Many see Singapore as a stepping stone to USA, Filipinos and PRCs will be disappointed. 
CNA Fewer Permanent Resident and Citizenship applications went through in the past year due to more stringent requirements.
Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Law, Ho Peng Kee, said eligibility rules were tightened in the last quarter of 2009 to manage overall numbers.
Some 46,300 Permanent Residents were approved between April last year to March this year, out of 124,600 applications.
Another 19,300 Singapore Citizenship went through, out of 24,000 applications.
Associate Professor Ho said: "There would be applicants who may not meet our new criteria and who no longer qualify for PR or citizenship.
"Others, even though they meet the new criteria, may take a longer time before they are granted PR, or citizenship, as the residency requirements have been stretched out in the new framework."
Those who do not yet qualify can apply for Long Term Visit Passes to remain in Singapore.
In the same period, authorities received over 70,300 applications for Long Term Visit Passes. About 80 per cent of them or 56,300 were approved.
As to whether Singaporeans can get foreign relatives in to help with care arrangements, each application is assessed on its own merit.
Assoc Prof Ho said: "Where a Singaporean family has critical needs and has no other immediate options available locally to provide care to a family member, such as, when there's a newborn baby, ICA may, on a case-by-case basis, allow a foreign relative such as a foreign spouse's mother, to extend her stay here.
"Sir, this is to help the family with interim care-giving for a limited duration while they look for alternative arrangements for long-term care."
CNA Fewer Permanent Resident and Citizenship applications went through in the past year due to more stringent requirements.
Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Law, Ho Peng Kee, said eligibility rules were tightened in the last quarter of 2009 to manage overall numbers.
Some 46,300 Permanent Residents were approved between April last year to March this year, out of 124,600 applications.
Another 19,300 Singapore Citizenship went through, out of 24,000 applications.
Associate Professor Ho said: "There would be applicants who may not meet our new criteria and who no longer qualify for PR or citizenship.
"Others, even though they meet the new criteria, may take a longer time before they are granted PR, or citizenship, as the residency requirements have been stretched out in the new framework."
Those who do not yet qualify can apply for Long Term Visit Passes to remain in Singapore.
In the same period, authorities received over 70,300 applications for Long Term Visit Passes. About 80 per cent of them or 56,300 were approved.
As to whether Singaporeans can get foreign relatives in to help with care arrangements, each application is assessed on its own merit.
Assoc Prof Ho said: "Where a Singaporean family has critical needs and has no other immediate options available locally to provide care to a family member, such as, when there's a newborn baby, ICA may, on a case-by-case basis, allow a foreign relative such as a foreign spouse's mother, to extend her stay here.
"Sir, this is to help the family with interim care-giving for a limited duration while they look for alternative arrangements for long-term care."
