Married to a landscape gardener for 13 years, Madam Siti Norizan longs for permanent residency.
The Indonesian national, 43, has two children - a daughter aged eight and a son aged seven - with her Singaporean husband Ajis Barian, 70.
Mr Ajis said he has three other Singaporean children from a previous marriage. His family live in a two-room rental flat in York Hill. Madam Siti told The New Paper that she had applied for permanent residency several times but was rejected.
She claims she has been ona long-term visit pass which she says has to be renewed yearly. In April this year, the Government introduced the long-term visit pass plus (LTVP+).
It provides foreign spouses of Singapore citizens who qualify, a longer period of residency of three years initially and can be renewed for up to five years subsequently.
Madam Siti is aware of this new scheme, but what she really hopes for is permanent residency.
She said: "With PR, you'll get CPF. I need to look after myself in my old age. My husband is already 70. I don't know if my children can support me when I'm old."
"My husband's income is only $1,000 a month. He will not be able to support us forever. My children are growing; I want them to have a good education," she said.
Just how many foreign wives of Singaporeans are there?
The Department of Statistics' Population in Brief 2011 report showed that two in five marriages here were between citizens and non-citizens in 2010.
Marriages between Singapore citizen grooms and non-citizen brides made up the majority (77 per cent) of such marriages.
Most of the foreign spouses originated from Asia, although foreign grooms came from various other regions.
Greater certainty
The Government introduced the LTVP+ scheme to give foreign wives of Singapore citizens who qualify, "greater certainty of stay here" by granting them a longer period of residency. Holders of this pass enjoy healthcare subsidies for inpatient services at restructured hospitals, which will currently be set at a level close to that for permanent residents. Unlike long term visit pass holders who need to find an employer willing to apply for a work permit for them, prospective employers of LTVP+ plus holders need to apply to the Ministry of Manpower for a Letter of Consent (LOC) for them.
LTVP+ holders who are issued with LOCs will not be counted against the foreign worker quota of their employers. Their employers are also not required to pay foreign workers' levy for them.
Couples who have at least one Singaporean child from their marriage will be eligible to apply for the LTVP+.
Other factors the authorities will consider include the ability of the sponsor to financially support the family, and good conduct of both the sponsor and the applicant.
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