Stay on PR or apply for SC?

[sundaymorningstaple]

malcontent is a long-time member of this forum, if not all that active. He actually contacted me via PM about this before posting on the forum itself. We had a discussion and I gave him my views. I also asked him to post his initial query in it's totality on the board to get feedback and possibly other viewpoints. I didn't think I missed anything, but I also wanted open discussion without my intervention. For all intents and purposes, everybody who has responded on this discussion is in agreement with each other and all dovetail with my thoughts already expressed privately to malcontent. I wish him luck but as PNGMK said, 'What a conundrum". One of big things to take away is the fact that one of his reasons for all this means not one iota to ICA and the Singapore government with regard to State University school fees. Singapore could care less, especially considering his son will be avoiding NS as well. It's a gamble no matter whether he rolls the dice or not but I think the dice are loaded against him.

[malcontent]

Thank you to all, I really appreciate your great insights and perspectives. I have to stay optimistic. I’ve been thru so many rejections here. My first EP was rejected multiple times, my PR was rejected (but never reapplied), and even our daughter’s PR under her mother was initially rejected.

I think rejection is sometimes used as a way to test your mettle... it can help them separate the wheat from the chaff. You just have to persevere. This much I do know, Singapore doesn’t like quitters!

[singaporeflyer]

Thank you to all, I really appreciate your great insights and perspectives. I have to stay optimistic. I’ve been thru so many rejections here. My first EP was rejected multiple times, my PR was rejected (but never reapplied), and even our daughter’s PR under her mother was initially rejected.

I think rejection is sometimes used as a way to test your mettle... it can help them separate the wheat from the chaff. You just have to persevere. This much I do know, Singapore doesn’t like quitters!

Singapore likes people who will permanently settle and stay in Singapore. Likely, you cant have the best of both the worlds. Atleast Not anymore.

[malcontent]

Obviously, her keeping PR and sponsoring me for LTVP is ideal, but chances are slim.

So let’s say she is denied SC and loses her PR, what are our options?

Apply for MM2H (if still available) and live across the causeway? If she has US citizenship, we could get up to 90 days/visit to Singapore, but how many times will they allow that?

If she keeps Indo citizenship, we’d have the right of abode there. Bali is nice to visit... not sure about living there, plus becoming Indo taxable is not a welcome prospect.

Thailand has the O-X visa, Philippines has SSRV. Guam is an option, but it’s two 3.5 hour flights away. We could also rotate among various places and become perpetual travelers... but we will get tired of that pretty quickly.

What are your thoughts?

Any other ideas?

Give up and move to Hawaii?

[PNGMK]

You may need to de-couple (divorce on paper). The latest pop's paper shows that there isn't a bias against older folk going for SC but there are some other insights around country of origin and marital status that might be worth studying. There is no shame in de-coupling - Singaporean's do it a lot now for housing reasons (they de-couple so that they don't get hit with ABSD on their second and third condo purchases).

[PNGMK]

Re state residency - my wife a a US citizen and established state residency living with an Aunnt for her M.A. She was over 21 though.

[malcontent]

So let me get this straight, we divorce so she can get SC and then we remarry so that I can get a LTVP? Reminds me of last time when my kids were trying to get into primary school... if we had just let my sister in law adopt our kids, they could have gotten into fantastic local schools. Why does it have to be so crazy here?

For most colleges in the US, to qualify for in-state residency, kids either need to either be 21 and above, or gainfully enough employed to be financially independent - which is rather difficult to do while going to college full time.

[malcontent]

Just read on another thread how a PR residing abroad on an expired REP still must take action to renounce their PR. I thought they would automatically lose their PR if they live abroad on an expired REP? What if they do not take action to renounce and then years later return to Singapore to reapply for the REP? I doubt this would work, but anyone know for sure?

[sundaymorningstaple]

ICA is pretty clear on this. If you are living outside of Singapore on an expired or without a Reentry Permit you will lose your PR.

https://www.ica.gov.sg/PR/reentry/pr_re ... 0residence.

Having said that, if is was not intentional or some other somewhat valid excuse, ICA will allow reentry to Singapore upon paying a fine and renewing the REP. (The fine used to be $100 but that was some years ago). I'd really not try to test the system. In fact, I have my renewal letter from ICA laying in front of me (dated 27 July) and my REP expires on 25 Oct. The letter also lets me know I can apply for a new NRIC for a special rate of $50 (normally $300) and is valid for 1 year from the date of the letter. Seeing my current NRIC is 25 years old and is actually taped together, I probably do that shortly as well.