portal in order to apply for entry.

“Similar to pre-COVID-19 days, foreigners are also assessed at the point of entry and dubious travellers will be refused entry even if they have prior entry approvals.”

Extension for Short-Term Passes Evaluated on a Case-by-Case Basis

The COVID-19 pandemic has made air travel difficult for many, and as a result, there are many short-term pass holders who ended up stranded in Singapore with no way to return home.

These pass holders will then be able to apply for an extension via the ICA.

The ICA will then evaluate their requests depending on the reasons given, while taking into account whether or not the applicants have family ties in Singapore.

Of course, there will always be scumbags looking to lie their way into overstaying their welcome here, and the ICA is putting their foot down, stating that “We would like to remind members of the public to submit truthful and accurate information.”

“ICA will not hesitate to take firm enforcement action against those found to have made false declarations.”

Featured Image: N_Sakarin/ shutterstock.com