Visa woes and a crazy idea to resolve them - Please help!

[puppyfromhell]

First post here – I have been a silent spectator for a few months, but this is the first time I need your help.

I will try to keep it concise and crisp.

I am a foreigner PR living in Singapore for a couple of years. I met and fell in love with this PRC girl. She came here on vacation and stayed here for 2 months.

The 2 months were blissful and I feel that she might be the one.

Now here is the problem. She was not able to find a job in Singapore related to her line of work. She went back, but wants to come back, and that is also what I want.
Her EPEC (Employment Eligibility Certificate) got rejected. It also carries a 1 year social visit pass.

We thought she should come here and try for a job, even her tourist visa application got rejected (no she did not over-stay or get into any kind of trouble while she was here). She was here for 2 months and went back about 40 days ago. I have heard that ICA is not very generous to give tourist visas to PRC nationals, and probably we will have to wait for a couple of months before we can apply again. This is not the solution, long distance relationships are a pain and something I am not willing to get into.

Here are my options –

1. Forget about the whole thing and move on. Too many logistical issues.
2. Get her here on an S-Pass. Too expensive, course fees are about 12,000 a year.
3. Get married.

I really like her, our chemistry in all spheres is great and I just don’t want this special thing between us die because of an immigration issue.
She understands that the marriage will not be real and will be merely a visa arrangement. However, it is not as simple as it seems, we have known each other for a very short time and all this seems reckless.

But I don’t want to let go as well.

I saw on the ROM site a disclaimer they made the couple sign (in case one of them is a foreigner/non-resident) to inform them that marriage is no guarantee for an approval from the ICA to stay in Singapore.

How true is that?
Are you aware of any cases in which the non-resident spouse was rejected a visa?

To the best of my knowledge she is not into any kind of illegal/politically sensitive/anti-Singapore stuff.

If I get into a marriage at this stage, I would like to seal it with a pre-nup agreement. In the unfortunate event that things do not work out as expected for us:

1. How much time does a divorce take?
2. Worst scenario (keeping my emotions out of this) – She decides to screw me. Will a bad-ass pre-nup be my savior?
3. Can a pre-nup be formulated (I am not sure of its limits) to facilitate a quick and speedy divorce without the mess?

I am open to all ideas and suggestions that enable us to be together.

Dear people, please suggest.

Many thanks!

 

[green_tranquility]

Dirk,
Option 3 of marriage is definitely out. How much do you understand her? Have u met her family? Please do not rush into marriage! 2 months is honeymoon period for r/s. A couple still do not get the chance to see certain side of each other.

What is her line of work since you say that nothing related can be found in Singapore?

 

[green_tranquility]

"Are you aware of any cases in which the non-resident spouse was rejected a visa? "
Yes my neighbour.

 

[powder]

"She came here on vacation and stayed here for 2 months."
- where did she stay for the 2 months? ie her accomodation.

as far as i know, pre-nups are not recognised in spore.

 

[rofthelper]

You solutions are indeed limited. I have tons of frds who get involved with PRCs, all of them also said "she's the one for me, and marriage is on the cards now." I always believed such matters are to be planned carefully, because of cultural differences, immigration and permit issues.

If you wish to get her a S-Pass or student pass, this cost a considerable sum of money. But of course, you can use "this period of her stay here" to know more about her, before marrying.

If you wish to go straight to (3-marriage), you must be prepared of all the hassles and preparation for her documents in order to grant her a long term visa from ICA. Yes, there is no guarantee that foreign spouse will get an approval even if you married here. Some might get a renewable 6-mthly extension, or some might get only a one-time extension, and she will have to go back for a period of time before a new application a put up.

From what I know, Prenuptial agreements are not legally binded in Singapore. If you are worried that she might screw you out, then you better not get married first, get her a tourist visa is a better solution for now.


================================================
Here are my options –

1. Forget about the whole thing and move on. Too many logistical issues.
2. Get her here on an S-Pass. Too expensive, course fees are about 12,000 a year.
3. Get married.

I really like her, our chemistry in all spheres is great and I just don’t want this special thing between us die because of an immigration issue.
She understands that the marriage will not be real and will be merely a visa arrangement. However, it is not as simple as it seems, we have known each other for a very short time and all this seems reckless.

But I don’t want to let go as well.

I saw on the ROM site a disclaimer they made the couple sign (in case one of them is a foreigner/non-resident) to inform them that marriage is no guarantee for an approval from the ICA to stay in Singapore.

How true is that?
Are you aware of any cases in which the non-resident spouse was rejected a visa?

To the best of my knowledge she is not into any kind of illegal/politically sensitive/anti-Singapore stuff.

If I get into a marriage at this stage, I would like to seal it with a pre-nup agreement. In the unfortunate event that things do not work out as expected for us:

1. How much time does a divorce take?
2. Worst scenario (keeping my emotions out of this) – She decides to screw me. Will a bad-ass pre-nup be my savior?
3. Can a pre-nup be formulated (I am not sure of its limits) to facilitate a quick and speedy divorce without the mess?

I am open to all ideas and suggestions that enable us to be together.

Dear people, please suggest.

Many thanks!

 

[puppyfromhell]

Thank you green and powder.

Green:

She works as a HR executive. Basically she has this database of chinese workers (mainly factory workers) which she gets from various sources/agents and sends out their CVs to agents/employers in Singapore. She works with multiple companies both in China and Singapore as a freelancer. Gets a cut every time a chinese worker is selected and immigrated to Singapore.

Pretty ironic, that she was not able to get a pass sponsored for herself. Plus her spoken english is not up to the mark.

She shares a very close and cordial bond with her family (parents), that was my observation when saw her communicate with them (while in Singapore and now I see them via webcam).

I understand that 2 months is nothing. I have had 2 serious relationships before this. The first one lasted 6 years and the second one for an year. Not that it proves anything, but just to put it out there.

Powder:

We me through a cultural exchange website something like couchsurfing/hospitalityclub. I usually host guests from other countries on a regular basis. She stayed at my place for 2 months. Even my mom was here during (she had come to visit me) that period for about 40 days.

 

[puppyfromhell]

Rof, I agree.

I used to be the guy amongst my friend circle who used to suggest to all these hopelessly in love couples that marriage is not the solution for a visa!

I am not worried at all that she might screw me up. But being the logical guy that I think I am, just trying to keep the emotions away and decide the worst case scenarios.

I have been in this part of the world for some time and understand the reasons why PRC women are ready to come to Singapore at any cost. Quick money, prostitution (even the married ones), the aim to get a rich guy, to swindle and all the stereotypes that are associated with PRC nationals here in Singapore.

While she was here I did watch her very closely doing her line of work, and I did have my apprehensions about her line of work. But I am convinced that she is a hard working girl, who is not a gold-digger and comes from a family with good values.

Not that I say it is bad to go around with someone who is a prostitute, even they are people and should not be judged by their choice of work (well, maybe they should, some of them - the ones who are in it for quick money and are work shirkers - but that is a completely different discussion).

If she does not get a visa even after marriage, that will be a bummer.

 

[rofthelper]

Are you going to apply singapore citizen for yourself? If not, you will get a HDB flat without any subsidy.

 

[puppyfromhell]

No, I do not plan to get a HDB here, so citizenship is not really in my plan.