Sg citizenship approved 2022

[RBRCosworth]

Hi,

I had a question on a slightly different topic. My wife applied for my citizenship last year (sponsored). I have read that there is some sort of interview where they validate our documents. At what stage does this happen? (Or this is a thing in the past as neither of the stages talk about any interview or document verification)

Appreciate your response and have a good weekend.

Regards

[jalanjalan]

Hi,

I had a question on a slightly different topic. My wife applied for my citizenship last year (sponsored). I have read that there is some sort of interview where they validate our documents. At what stage does this happen? (Or this is a thing in the past as neither of the stages talk about any interview or document verification)

Appreciate your response and have a good weekend.

Regards

My spouse sponsored me, but there was no interview, in fact no direct contact at all until I was called in for oath taking. I have lived here a long time though, so my documents very easy to confirm. If they need info from you, they will be in touch (with you or via your sponsor).

[MOCHS]

Interviews were done very time long ago before document submission went online.

Only in super rare cases then they will ask you to come down for an interview. There are still interview rooms in ICA. We don’t know what triggers this rare interview though but can only guess…

[RBRCosworth]

Thanks very much for the clarification. Have a good weekend

[smoulder]

Slight deviation - what was it like to renounce your Indian citizenship? (Rough process and timelines)

Its a very very easy process, thanks to COVID.

You first setup an appointment online on BLS website (https://blsindia.sg/) - they have 2 offices, one in Little India, the other in International plaza. You can set up an appointment 5 days in advance, and just like ICA, appointments dry up immediately after they are released (they are released about 10am every day).

The appointment is critical because when I went to International plaza, there was a snaking queue with about 40 people in line. I learnt later that most of them were walk-ins. But because I had an appointment I skipped the queue.

After setting up the appointment, go to the Indian passport website to fill up the application form (https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in/), and then print and carry the form during your appointment. If you don't do this, its still fine, because BLS can fill it up for you on the spot during your appointment for a small charge.

I didn't take a passport photo beforehand because I knew BLS had in house photo taking ($5 for 4 pp photos, 3 of which will be given to you, 1 will be attached to the application), which is cheaper than most other places.

On the day of the appointment, submit the relevant docs with your passport, and $200+small change fees.

BLS will then ask you if you want them to courier the renunication docs and canceled passport to you. I said yes (additional $20+). Alternatively, once ready, you can go back to BLS to collect your documentation (not recommended as you never know the crowd).

As I understand it, previously you needed to go to the Indian high commission to complete the renunciation, but thanks to COVID, you no longer need to. With regard to timeline, my application at BLS was on a Monday and my cancelled passport and renunciation cert were couriered to me on Saturday.

Gold spot - I have another question. I have completed stage 2 of the SC Journey - done with the experiential visit, the community sharing session and of course the e learning. Given feedback, taken the survey etc. They then sent me an appointment for the oath taking (?) at the ICA Building on the 3rd of January. I managed to move it to the 8th of November.

Now my question is, at what stage do I apply for renunciation of my Indian citizenship? Before the appointment at the ICA Building or after? Will I be stateless if I apply for renunciation before!?

[gold.spot]

You should do it at least 8 working days before your oath taking. The timeline for me was - applied on Monday and received renunciation docs on Saturday. Now that said, my interview with Indian high comm was exempted due to covid, they may have restored the interview process now. BLS website says it takes 8 working days, so use that as your timeline.

Technically yes, you will be "stateless" for a few days.

It looks like they've approved a lot of SCs lately, with appointment dates going as far back as January!

[smoulder]

You should do it at least 8 working days before your oath taking. The timeline for me was - applied on Monday and received renunciation docs on Saturday. Now that said, my interview with Indian high comm was exempted due to covid, they may have restored the interview process now. BLS website says it takes 8 working days, so use that as your timeline.

Technically yes, you will be "stateless" for a few days.

It looks like they've approved a lot of SCs lately, with appointment dates going as far back as January!

Thanks - do you know if it is mandatory to complete the processing of renunciation prior to the oath taking or is it sufficient to apply for it, even if it is still being processed on the day of oath taking?

[gold.spot]

The SC letter is quite clear that you need to have a renunciation letter when you go in for your oath taking.
For Malaysians its slightly different. Their renunciation takes months, so ICA will accept the acknowledgement letter of a Malaysian's renunication document submission.

Perhaps you want to experiment and see what happens if you don't have your renunciation letter? I dont see why you want to try that though.

SG passports come really fast now. Mine got printed in 1 day, but collection was a week later.

[jalanjalan]

I had wondered the same thing, as I knew the application for renunciation takes months to be finalised for Canada's side. But the Canadian High Commission gave me a letter to show ICA when I went for oath taking, and ICA told me to submit the final renunciation document when I receive it. Then I had to show my oath document to the Canadian High Comm, so they could send my application to Canada Immigration head office.

[smoulder]

Thanks Jalan Jalan and gold spot. I will try to schedule the renunciation application so that it gets processed a few days ahead of the oath taking but I suppose I have to be prepared that they may finish the process after the oath taking.

[amitbakshi78]

Hi,

I am new to this forum, had applied for my citizenship on 13th Sept 2021, been over 22 months now with no indication, just a simple "Pending" against my application. Have applied for my entire family (Wife and 1 Daughter) together. Any idea why its taking so long and is it normal????

My name is Amit