Tuesday 16 December 2008

applying for PR and obtaining same in Singapore

On August 22 2008 we applied for our PR for Singapore.

That is our Permanent Residency status for the time we are in Singapore.

The process is very simple with the first step being to make an (electronic) appoint thru the ICA (Immigration and Checkpoints Authority) via their website:

http://www.ica.gov.sg/index.aspx

The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) is a government agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs. ICA has brought together the former Singapore Immigration & Registration (SIR) and the enforcement work performed by the former Customs & Excise Department (CED) at the various checkpoints. Operational on 1 April 2003, ICA is responsible for the security of Singapore's borders against the entry of undesirable persons and cargo through our land, air and sea checkpoints. ICA also performs other immigration and registration functions such as issuing travel documents and identity cards to Singapore citizens and various immigration passes and permits to foreigners. It also conducts operations against immigration offenders.

We had to take quite a number of documents with us to our appointment, all which are listed in the above website.

If anyone is intending to do this, RE-CHECK all the documents and what you need to take with you for your appointment ......... and then RE-CHECK again!!

It will delay the process if you forget one small or minor detail.

From the date of our appoint on August 22 it took one week short of three months before we rec'd our letter of acceptance.

Then we needed to go and obtain TB and AIDS clearance thru our doctor....... once that was done we needed to make another appoint for the final interview....which was yesterday!!!

All done. :-)

all I need do is go into the ICA next Monday and pick up our IC cards (Identity card) and we are off and running.........

But the whole process is really quite painless and super efficient. We were very impressed by the way it is organised on our first appointment, and then again yesterday. It really is amazing to sit there and watch the process unfold.

The ICA process about 400 PR applications per day...... Our appoint was for 8.45am and we were out by 9.30am.

That is the interview, the fingerprinting, the payment, picking up the passports etc..... all completed quietly and efficiantly.

so now we can call ourselves PEE ARRR's !!


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