Dual Citizenship

vangogh · Post by **vangogh** » Thu, 17 Mar 2005 5:05 am

Hi,

I'm a 42 year old Singaporean married with children, living in the US for the past 15 years or so. I'm considering applying for US citizenship. On the other hand, I do not wish to give up my Singapore citizenship ( for some personal reasons). Since I done with my NS, can I hold a dual citizenship?

Post by **Strong Eagle** » Thu, 17 Mar 2005 8:53 am

When you become a US citizen, you are required to swear an oath of allegiance to the US. But, that's it... you do not have to renounce your other citizenship in front of an embassy official like make countires require. Through changes in law and Supreme Court rulings, it is possible to hold US and other citizenship. I am a naturalized US citiizen, and a Canadian, and a British Citizen with right of abode.

See http://www.richw.org/dualcit/ for lots of info on the subject.

As for Singapore, they don't recognize dual citizenship. For someone of another nationality to become Singaporean, it is necessary to formally renounce your other citizenship. On the other hand, it is clear that at least some people hold dual US/Sing passports... they can tell you more of the Sing side of things

adicen · Post by **adicen** » Thu, 17 Mar 2005 1:12 pm

How does one hold dual passports and be a citizen only of one country? Does it mean that one can hold more than two and still only be a citizen of one country?

Post by **Strong Eagle** » Thu, 17 Mar 2005 3:02 pm

adicen wrote:How does one hold dual passports and be a citizen only of one country? Does it mean that one can hold more than two and still only be a citizen of one country?

Holding two passports means that one is a citizen of two countries. What is much more fuzzy is what that means. Generally, it means that when you are inside the country where you hold citizenship, the rules and laws of that country apply. So, if you are dual US and Sing, and you are in Singapore, then Sing law applies to you. You could not go to the US embassy in order to have the US keep you out of NS.

Generally, you are only taxed in the country where you reside, regardless of citizenship. The US is an exception. If you are a US citizen, you pay income tax no matter where you live... so you are effectively double taxed, less the exclusion amount.

This is an area that is gaining increasing attention on the part of governments as more and more people take on dual citizenship. For example, since I have British citizenship, can I take advantage of the medical system when I go there, even though I have paid no UK taxes? Should I be able to vote (I can right now), even though I don't live there?

adicen · Post by **adicen** » Thu, 17 Mar 2005 5:18 pm

But I thought you were saying that Singapore Govt does not recognise dual citizenship. If they don't recognise dual citizenship, then how can some people have both Sing and US passports, like you said? You mean, the Sing govt does not know about it??

vangogh · Post by **vangogh** » Fri, 18 Mar 2005 12:45 am

Thanks for replying. The reason I posted this question is beacuse my "Resident Alien" (Green Card) will expire soon and I am trying to decide whether I should extend my Resident Alien status or apply for US Citizenship once and for all since I'm almost sure that I'll be here for a long time.

Strong Eagle, if I'm not mistaken, you said that if safe for me to hold dual citizenship. Question: When I have to travel, which passport should I use? What if SG Govt finds out? Will I loss everything I own in Singapore?

Me dual too · Post by **Me dual too** » Mon, 21 Mar 2005 12:01 pm

Which passport you use depends on the country you are entering. Eg. Singapore passport holders get visa-free entry into Indonesia, something even the mighty American passport won't get you. Of course, if you're entering Singapore, you'd be wise to use your Singapore passport, likewise for the US.

vangogh wrote:Thanks for replying. The reason I posted this question is beacuse my "Resident Alien" (Green Card) will expire soon and I am trying to decide whether I should extend my Resident Alien status or apply for US Citizenship once and for all since I'm almost sure that I'll be here for a long time.

Strong Eagle, if I'm not mistaken, you said that if safe for me to hold dual citizenship. Question: When I have to travel, which passport should I use? What if SG Govt finds out? Will I loss everything I own in Singapore?

Post by **Strong Eagle** » Mon, 21 Mar 2005 1:19 pm

vangogh wrote:Thanks for replying. The reason I posted this question is beacuse my "Resident Alien" (Green Card) will expire soon and I am trying to decide whether I should extend my Resident Alien status or apply for US Citizenship once and for all since I'm almost sure that I'll be here for a long time.

Strong Eagle, if I'm not mistaken, you said that if safe for me to hold dual citizenship. Question: When I have to travel, which passport should I use? What if SG Govt finds out? Will I loss everything I own in Singapore?

You are asking a question well beyond my ability to answer and really need to seek an immigration attorney for your answers. All I can tell you is that the US does not make you specifically renounce your Singapore citizenship to the Singapore authorities. I also see that you must specifially renounce your Singapore citizenship to the Singapore authorities in order to make it null and void.

So, there seems to be two questions: First is a question which applies to anyone travelling on two passports. I have a US and UK passport. I must leave the US on my US passport. I arrive in the UK and use my UK passport. I leave and come back to the States and present my US passport, WHICH HAS NO STAMPS OF ANYKIND. Where have I been? And how much of a hassle is this? I have not yet been able to find people who have dealt with this situation.

And the second of course, is that although Singapore doesn't allow dual citizenship, they don't really say what they do about it. I can find nothing that says you are automatically excommunicated from Singapore... so it is a fuzzy area.

Perhaps in not "recognizing" dual citizenship what they are saying is that when you are in Singapore, you are only a Singaporean... this is how the US looks at it. If you are a US citizen, the fact that you hold other citizenships gives you no special status.

Post by **Strong Eagle** » Mon, 21 Mar 2005 2:16 pm

A site of relevance... note the comments that "Under Singaporean law, an individual who automatically acquires Singaporean citizenship at birth retains that status even after acquiring U.S. citizenship."

So, if this is true, then Singapore really does recognize defacto dual citizenship... they won't take your Singaporean citizenship away.

http://singapore.usembassy.gov/consular ... vice.shtml

vangogh · Post by **vangogh** » Mon, 21 Mar 2005 10:43 pm

Thank you all so much for your input.
p/s: Strong Eagle, I've seen you website and I really enjoyed it.

Post by **Strong Eagle** » Mon, 21 Mar 2005 10:53 pm

vangogh wrote:Thank you all so much for your input.
p/s: Strong Eagle, I've seen you website and I really enjoyed it.

Thank you. Like my life, a work in progress!

Pinky · Post by **Pinky** » Sun, 27 Mar 2005 6:24 pm

Strong Eagle, nice web site.. Esp. like the "A Journey Down the Path of Life" page. Been feeling really lousy these past 2 months due to a big change in my life, and reading the page (and the links) has helped me understand things a bit better..

Cheers..

Post by **Strong Eagle** » Sun, 27 Mar 2005 8:54 pm

Pinky wrote:Strong Eagle, nice web site.. Esp. like the "A Journey Down the Path of Life" page. Been feeling really lousy these past 2 months due to a big change in my life, and reading the page (and the links) has helped me understand things a bit better..

Cheers..

Thank you. I'm feeling a strong need to expand on that part of my website, for I've experienced a transformation that has made my life full and happy, no matter the circumstance. I was blessed to have a man with a lamp walking a few steps in front of me, showing me the way. What he showed me was there is only one path... mine... and it is different from every other path for every other human. You cannot live your life as others perceive you should live it... you can only live your life... the good and the bad... and live with the consequences of being you.

Life! It's the only one we've got. One morning, we're all going to wake up dead.

WAsadeha · Post by **WAsadeha** » Wed, 08 Aug 2007 3:02 am

Hi guys, i have a question here i hope you guys can help.

i intend to study in the other cty( Country)

My qns is, am i able to leave spore and then return w/o applying any permits?( the reason is how can i apply for a permit if i am a citizen already?)

eg. The Cty permits a max of 6 mths for sporeans. However, since i am a citizen, i guess that doesnt apply anymore?( can i jus present them with my citizenship card for proof?)

however, spore also states that i mus apply for an Exit permit if i leave more than 6 mths?

Shd i leave spore and come back after 4years, wad will the consequence be?

I plan to go there as a tourist first and then settle the rest there.?(advisable?

May i ask too how do people with different passport travel?

Is it not necessary for you to have your passport stamped ?

Eg if i leave from CTY To tokyo, and i decide to return to singapore , can i use my Sg passport from Tokyo and arrive in SG w/o any problems?

Lastly, if i go to the High Comm of the cty in Singapore, and seek for help on this matter will they renounce my citizenship?

Also, i am jus curious why do some people get letters from ICA to denounce their second citizenship ? How do they know in the first place?
And why must people reveal?

In my case, i dont have such a problem?

I appreciate your help

Thanks You.

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