Our Stories

1 

Keeping a child in school

A family was struggling because their child's school fees had become too expensive. The child was on a Student Pass, and the family was worried that unpaid fees could affect his education and ability to stay in Singapore.

TIF stepped in with temporary school fee support and also linked the family to immigration guidance. This gave the family time and stability to work on their situation.

​

Over time, things improved. The wife later received Singapore citizenship, and the child also became a Singapore citizen. The family can now manage on their own and no longer need TIF support.

2

Helping a mother reunite her family

A Singaporean mother was trying to bring her family back together after a very difficult period. She had returned to Singapore with one child, while her other child remained in Malaysia because of passport issues. She was also under stress at home and working two jobs to support her children.

TIF supported her with legal documentation costs so she could move forward with her divorce and family arrangements.

​

With that support, she was able to finalise her divorce, gain sole custody of her children, and both children later received Singapore citizenship. The family was also able to move into a safer home environment

3

Supporting a young person’s education journey

A young person who had lived in Singapore since early childhood was studying here on a Student Pass. Even though his life and family ties were in Singapore, he had faced repeated difficulties with his PR applications. Paying for further education was also a challenge.

TIF provided bursary support for his studies and linked him to legal support for immigration matters. Because of this help, he was able to continue his education and complete his ITE course. He also did well in Polytechnic and received academic recognition. Additional support was later brought in through partner organisations.

4

Supporting children with unstable passes

Two children had been living in Singapore for years, but their immigration situation remained uncertain. Their caregiving arrangement was complicated, and the family was also dealing with large school fee arrears. This made it hard for the adults to work steadily and for the children to have a stable school life.

TIF supported the children's school fees and helped with immigration applications. This support helped the children secure longer-term passes. Their school attendance improved, and the family gained more stability. The adults were also better able to work and support the household.

5

Support during a health and family crisis

A foreign spouse lost her job after her Long-Term Visit Pass expired. At the same time, she was going through a divorce, caring for her son, and facing serious health problems. Because of her immigration status, getting affordable medical care was not available.

TIF provided temporary living support, helped with ICA-related costs, connected her to medical treatment, and referred the family for legal and immigration guidance. With this support, she was able to receive treatment, return to work, and move towards a more stable future for herself and her son.