SC Chances

[heinzketchup]

Hi all,

Happy National Day! Hope everyone is having a patriotic day. I was pointed to this forum to ask for opinions from the fine people here regarding my Singapore citizenship application.

Here's my profile:

Arrived: 2007
PR since: 2008
Nationality: American
Age: Early 30s
Race: Caucasian-Indian
Studies: BSc from UK
Income: 250,000+ PA
Occupation: Startup founder, hiring 30+ in SG and 100+ worldwide

I have no property here (yet), applied together with my wife (Korean American, late 20s SPR for 5 years, works for a bank). We have no children.

I've heard varying responses and estimates so I'm uncertain. Would appreciate any honest feedback. Cheers!

[sundaymorningstaple]

Probably a good chance of it. But it's my gut feeling. I'd have no qualms about applying in your circumstances. Are you prepared for the IRS expensive headache if you obtain SG citizenship?

[heinzketchup]

Probably a good chance of it. But it's my gut feeling. I'd have no qualms about applying in your circumstances. Are you prepared for the IRS expensive headache if you obtain SG citizenship?

Thanks for your insight! I am indeed, done my research on everything. Well, I've got my fingers crossed haha

[Strong Eagle]

I tend to agree with SMS, and, I judge that the Singapore gahmen will seriously be wondering why you would want to give up US citizenship for Singapore citizenship. It's not entirely clear if you were previously something other than American (based upon your education in the UK). If you were to be a naturalized American citizen, that would be a double whammy.

[heinzketchup]

I tend to agree with SMS, and, I judge that the Singapore gahmen will seriously be wondering why you would want to give up US citizenship for Singapore citizenship. It's not entirely clear if you were previously something other than American (based upon your education in the UK). If you were to be a naturalized American citizen, that would be a double whammy.

Singapore is home for my wife and I now. We're both born in the US too! I do see why you'd say that though, but can you blame anyone for trying to leave America (especially with all the toxicity that's going on right now)? We'd rather be minorities here than minorities there

[Strong Eagle]

Well... I am a US citizen by naturalization, a Canadian by birth, and a British citizen by right of descent.

Yes, there are many undesirable things happening in the USA right now, and I would still be hard pressed to give up my citizenship. I know that a number of people do it for taxation purposes, yet those that do so, complaining of high taxes, fail to realize that the US overall tax rate is lower than that of other developed countries.

I can understand your concerns about being a minority in the USA, although that is tempered by two things for me. First, there are a helluva lot of bigoted Chinese in Singapore (and for that matter a number of Indians I have met who look down on other Indians lower on the social scale), and I've seen that bigotry exercised at work. And second, I live in Houston, Texas... my office has got a Pakastani, an Iranian, a Mexican, a couple of Columbians, a handful of Vietnamese, a few blacks, and some whites, and as a whole, I find Houston to be more diverse and less discriminatory than Singapore... not that there aren't a bunch of shits out in east Texas.

Good luck to you, if that's what you want. I wouldn't do it precisely because Singapore won't accept dual citizenship, and I suspect they do that because the last thing they want is a whole heap of dual citizens holding mainland Chinese passports.

[PNGMK]

I see no reason why you shouldn't apply but I also so no real need for SC in your case. Are you REALLY going to stay here the rest of your lives? I doubt so and I suspect so will ICA. SC is for folk who plan to permanently locate in Singapore it seems.

[heinzketchup]

Well... I am a US citizen by naturalization, a Canadian by birth, and a British citizen by right of descent.

Yes, there are many undesirable things happening in the USA right now, and I would still be hard pressed to give up my citizenship. I know that a number of people do it for taxation purposes, yet those that do so, complaining of high taxes, fail to realize that the US overall tax rate is lower than that of other developed countries.

I can understand your concerns about being a minority in the USA, although that is tempered by two things for me. First, there are a helluva lot of bigoted Chinese in Singapore (and for that matter a number of Indians I have met who look down on other Indians lower on the social scale), and I've seen that bigotry exercised at work. And second, I live in Houston, Texas... my office has got a Pakastani, an Iranian, a Mexican, a couple of Columbians, a handful of Vietnamese, a few blacks, and some whites, and as a whole, I find Houston to be more diverse and less discriminatory than Singapore... not that there aren't a bunch of shits out in east Texas.

Good luck to you, if that's what you want. I wouldn't do it precisely because Singapore won't accept dual citizenship, and I suspect they do that because the last thing they want is a whole heap of dual citizens holding mainland Chinese passports.

Thats a fair point. In my company's offices throughout the US, we've also got an incredibly diverse group of individuals - cities tend to be like that. And we're not even applying because of taxation reasons (even though I'd pay a lower rate in the US than I'd pay here when you add CPF contributions and other things).

The reason for us is that we feel like we want to live in Singapore for the rest of our lives, and we love it here too.

[heinzketchup]

I see no reason why you shouldn't apply but I also so no real need for SC in your case. Are you REALLY going to stay here the rest of your lives? I doubt so and I suspect so will ICA. SC is for folk who plan to permanently locate in Singapore it seems.

Yeah, I figured. They'd be puzzled and probably think if I have an ulterior motive. Well, it's been nearly a year on the dot since I've applied so let's wait it out to see what they say.

I also read around the forum that race plays a part, which seems pretty messed up... especially since they don't really favor Caucasians and Indians (which I am a product of).

[sundaymorningstaple]

Heinzketchup, my gut feeling comes from your last three points in your initial post....

Studies: BSc from UK
Income: 250,000+ PA
Occupation: Startup founder, hiring 30+ in SG and 100+ worldwide

Especially the last one - your startup and local staffing (I'm assuming a fairly respectable number of them are SGCs) and coupled with 10 years as a PR.

I also like your nick. Not sure how many see the reference but for me I've used it to describe my children many times. I'm half german (Dad's side) and doG knows what on my Mother's side (American many generations). And my children are half Tamil and Heinz 57 varieties on the other side!

[heinzketchup]

Heinzketchup, my gut feeling comes from your last three points in your initial post....

Studies: BSc from UK
Income: 250,000+ PA
Occupation: Startup founder, hiring 30+ in SG and 100+ worldwide

Especially the last one - your startup and local staffing (I'm assuming a fairly respectable number of them are SGCs) and coupled with 10 years as a PR.

I also like your nick. Not sure how many see the reference but for me I've used it to describe my children many times. I'm half german (Dad's side) and doG knows what on my Mother's side (American many generations). And my children are half Tamil and Heinz 57 varieties on the other side!

You're absolutely right. Almost our entire staff here are locals with a few long-time PRs. I knew that would help me out quite a bit for the application but lets see if its enough

That's a really unique heritage to have! Unfortunately I didn't have a deep meaning behind it, its just my favorite brand of ketchup. I practically grew up eating that thing, I love ketchup like Singaporeans love curry sauce (which is now competing for my love too).

[sundaymorningstaple]

You sound like my sister when she was a kid. I don't care what she ate she always put a little bit of it in her ketchup!

[heinzketchup]

You sound like my sister when she was a kid. I don't care what she ate she always put a little bit of it in her ketchup!

Thats basically me haha