I REFER to the letter, "Review conditions under which student visas are issued" (my paper, Nov 7).

The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) regularly reviews the criteria for the application and issue of Student's Passes to foreign students to ensure that they remain relevant and are not subjected to abuse.

The ICA takes a serious view of foreign students who abuse their Student's Passes to work here illegally or engage in criminal and vice-related activities.

Those found to be doing so may be charged in court, and have their passes cancelled and security deposits forfeited. They would also not be allowed to remain in Singapore upon conviction or cancellation of their Student's Passes.

The admission of foreign students into Singapore's educational institutions is based primarily on their individual merits and their meeting the institutions' admission requirements.

Educational institutions are hence the first line of checks as they screen all applications by foreign students before submitting them to ICA for further consideration.

Once the applications have been approved and the students are enrolled in the schools, ICA continues to work with these educational institutions to ensure that the students attend classes regularly.

ICA also works closely with government agencies like the Ministry of Manpower and the Singapore Police Force to conduct inspections at places like KTV lounges, entertainment outlets, food courts and restaurants to ensure that the workers there hold valid work passes.

Mr Jerald Koh
Senior Public & Internal
Communications Executive
Immigration & Checkpoints
Authority

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