Living in the US. Confused about NS and colleges

[awesomenatorrad]

Hi, I am living in the U.S. and wondering about NS. I have a Singapore passport and a U.S. passport. I have no qualms serving NS but I want to go to college in the U.S. so if I go to NS from 18-20 yrs of age. How do I apply to a U.S. college after I serve NS? What if I get a scholarship from a U.S. college that I am interested to attend? After NS, I will keep my Singapore passport but I will get a U.S. PR and live in the U.S. after college.

[BBCWatcher]

How do I apply to a U.S. college after I serve NS?

The same way you would at any age. There is no age limit.

You don't have to apply strictly after NS, as I understand it. You can apply as you approach the end of NS in order to minimize the gap, if you wish.

What if I get a scholarship from a U.S. college that I am interested to attend?

Then you will pay a lower or zero tuition rate, and presumably you would be happy about that.

After NS, I will keep my Singapore passport but I will get a U.S. PR and live in the U.S. after college.

How is that idea supposed to work?

[awesomenatorrad]

My Dad is a US citizen and I would be able to get a US PR relatively easy, since, I have to choose between my US and Singapore passport at 21 years of age.

[BBCWatcher]

I think you need to do some more research. Here are some potential or actual issues:

1. You have to pay $2350 to renounce U.S. citizenship. (Perhaps the Singapore government would consider that a hardship?)

2. You would likely lose $4000 in American Opportunity Tax Credits, in-state tuition rates at public universities in your U.S. state, Pell Grants (if eligible), U.S. federal direct student loan access, and summer break income. And you have student visa fees on top of that. It's a big financial hit.

3. Once you hit 21 you drop to family preference category F1, a quota limited visa category even if sponsored by a U.S. citizen parent. The current wait is years. You might get PR at about age 30. (You can check how long past applicants in F1 have waited. The future wait will probably be equal or longer.)

[PNGMK]

I'd do it that other way around... serve NS; surrender Singapore passport. As you have served NS you will have no issue getting a working visa back in Singapore if you choose to work here.

[BBCWatcher]

No, there's a way to do it legally and fairly neatly, albeit with some risk and financial expense. If Awesomenatorrad would like me to elaborate, I can. However, it would be helpful to know Awesomenatorrad's current age.

[Strong Eagle]

You should think long and hard before giving up your US citizenship for SG citizenship. Yes, taxation policies are somewhat more onerous than Singapore, and as BBCW has so amply demonstrated, it's not as bad as you might think.

You do not want to throw away your opportunity and right to live in the USA. In spite of its problems it is still one of the best countries to live in. The US dollar is the reserve currency of the world, and that's not going to change for a long time. It still has a better higher education system, more patents, and more opportunities than an island state of 5 million people.

Consider this... if you choose SG citizenship, you are guaranteed the right of abode on a tiny island, subject to the whims of a global economy. If you choose US citizenship, you have immense reserves at your disposal.

Singapore... 277 square miles... USA... 3.8 million square miles.

[taxico]

talk to an experienced immigration attorney now about your desired PR/citizenship aims after NS and pay him to work on petitioning USCIS.

if you've (applied too early and) successfully been admitted to college, you may write in to request for delayed enrollment using NS as the reason. no guarantees, but worth a shot.