Applying for SC independently

[bewildered18]

Hi, I'm an Indian SPR (21M) who recently completed NS. Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree at a top uni (HYPS/Oxbridge). Family and I have been living in SG for 20 years; I've been a PR for 19 years. Unfortunately, our citizenship application has been rejected twice from 2019 to 2024. I plan on applying independently; is there anything I should keep in mind before applying?

Thanks

[hopeislife]

Hi, I'm an Indian SPR (21M) who recently completed NS. Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree at a top uni (HYPS/Oxbridge). Family and I have been living in SG for 20 years; I've been a PR for 19 years. Unfortunately, our citizenship application has been rejected twice from 2019 to 2024. I plan on applying independently; is there anything I should keep in mind before applying?

Thanks

The following is just my opinion

Nowadays for indians, it is just not enough if you have been SPR for 20yrs and have finished NS. While finishing NS will be looked as positive to give you citizenship, it is not always a 100% guarantee to get SGC immediately upon completion.

The following could have been the factors that caused rejection.
1) Did your family apply for citizenship before 2019? Because since you say you were a pr for 19yrs, (since 2005) and if your family did not apply citizenship with you till 2019, it may look like your family did not show any interest in getting citizenship for you, till you approach your NS. Generally, from reading here, if a PR applicant takes a long time (say more than 5 or 6years) to apply for SGC after citizenship, it can be seen as a lack of interest for the PR applicant to become SGC.

2) Ofcourse, it depends on other family dynamics like your parents job role, contributions or any other siblings.

3) Since you have not completed your degree yet, the govt may want you to finish your degree first and then get a job in SG, then apply for SGC. Then i think the chance will be very high.

4) Another problem here is that since you seem to pursue undergrad outside sg, it may give them a signal that you most likely will end up settling down in the western country where you are currently studying, and not come back to sg and contribute. So if you really intend to get SGC better come back to sg to work after undergrad and show the intent to stay here, to consider you for SGC. Also, even if you apply again for SGC during your 3rd or 4th year of your undergrad (under your father sponsor / yourself after reaching 21), the chance may still be less until you start job in sg upon graduation.

As a summary, if you plan to apply independently and if I were asked to give you something to keep in mind, I would say, finish your degree and try to come back to sg to work and settle, as I believe that would most likely improve your chances for SGC. Try to constantly monitor your REP when doing undergrad, as i read some posts where these overseas undergrad students sometimes face REP renewal problems. Although sometimes i feel that your stay in sg is interrupted by your undergraduate study overseas, i think it will be compensated by the fact that you have done your undergrad from reputed uni (as per your quote) and finishing NS.

And I repeat, that the above is just my opinion. Approval requirements for PR or SGC for a given race will drastically change for every 6 months, which no one can predict.

[bewildered18]

Thanks for taking the time to respond!

[NYY1]

Once you turn 21, you can only apply independently (no longer eligible to apply under/with parents). Hence, if you still want SC (and are willing to give up your current citizenship), there's not much else to do but just apply (same benefits and obligations as a citizen compared to when you applied under your parents).

I think you should have a good chance. Still, a couple of questions (if you don't mind). First, were you educated in the local schools? Second, how old are your parents? Were they both working at the time of the family applications?

[bewildered18]

Hi NYY1,

I went to an International School. Parents are close to 50.

Hoping it works out. This country has given me a lot, and I can't call it anything else but home at this point!

[hopeislife]

Hi NYY1,

I went to an International School. Parents are close to 50.

Hoping it works out. This country has given me a lot, and I can't call it anything else but home at this point!

Well, there you go. You have now already stated two factors that could have been a considerable factor in the SGC rejection for your family. Studying in international school being a pr is generally not seen as a good sign of integration into society. Parents aging could be a problem but it is natural and not avoidable. However, the reason of SGC rejection for your parents case might be that they might have gotten their pr during the easy times, i.e., before 2008. So once they apply for sgc, they might have been evaluated under current tough sgc requirements for indians, which they might not have scored well in ICA's assessment. You have not said about your mother's job, and lets say if she is not working or has been a homemaker all these years, then that could have lead to a straight rejection for sgc.

You have good chance to get sgc in my opinion, but that is only possible if you come back to sg after finishing undergrad and settle here.

[bewildered18]

Thanks @NYY1 and @hopeislife for taking the time to respond! I applied towards the end of Feb. Recently received an internship offer in SG and will be returning for the summer. Am I supposed to upload my contract/employment letter on the portal?

Cheers

[hopeislife]

Thanks @NYY1 and @hopeislife for taking the time to respond! I applied towards the end of Feb. Recently received an internship offer in SG and will be returning for the summer. Am I supposed to upload my contract/employment letter on the portal?

Cheers

Should be ok to update it in the portal I guess. Especially if the internship is 3 to 4 months or more.

[bewildered18]

Update: Been close to 5 months and no response. Apparently, NS buddies received their SC within 4 months of application.

[Addadude]

Update: Been close to 5 months and no response. Apparently, NS buddies received their SC within 4 months of application.

From https://www.ica.gov.sg/reside/citizenship -

"Applications will be processed within 12 months, provided all the required documents are submitted and are in order. For children born overseas to Singapore citizens, the application will be processed within 2 months. For multiple products applied for within a single application, the processing time will be based on the product with the longer processing time. Some applications may take longer to process."

You are still well within the approval time frame. Bear with it and be patient. I'm assuming your NS buddies were from the 'blessed demographic'.

[bewildered18]

Approved!

[Addadude]

Approved!

Congratulations!