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Parliament questions on foreign spouses policies
October 27th, 2016 | Family and Divorce, News, Views
There have been many questions of concern raised in parliament about the denial of PR status for non-Singaporean parents of citizen children. NMP Kuik Shiao-Yin had asked: what are the precise circumstances that justify giving a child citizenship but denying their parents PR status? When would you put the parent-child relationship at such risk?
No specific answer was given. The Ministry said that for divorced or widowed foreign parents, the state “would generally facilitate their continued stay… through a renewable LTVP or LTVP+, to allow them to care for their children here”. This is an extremely begrudging recognition of the value of the parent-child bond and caregiving. What happens to the parent when the child grows up?
In another written reply, the Ministry of National Development said: “If the non-citizen widow or widower has Singaporean children who are minors, HDB can consider exercising flexibility, on a case-by-case basis, for the flat to be held in trust by a Singaporean or PR trustee, on the condition that the flat is to be given to the Singaporean children when they reach 21 years old.”
Imagine: you are just bereaved, and you may lose your home – also home to your young children. You face the stress of appealing to HDB to exercise their opaque discretion to let you stay. If you can stay, it is under the legal power of another citizen/PR – hopefully there is someone you can have trust and confidence in. And when your children turn 21, after you have brought them up as a single parent, you remain dependent on them for access to housing. Are these arrangements which value and support parents and caregivers?
Read the related replies at the links below:
Protection for foreign spouses and children when marriages with Singapore citizens break down
Ownership of HDB flat of deceased Singaporeans with foreign spouses and children
Foreigners Married to SCs and their Success in PR Applications
Singaporeans under 21 years of Age Residing in Singapore with a non-PR Foreign Parent