When It's More Than Just A Business Trip

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Yanna Evangelista discusses the value of partnering with your immigration advisor at the onset of an international assignment.
Hi I’m Yanna and I am a manager based in Singapore. My consultants and I manage the high volume of immigration applications for multi-national companies, small medium enterprises, regional and local clients, and we assist them to facilitate the transfers of foreign employees and family members into Singapore. We also assist with student pass applications and permanent residency solutions for private and individual clients.
With influx of foreign talent which continue to come to Singapore, the immigration and checkpoints authority and the ministry of manpower work together to exercise proper assessment when granting entry into these individuals. In recent years we’ve been noticing rigorous tightening in work authorization requirements and in our capacity as corporate immigration advisors we partner with our clients in ensuring we give them proper guidance and the right approach is taken to ensure compliance.
One of our recent cases is on the refusal of entry for one of our employees in Singapore. The employee had been travelling to Singapore and a number of locations on a business visa while his employment pass application was still in process. On his third visit he was stopped at immigration, questioned, and eventually asked to depart on the speculation that he was undertaking responsibilities behind the parameters of a business visa. Had we been informed; we would have been able to prepare him and provide him relevant advise on the likelihood of being questioned due to the frequency of his business travels. We would therefore recommend to consult your immigration advisors in order for us to provide appropriate guidance for such instances. We were looped in by the client and were tasked to help clear the record.
We addressed the situation by having several discussions with clients and stakeholders by helping prepare the supporting documentation for the appeal, having several discussions with the authorities, and subsequently monitoring the outcome.
We are pleased to share that the employment pass has since been obtained after a few months of tedious efforts. We are also pleased to confirm that the employee has already moved to Singapore and has commands to employment.
Hi I’m Yanna and I am a manager based in Singapore. My consultants and I manage the high volume of immigration applications for multi-national companies, small medium enterprises, regional and local clients, and we assist them to facilitate the transfers of foreign employees and family members into Singapore. We also assist with student pass applications and permanent residency solutions for private and individual clients.
With influx of foreign talent which continue to come to Singapore, the immigration and checkpoints authority and the ministry of manpower work together to exercise proper assessment when granting entry into these individuals. In recent years we’ve been noticing rigorous tightening in work authorization requirements and in our capacity as corporate immigration advisors we partner with our clients in ensuring we give them proper guidance and the right approach is taken to ensure compliance.
One of our recent cases is on the refusal of entry for one of our employees in Singapore. The employee had been travelling to Singapore and a number of locations on a business visa while his employment pass application was still in process. On his third visit he was stopped at immigration, questioned, and eventually asked to depart on the speculation that he was undertaking responsibilities behind the parameters of a business visa. Had we been informed; we would have been able to prepare him and provide him relevant advise on the likelihood of being questioned due to the frequency of his business travels. We would therefore recommend to consult your immigration advisors in order for us to provide appropriate guidance for such instances. We were looped in by the client and were tasked to help clear the record.
We addressed the situation by having several discussions with clients and stakeholders by helping prepare the supporting documentation for the appeal, having several discussions with the authorities, and subsequently monitoring the outcome.
We are pleased to share that the employment pass has since been obtained after a few months of tedious efforts. We are also pleased to confirm that the employee has already moved to Singapore and has commands to employment.
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Explore more at Fragomen
Media mentions
In this Hong Kong Business article, Managing Director Magdalene Tennant discusses Hong Kong’s recent decision to allow employment and dependent visa renewal applications to be filed up to three months before expiry, a change intended to reduce the risk of work disruptions and provide employers with greater flexibility in managing foreign talent.
Media mentions
In this article published by Professional Engineering, Senior Manager Nadine Barnole examines how UK engineering employers can continue to access international talent amid growing skills shortages and a rapidly evolving immigration landscape.
Media mentions
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Podcast
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Video
In this Mobility Minute, Manager Maja Sugui provides an overview of key visa and compliance considerations for business travelers planning trips to China.
Media mentions
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Media mentions
Director Isobel Neilson discusses how investment migration programs are evolving amid political scrutiny, regulatory reform and shifting priorities, with governments moving toward pathways that emphasise economic contribution, talent and stronger ties to host countries.
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Media mentions
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Awards
Fragomen has been featured in the 2026 GML Elite, Global Mobility Lawyer’s inaugural guide to leading global mobility teams, highlighting the firm’s global immigration capabilities, international footprint and work supporting multinational clients.
Media mentions
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Media mentions
In this Hong Kong Business article, Managing Director Magdalene Tennant discusses Hong Kong’s recent decision to allow employment and dependent visa renewal applications to be filed up to three months before expiry, a change intended to reduce the risk of work disruptions and provide employers with greater flexibility in managing foreign talent.
Media mentions
In this article published by Professional Engineering, Senior Manager Nadine Barnole examines how UK engineering employers can continue to access international talent amid growing skills shortages and a rapidly evolving immigration landscape.
Media mentions
In this Times Brasil CNBC Real Tech interview, Partner Diana Quintas discusses Brazil’s recent visa exemption for Chinese nationals, what it signals for Brazil-China mobility and how technology is helping support more efficient cross-border movement.
Podcast
In this episode of The Immigration Conversation, Business Immigration Manager Ayana Ibrahimi is joined by Lara Dyer, Chief Solutions Officer (Americas) at Talent Beyond Boundaries; Stuart Szabo, CEO and Co-founder of Beacon; and Jessica Turner, Co-founder and CEO of ThriveON, to discuss refugee labour mobility and employment-based pathways for displaced talent.
Video
In this Mobility Minute, Manager Maja Sugui provides an overview of key visa and compliance considerations for business travelers planning trips to China.
Media mentions
In this profile published in Michigan Law’s Law Quadrangle, Counsel Christopher Wendt discusses the role of immigration in supporting the US healthcare workforce and expanding access to civil legal aid in Minnesota.
Media mentions
Director Isobel Neilson discusses how investment migration programs are evolving amid political scrutiny, regulatory reform and shifting priorities, with governments moving toward pathways that emphasise economic contribution, talent and stronger ties to host countries.
Fragomen news
Fragomen welcomes Counsel Christopher Wendt in Minnesota, bringing nearly three decades of immigration law experience, including more than 20 years supporting workforce immigration programs for Mayo Clinic.
Media mentions
Senior Counsel Dr. Anna Boucher discusses Switzerland’s rejected population cap referendum and the role of immigration in supporting workforce and economic stability.
Awards
Fragomen has been featured in the 2026 GML Elite, Global Mobility Lawyer’s inaugural guide to leading global mobility teams, highlighting the firm’s global immigration capabilities, international footprint and work supporting multinational clients.
Media mentions
Partner Marius Tollenaere outlines the key 2026 EU Blue Card changes employers must understand to stay compliant and competitive.
Media mentions
Partner Charlotte Slocombe explained options available to Scotland fans whose US ESTAs have been denied or revoked ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

