8 year SPR applying for SC after 2 years working abroad

[American]

My family and I received PR back in 2016 but decided to work abroad 2 years ago since 2022. We plan on returning to Singapore in 1 year (2025), hopefully working another 2 years before our 2nd REP renewal.

We want to apply for SPR now. The problem is we have not been contributing to CPF the last 2 years since working abroad. Also we are getting older, we’ll be on the mid to upper 40’s side by the time we return. Our family income was over >35k/month, 2 kids still registered with approved leave in local school, and we are not South Asian (not Indian), not Chinese not Malay (we are “others” - western and East Asian mixed). We own a condo in the heartlands.

What are our SC approval chances? Is there anything we can do right now to strengthen our application (like add $$$ into CPF)?

Side note - we realized the grass isn’t greener. We thought it would be a good situation to make a bit more money abroad and experience another culture but in hindsight financially staying in Singapore would have been better.

[jalanjalan]

If your goal is to settle here, you can already do so as a PR, so adding more to your CPF has no downside.
As for your chances, hard to say, but I'm sure you know that "others" will be pretty competitive. You'd be applying for SC as a whole family, right? We got lots of elderlies already, need more youngsters.

[NYY1]

I'm not sure there is much you can do to really strengthen your application right now. The big question is whether ICA wants to see you back in the country first.

I understand the age comment. However, I don't think waiting a year or two from now (after returning) is going to make that big of a difference. As long as you apply as a family (with two kids), I think age is probably OK. That being said, go ahead and apply now if that's what you want to do.

As for the "Os", the O PR bucket is very hard for some people to get through. However, we see that O PRs are often Spouse of SC. Some of these people will convert to SC as soon as they can, but many will not do so (for years, if ever). That doesn't mean it will be easy, as the stock of O PRs is many multiples of the new O SCs up for grabs each year. Still, I'm not sure it is as bad as one may think.

Anyways, good luck.

[sundaymorningstaple]

It's not going to be a cakewalk, I'm pretty sure. You have already shown ICA (even if it was as claimed), a pure case of trying to burn the candle at both ends and as you well know, usually the holder of the candle gets burned in the end. You sent a clear signal when you upped and left for two years or more with the whole family (to work for a non-Singaporean employer). Most would have worked and traveled back and forth leaving the family in-situ as you. So you decided to "just try". You are going to need a heaping ladle (not teaspoon) of pure luck in my opinion.

[malcontent]

Agree, your case is tough, not only are you in the others bucket, but you left in 2022 and your kids will need to transition back to local school which can be a challenge. They are missing out on the national curriculum which is seen as important for inculcating loyalty and patriotism in future citizens (this is one reason Singaporeans are usually not allowed to attend International Schools).

I think the following would be viewed favorably:

1. Your family returns to Singapore
2. You continue to do well financially
3. Your kids do amazingly well in local school
4. Your family gets involved in community

My SIL who is over 50 and her 3 boys got citizenship recently and were asked to provide school results (one in secondary, one in JC and one in NS), so this does matter, perhaps more so if the parent(s) are up in age.

I believe they will try to ascertain what your true motivations are and what has been the track record of people with a similar profile as yours.

If you are currently residing in your passport country, applying from there would show a certain dedication, since you will have to give up your old passport and be forced to return to Singapore.

Do think carefully about this. Giving up your current citizenship could mean losing the right to live there, the right to petition for relatives to live there and possibly forfeiting benefits your kids might enjoy in the future.

[MOCHS]

My family and I received PR back in 2016

….

We want to apply for SPR now.

So you want to apply for PR or SC…? First paragraph says A, second paragraph says B instead.

[malcontent]

My family and I received PR back in 2016

….

We want to apply for SPR now.

So you want to apply for PR or SC…? First paragraph says A, second paragraph says B instead.

I did a double take on that too, but the title and their comment about renewing their REP would lead me to believe they wanting to apply for SC.