Singapore Passport Taken By Parents

[amykathleen2005 441]

I have a question for a friend from Singapore. She wants to visit the US as a tourist for a few weeks. However, when her parents found out she wanted to go they took her passport and refuse to give it back (she is an adult). When she tried to file for a lost/stolen replacement her parents took the passport in to show that it still existed and the issuing office will not give her a replacement. The police were called but stated that it was a domestic issue and they could not get involved.

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions how she can get her passport?

Edited January 21, 2011 by amykathleen2005

[amykathleen2005 441]

Anybody?

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

It is as the police has stated a dosmetic issue. She can try sueing her parents if she has the guts to do it. End of story...

Edited January 22, 2011 by LIFE'SJOURNEY

[Jojo92122 1,924]

Anybody?

This is a Singapore issue. She needs to resolve the problem through the Singapore legal system.

[threeoceans 0]

I have a question for a friend from Singapore. She wants to visit the US as a tourist for a few weeks. However, when her parents found out she wanted to go they took her passport and refuse to give it back (she is an adult). When she tried to file for a lost/stolen replacement her parents took the passport in to show that it still existed and the issuing office will not give her a replacement. The police were called but stated that it was a domestic issue and they could not get involved.

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions how she can get her passport?

she could just apply for a new passport and not tell her parents. if she's over 21, she does not need her parents to sign on the forms or collect the passport with her.

[kitthekat 1,317]

This is a really old post but I thought I'd add on in the event anyone ever needs this info. Sadly, it doesn't sound so far-out. My sympathies to your friend and I hope she's gotten it all sorted out by now.

Under section 47(5) of the Passport Act (2007), if

(a) a person has or retains possession or control in Singapore of a foreign travel document; and

(b) the person knows that the foreign travel document was not issued to him,

the person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or to both.

However this would not apply if the person had a "reasonable excuse" - that would have to be argued/decided by the Court.

In terms of whether or not your friend's parents can then claim they held on to her passport for her own protection, 21 is generally the age of majority in Singapore (in some cases 18 - e.g., drinking, driving), and in terms of girls who are "beyond parental control" or in "moral danger" that only applies to girls under 16 and 21 respectively.