Refused Entry to Singapore

[Overproof]

Id to throw this out to see what local Singapore and other members make of this incident so I can offer some assistance to my brother.

Last week, my Brother who holds a valid passport and has no criminal history left Australia to live and work in Singapore. He and his employer had all the paperwork correctly filled out to gain access and work.

To make sure he had a smooth entry through customs he asked a gentleman at the customs information desk he had filled out the entry form correctly to which they replied "yes and to go through customs and have a nice day".

Whilst waiting in line to have his passport stamped he mentioned at least every third person was being taken away to have their passports or entry requirements checked?

When he was asked to approach the customs officer he handed him his passport and the relevant documentation for entry into Singapore, he scanned the passport and ushered some words which motioned someone to come and take him away to a small room beside the immigration checkpoint office at Changi airport.

Sometime passed before two customs officers came in and asked him a series of questions.

First question was “when was the last time you were in Singapore?” to which he replied, “November 2012”. The next question was “why were you only in Singapore for three days?” he said “my documentation explains this and I'll explain it to you". He was there with his partner on transit to Penang for a wedding, his partner had been in Singapore for her cousins wedding at Raffles hotel and he flew over from the Gold Coast with her brother and sister in law to meet up with her and spend 3 days sightseeing in Singapore”.

In short he was then advised that he would not be granted entry into Singapore and was told to wait until escorted to the IP room. Given no reason as to why he was denied entry, the duty manager explained this to his by that stage pretty pissed off employer..

Once in the IP room, bags were checked and locked away, he was frisked and kept in this dive of a room with no phone etc for 4 hours then made to pay $107 plus, he had to pay $626 for a business class seat on a virtually empty aircraft when he already had a return flight that could have been rebooked!!

He's not a criminal, he had work lined up in Singapore, had money with him from his car sold prior to leaving, no red flags on his passport. Now, he has no job, car and is out of pocket $700+ no to mention feels embarrassed from the whole situation..

Is this kind of thing normal??To be refused and given an explanation is one thing but not to be given any explanation! His employer has to lodge an appeal but doesn't no what he's appealing against SMH! My brothers written a detailed report and sent it to the Singapore embassy.

The only think he can thing of was that he went on a Singaporean facebook page and accessed a website called The Real Singapore seeking further information about the language, acceptance of his nationality, and anything else of interest etc..Nothing derogatory towards the government, country or people was mentioned..

I'm scratching my head, should he get a Lawyer?

[Fuzz]

I'm assuming he doesn't have any health issues, has a name similar to somebody on the terrorist watch list, or been refused entry to another country in the past?

[Overproof]

I'm assuming he doesn't have any health issues, has a name similar to somebody on the terrorist watch list, or been refused entry to another country in the past?

42 and very fit. He was let into Singapore 3 years ago.

[CdnLimitada]

I've lived here for 7 years now. There sometimes can be no rhyme or reason to these decisions. The problem, as you mentioned, is that you don't really know how to appeal as the government doesn't need to explain anything and usually doesn't. We have had a few employees throught the years get denied and besides one, we never found out the reason. Never heard of it at the airport itself though.

Bummer for your friend and sorry he is going through this. I can say that me and my family love it here. Hope it works out.

[MIKA27]

Wow - Why not send an email to SMH or other media outlet?

The same effort you took to write this, you can also do and see if they can assist?

[cigcars]

*If that's how they're going to be in letting (not) you in...then maybe you may not want to go in anyway. Places that behave with no rhyme or reason in these affairs can also put you in the unenviable position of not being allowed to leave!

[El Presidente]

I have been to Singapore countless times from 1995 to now. Quasi lived and worked from there for a few years. never an issue and my passports look like they belonged to Pablo Escobar.

I am clueless as to what went on with your brother. Scratching my head? An awful situation no doubt. The only thing that goes through my mind is that the work documents/work visa were not valid (or completed correctly). I am only guessing.

There is no quick fix. I would go the route of embassy to embassy to find out as opposed to wracking up legal costs.

In the end it happens across many countries.

A good mate/client of ours is Pooley. He went to the US last year and was detained at LAX because he stated on the visa document that he had a medical condition and was bringing medication. For some reason (he still doesn't understand) he was denied entry. He flew onto Canada for a great holiday there.

[kwsaw63]

Since the last general election in 2011, the Singapore Government has tightened up considerably on their previously lax immigration/employment policy. They are still liberal with tourists, so the fact that your brother previously spent 3 days in Singapore on holiday does not mean he will be equally welcome if he came in to work.

Doesn't explain why he was refused entry though and I feel for him. I'd encourage him to have his employer write into Singapore Immigration to find out why he was refused entry. They may not give a reason but then again they might.

[Overproof]

Thanks for the information everyone, very useful. The embassy has been sent the details and the employer has lodged the appeal so I guess he will have to wait and see once he gets a hearing. Crazy!

[Optic101]

As mentioned before, the regulation for work permit been tightened over the last years.

But even before it was important to have all the documents ready as requested.

Suggest your brother and his employer check the docs again and send a request to immigration.

[sengjc]

Was he chewing gum?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Fosgate]

Maybe he was out of bubble gum and assumed.

In all seriousness sorry to hear.