[frostbite911]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

Im sitting in Singapore as I write this. I have a visa which is valid for 2 years, which I got a while ago.

A little earlier one could actually get Singapore visas for upto 2 years - depending on the general travel profile that appears on your passport. No questions asked and very simple process. So simple that most of us took it for granted.

Of late they have clamped down a bit and are not quite as generous as before. They are giving 1 month validity more often than not these days.

Therefore, for your trip, especially because you've planned your dates and you want to go for the F1 and you've got your tickets etc, I suggest you apply for the visa indicating the date range and submitting all the relevant papers (your tickets etc).

You shouldn't have a problem at all in getting a visa. Singapore is generally very welcoming to tourists and indeed, very professional too.

Your visa ought not to take more than 5 working days max, to come.

I suggest apply for the visa about 2-3 weeks before you are actually scheduled to go.

TWO YEARS! WOW!! That is something!

Thanks for the advice. Will get it done 3 weeks before the trip.

I plan on writing a travelogue about the upcoming trip. Will talk about the visa experience there.

Thanks again for your help

[Ajitsingh208]

I had got mine Last Year, just had to drop my Passport & Ticket Copy at the Singapore Airlines Counter in Pune and both me and my wife were given a 2 year Tourist E-Visa.

[diyguy]

Originally Posted by frostbite911

I plan on writing a travelogue about the upcoming trip. Will talk about the visa experience there.

If you have someone there who is a PR, they can get you the visa in 24 hrs. I was in Singapore during the F1 in 2014, by chance. My friend got my family the evisas over night.

[kkkkkaran]

I had visited singapore in the month of may, had applied for a multiple entry visa since we were also headed on a cruise round trip. I received a 2 year visa too!

Karan

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by kkkkkaran

I had visited singapore in the month of may, had applied for a multiple entry visa since we were also headed on a cruise round trip. I received a 2 year visa too!

Karan

Thats very nice indeed.
A friend of mine and his family went there in May too, but in their case (despite them being a well travelled family) they were still given only 1 months validity.

My current Singapore visa expires sometime next year - shall have to see what they give me when I re-apply...

[frostbite911]

Hey Guys,

Is there a minimum bank balance that should be maintained when I submit my 6-month bank statement for the Visa Application?

Thanks,
Nevil

[NPV]

Originally Posted by frostbite911

Is there a minimum bank balance that should be maintained when I submit my 6-month bank statement for the Visa Application?

From what I've read online, the answer is NO.
Several websites of agents as well as the Singapore authorities do not mention about any minimum balance.

[frostbite911]

Originally Posted by NPV

From what I've read online, the answer is NO.
Several websites of agents as well as the Singapore authorities do not mention about any minimum balance.

Yea, I checked and didn't see anything about a minimum balance. A travel agent (not naming them, but they are well known throughout the country) is adamant that i have 45k as my minimum bank balance per visa application. Not sure if it is because they need to keep their success rates/numbers up.

Thanks for the info.

[concorde24]

Originally Posted by NPV

From what I've read online, the answer is NO.
Several websites of agents as well as the Singapore authorities do not mention about any minimum balance.

Agree with NPV's comments on minimum balance. I had my singapore visa processed from Chennai via TT Services (Gopalapuram) and they had not mandated bank statement. I processed for 5 Visa's in my family and it was done in 3 days flat. May be you can check with them once, link below for your reference

http://visasfortheworld.com/Index.aspx#contactus

[hserus]

What current status? Your e visa will have issue and expiry dates and is easy to get.

Not sure what you mean.

And to others who asked - book a trip yourself, looking out for lcc carriers / cheap deals on Air India / Singapore / Malaysian / Sri Lankan / Thai

Use booking.com or similar for hotels, or use your stay points from one of the major chains if you have any.

The only thing with a travel agent is being rushed around with a bunch of other Indian people, getting fed rotis and paneer butter masala etc whereas you may prefer to try other foods and meet other sorts of people if you go on holiday to Singapore instead of Darjeeling.

If you want guaranteed pure veg, Jain etc meals due to your religious dietary preferences and aren't flexible in that area, an agent package might work better for you than gobbling up a huge and delicious bowl of laksa and then discovering its ingredients.

[avdhesh15]

Originally Posted by hserus

If you want guaranteed pure veg, Jain etc meals due to your religious dietary preferences and aren't flexible in that area, an agent package might work better for you than gobbling up a huge and delicious bowl of laksa and then discovering its ingredients.

To add to that, there are ample meal options for all sorts of dietary restrictions available in Singapore, especially in Little India area. I have never faced issues with pure-veg food in Singapore and in fact last time ate an awesome Gujarati / Rajasthani pure-veg thaali.

Example: http://swaad.com.sg/

[hserus]

Originally Posted by avdhesh15

To add to that, there are ample meal options for all sorts of dietary restrictions available in Singapore, especially in Little India area. I have never faced issues with pure-veg food in Singapore and in fact last time ate an awesome Gujarati / Rajasthani pure-veg thaali.

Example: http://swaad.com.sg/

Yup. You just need to know where to go, there are choices aplenty and detailed reviews available online.

For a first time traveller, or one that isn't too online savvy, an agent organized tour would possibly work better.

ps: Especially as you move away from little india .. try sentosa, clarke quay etc and the options are much more diverse, locating dietary preference takes a little bit more work

[frostbite911]

I just received my Singapore Visa (5 weeks validity). Flyting next week. Thanks NPV and shankar.balan

[ashishskapoor]

Originally Posted by NPV

From what I've read online, the answer is NO.

Several websites of agents as well as the Singapore authorities do not mention about any minimum balance.

Bank statement is needed only if Singapore is your first International trip. Minimum bank balance in that case would be ~50k per traveller.

[Turbo_Torq]

Originally Posted by ashishskapoor

Bank statement is needed only if Singapore is your first International trip. Minimum bank balance in that case would be ~50k per traveller.

I can affirm this; when I had applied for the first time my friend had advised me to maintain a similar account balance(per the instructions from his travel agent) to ensure that there wont be any 'complications'. Got a 2 yr visa back then.