Second Secretary of the embassy’s Consular Section Nguyen Cong Huan (R) grants an interview to Vietnam News Agency correspondent (Source: VNA)
The Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore is working with Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to determine why some Vietnamese nationals, mainly women, were denied entry to Singapore and were forced to return home.
Second Secretary of the embassy’s Consular Section Nguyen Cong Huan told Vietnam News Agency correspondents on July 23 that the embassy had proposed the ICA earnestly implement visa exemption regulations between the two countries and within the framework of ASEAN.
The embassy also asked the ICA to treat Vietnamese citizens as stipulated in Singapore’s current entry regulations, he said.
He noted that the number of Vietnamese visitors to Singapore is increasing, and most of them respect and follow the host’s laws and regulations. However, a few cases violated the host’s laws and made use of the 30-day visa exemption regulation to enter Singapore repeatedly, he said.
The ICA told the Vietnamese Embassy that many Vietnamese female nationals used different passports to enter Singapore, citing a particular case of a woman who used three different passports. The ICA will not permit violation cases to enter the country.
The agency said as more of such cases occur, it must strictly inspect Vietnamese passengers and especially women.
However, many Vietnamese nationals are not fluent in English, so they fail to explain their entry reasons to Singaporean authorities, Huan said, adding that this happens to not just Vietnamese citizens but also to those from Thailand and other ASEAN member states.
He confirmed that the embassy will continue to work with ICA leaders and asked Singapore to clarify cases that need inspection or those that are refused entry as well as provide Vietnamese citizens with necessary documents such as entry declarations.
The embassy also asked the ICA not to create difficulties for Vietnamese citizens who do not infringe upon Singapore’s laws and maintain respect and courtesy when checking their documents.
Representatives of the embassy will work with the ICA on the issue on July 24.-VNA
