Cancelling hotel and staying with a friend after getting a Singapore visa
I'm an Indian citizen currently resident in the UK (working there), and will be going to Singapore on vacation soon. For my visa application, I submitted a hotel booking. However, it turns out that I will be able to stay with a friend in Singapore instead, and hence don't need the hotel booking any longer.
If I now cancel this hotel booking and stay with my friend instead, what should I say at Singapore immigration? I see the following possible options:
- Say it as it is: tell the immigration official that I initially planned to stay in a hotel but now that my friend's place is available, I'm staying with them instead. In case I do this though, will I need a completed Form V39A (Letter of Introduction for Visa Application) from my friend as I would have if this was the original accommodation plan in my visa application? Would doing this lead to any other problems/suspicions?
- Pretend I'm still using my original hotel booking: I still have a PDF of the booking confirmation, and I doubt that they're ever going to bother checking if I actually stayed at the hotel I mentioned. So I could just pretend that I'm following through with my original booking and say that plans changed extremely last minute in the unlikely case they actually do ask questions after I've cleared immigration?
What'd be the recommended approach in this situation? Would be grateful for any advice!
Best Answer
Personal experience here:
I was residing in Singapore on a work visa (E-Pass as they call it). And my friends were to visit me on a leisure trip. They initially booked an Airbnb to get a visa, and then realised they could stay with me. So they cancelled the airbnb and stayed at my place for about a week.
Singapore is very strict but friendly. They encourage tourism and will guide you. But when questioned by the ICA officers, be honest and do tell them how your plans changed.
My friends and I all hold Indian passports.
Make sure:
- Your friend is a legal resident of Singapore (citizen/PR/E Pass/S Pass holder)
- Assuming you got an e-visa, take a print of it (or two). The visa generally doesn't mention a place of stay.
- You fill the embarkation card correctly with your friend's address.
This happened late last year. Nowadays, with Singapore pushing towards automation, one doesn't require the card at exit, but keep it safe with you all the times.
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Can I change my hotel after getting visa?
There is no requirement to enter first to the country who issued you visa and hence no hotel change issue.Can I cancel my hotel booking after getting Schengen visa?
Yes of course you can and should! You can actually book hotel without credit card and cancel anytime without penalty in many websites.How many days can stay at Singapore with visit visa?
It is normally between 14 to 30 days. Regardless of the length of stay granted, visitors may request for an extension of stay by applying in person at the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority before the expiry of the visa granted.Can Singapore tourist visa be rejected?
Presenting a damaged or invalid passport is one of the main reasons for a Singapore visa rejection. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months from the date of return date with two blank pages. Applying for a Singapore visa in spite of having a valid Singapore visa will lead to rejection.How to book ACCOMMODATION for ITALY VISA | Hotel Booking and Cancellation Process | Explained
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