Get married through the brokerage center Many foreign brides are “invisible people”. After many years of suffering from an abusive husband, not allowed to leave the house and often starved, Lyly (character has been renamed) – the 30-year-old Vietnamese bride has decided to leave her bad husband. Lyly said her ex-husband, a driver about 60 years old, often beat her when he was angry, drunk or losing money. “I don’t know where the market is, where the bus station is. I have no money and no friends. I ask him for money to spend in the house, but he always asks” What do you need money for? For another guy? “, She shared about her difficulties. Once, he didn’t buy anything for her and their son for a week. Lyly said she took her son away at least 3 times but returned because her husband promised to change. However, Lily continued to suffer violence. He even starved her mother and daughter. Desperate, Lyly turned to the police. Thanks to her shelter, she was referred to lawyer June Lim, who represented her to carry out free divorce proceedings. Lyly has sole custody of his son – who is a Singaporean, 6 years old this year. After the divorce, Lyly’s ex-husband canceled her long-term relative visit visa. However, she was fortunate enough to be sponsored by a friend to be able to stay. “If no one helps, I don’t know what to do,” she said. Not only Lyly, many foreign women married to Singapore face a wide range of issues from domestic violence to poverty and uncertain futures in Singapore. These women seem “invisible and have no voice” because of their immigration status, limited rights, lack of protection by law and difficult access to social welfare. Many people lack understanding of the rights and benefits they enjoy, feel helpless in need of help because they do not know where to go for help. This is partly due to their limited social network in Singapore. They are often financially dependent on their husbands. Some people suffer from marriage violence or conflict for fear of leaving their children if their husbands cancel their long-term relative’s visas upon divorce. Member of a matchmaking company in Singapore. Photo: The Straits Times The government gave “fulcrum” A spokesman for the Lawyers Association Pro Bono said that it is very important that the Singapore Government publicizes its stance on the immigration status of foreigners after divorce. This is a “thoughtful and tolerant” approach by the government of this country, she said. In addition, a spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior (MHA) told The Straits Times that widows, spouses or divorced Singapore citizens have the right to custody of children under the age of 21. They are allowed to live in Singapore on a long-term visitor visa until the child reaches 21 years of age. Although the former Singaporean spouse cancels the visa extension, they can still be sponsored by another Singapore citizen or permanent resident over the age of 21. At the age of 21, children can sponsor foreign parents to stay. Since December 2018, the Pro Bono Lawyers Association and Ms. June Lim – CEO of Eden Law Firm – have started the LEAF Project (Empowerment and Legal Support for Foreign Spouses). . The LEAF project is now part of a Family Justice Assistance program that helps noncitizens or Singapore permanent residents with marriage matters. The project aims to provide free assistance to a spouse who is a foreigner who meets a number of conditions, for example with a per capita monthly income of S $ 950 or less. They decided to start this pilot scheme because foreign spouses with children in Singapore are a “particularly vulnerable” group. They often depend on their partner for all aspects of their life. They may not have anyone to help them in the face of home violence or a broken marriage. In many cases, they also do not have any other friends or relatives in Singapore, they just have to look to charities like LEAF to stay. To avoid unfortunate things from happening, the Singapore Department of Family and Social Development has introduced a marriage support program for couples of different nationalities to help them have a strong marriage foundation. The program offers classes that teach English or Mandarin for the brides, give instructions on how to communicate, deal with conflicts in a multicultural setting, as well as tips on living in Singapore. Source: Straits Times, Sixth Tone

She shared in English: “I asked him for money to spend in the house, but he always asked:” What do you need money for? Let another guy? “.

Once, he didn’t buy anything for her and their son for a week.

Desperate when there was nothing to eat in the house, she called the police for help. She talked about the violence she had endured. “I don’t know where the market is or where the bus station is. I have no money, no friends ”.

She had taken her son away three times but then returned because her husband promised to change each time. However, he continued to beat her. In the end, Lyly decided “that’s more than enough”.

Currently, she is working as a kitchen assistant. “My son is too afraid of him. All times of violence affect the boy “.

Many foreign brides do not dare to speak up when being abused by their husbands.

Thanks to her shelter, she was referred to lawyer June Lim, who represented her to carry out free divorce proceedings. Lyly has sole custody of his son – who is a Singaporean, 6 years old this year.

A spokesman for the Lawyers Association Pro Bono said that it is very important for the Singapore Government to publicize its stance on the immigration status of foreigners after divorce. This is a “thoughtful and tolerant” approach by the government of this country, she said.

After the divorce, Lyly’s ex-husband canceled her long-term visit visa, but a friend at the church helped her to sponsor her to continue living in Singapore.

“If I don’t have people to help me, I don’t know what to do,” said the woman.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior (MHA) told The Straits Times that those who are widowed or divorced from a Singapore citizen and have custody of children under the age of 21 are “essentially” allowed to live. stay in Singapore on a long-term visit visa until the child reaches 21 years of age.

“This allows them to take care of the Singaporean here,” said a MHA spokesperson.

These foreigners can also be sponsored for living in Singapore by another Singaporean or another permanent resident who is 21 years of age or older. That means when the child turns 21 years old, he / she can further sponsor his / her parent for a long-term visitor visa.

Foreign wives often keep quiet when they are abused by their husbands, the spokesman said, because husbands often threaten to cancel their wives’ visas and deny them custody if they divorce.

In addition, whether or not a foreigner has permanent residency in Singapore will be one of the main judicial considerations when deciding who the child will live with after divorce.

In December 2018, the Pro Bono Lawyers Association and Ms. June Lim, CEO of Eden Law Firm, started the Leaf Project (Empowerment and Legal Support for Foreign Spouses). .

This pilot project aims to provide free assistance to a spouse who is a foreigner who meets certain conditions, for example with a monthly per capita income of S $ 950 or less.

Lawyers Association spokesman Pro Bono said the association decided to start a pilot plan with foreigners with Singaporean children because it is a “vulnerable” group.

They often depend on their partner for all aspects of their life. They may not have anyone to help them in the face of home violence or a broken marriage.

“They face the risk of being repatriated if the partner cancels the visa extension.”

“This problem is especially frustrating when they have Singaporeans, the children will have to leave the country or separate from the mother – often the main caregiver.”

She also said that many foreign wives cannot afford to hire a lawyer. They are also ineligible for legal aid programs because they are not a Singapore citizen or permanent resident.

In addition to divorce and related issues, these wives face the risk of domestic violence, she added.

In many cases, there are many foreign wives who do not have Singaporean friends. So they turn to charities and religious groups to find a native to sponsor their long-term visa.

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Dang Duong(According to The Strait Times)