Advice needed in case of future choice to renounce SG citizenship

[ScaredParent]

I am Singaporean Citizen (no other citizenship) with a US citizen wife. I have lived an worked in the US for decades after completing my own NS. We have a son born in the US with US citizenship. We were very excited to make sure he grows up with half his heritage. Within his first year of age, we got him SG citizenship with the misunderstanding that he can renounce at age 13 if he has not developed any significant connections/affections with Singapore to want to choose it over US citizenship.

What we just learned recently is that the renounciation process is not automatic but an application that can be denied. My wife and I are panicking now because in wanting to give him options, we did not do enough research and inadvertently locked him into NS liability.

According to a phonecall to CMPB general inquiry line, what we understand is that:
- once he turns 13, CMPB will send him a letter telling him to set up an account at the portal.
- We then have 1 month to register and announce his intent to renounce (if that is the case).
- Then we have to write in/email CMPB to *apply* for a deferral of NS until 21 with the intent to renounce. ---> This is the part that scares us.
- *If* approved to defer till 21 in anticipation of renounciation of Citizen, we need to apply annually for exit permit until 21.

He is now 4. He does have SG passport which he only used once when he was 1 year-old to enter and exit SG and that has been his only trip to SG so far. Never used the passport anywhere else. He does have CDA account, all funds given by the government still sit in the account and have never been touched. In the past 4 years, our lives have settled in more where we are and we have no plans in the foreseeable future to move to SG, attend school in SG, or for him to spend any more than a week a year for visiting family.

**I would like to seek advice on what we should do or not do to optimize his chance of getting his NS deferred to 21 on account of intention to renounce citizenship when he turns 21 (if we choose to). Example:
--- Not use SG passport anymore.
--- Surrender SG passport back to ICA?
--- Not use any CDA baby bonus funds.
--- return the CDA baby bonus funds (if possible)?
--- Should I preemptively write in to CMPB on the day of his 13th birthday announcing choice to renounce and request NS deferment?

Thank you everyone.

[malcontent]

It’s been a while since this was discussed in great detail on this board, but if my memory serves me right, the steps you’ve outlined appear correct.

There is always a risk they can deny you, but if you follow all the steps and meet the deadlines, I recall our most authoritative voice on the topic said: they will almost always approve… if they deny you, then they just don’t like you. That comment really stuck in my mind.

Your case seems straightforward, but I detect some hesitation in your post? I’m sure you realize he would eventually have to give up US citizenship to make his NS count for something.

That is the unfortunate thing about dual citizenship in Singapore. Wouldn’t it be great if they would allow dual citizenship for anyone who fulfill NS? That might cut down the thousands of renunciations each year.

[ScaredParent]

It’s been a while since this was discussed in great detail on this board, but if my memory serves me right, the steps you’ve outlined appear correct.

There is always a risk they can deny you, but if you follow all the steps and meet the deadlines, I recall our most authoritative voice on the topic said: they will almost always approve… if they deny you, then they just don’t like you. That comment really stuck in my mind.

Your case seems straightforward, but I detect some hesitation in your post? I’m sure you realize he would eventually have to give up US citizenship to make his NS count for something.

That is the unfortunate thing about dual citizenship in Singapore. Wouldn’t it be great if they would allow dual citizenship for anyone who fulfill NS? That might cut down the thousands of renunciations each year.

Thank you for the response. We just want to know the steps and deadlines ahead of time so we can get documents in order and know not to miss them. It's just not published online.

And yes, there is some hesitation. When my son was born I was so excited to impart my Singaporean heritage with the possibility of moving all of us home. But as he's grown we're developing deeper roots here through him, and that enthusiasm and probability of moving home is tempered. I'm still not ruling it out though, hence the hesitation.

Yes, giving up US citizenship is another big piece of the puzzle. That's a very big hurdle. In hindsight, I should have just not applied for citizenship and wait to see if a PR status is needed. But hindsight is always 20/20.

[malcontent]

I knew a couple, Singaporean and U.S. citizen who lived in Singapore and were having a son. They only found out in the 3rd trimester that if he was born in Singapore he would automatically be a citizen because one parent is Singaporean. Since they had plans to move permanently to the US, they decided at the last minute to give birth in the US. The challenge was, no doctor in Singapore was willing to sign off on letting her fly, so they had to get a US doctor to sign off. Fortunately the US citizen parent had US medical coverage that paid all the bills. A few years after that, they moved to the US and eventually gave birth to another son. I can’t imagine how they would have gotten the first son back to Singapore for NS… he’s close to age 13 now.

[Cyqi]

Hi, I am wondering how you have progressed with your case? what advice did you get from CMPB. Do they allow the process as you suggested in your post?

[ScaredParent]

Hi, I am wondering how you have progressed with your case? what advice did you get from CMPB. Do they allow the process as you suggested in your post?

Hi, the person on the phone basically said what we already know here in the forum, she also offered to escalate it to a higher up officer to reply to my specific questions. And the gist of it is this:

"Your son may apply for deferment from full-time NS, pending renunciation of his Singapore Citizenship, after he has turned 13 years old and is subject to the Enlistment Act. We seek your understanding that MINDEF is unable to assess his case at this point in time.

Each application is assessed based on circumstances of the case. Please note that MINDEF considers the following factors when assessing applications for deferment from full-time NS, pending renunciation of Singapore Citizenship:

- An individual’s family ties to Singapore
- The extent to which an individual has enjoyed citizenship privileges, including possession or use of the Singapore passport
- The extent to which an individual has sunk roots in Singapore"

so, based on that, best we can do is what we thought:
--- Not use SG passport anymore.
--- Surrender SG passport back to ICA ----> we're just going to let it lapse and not renew
--- Not use any CDA baby bonus funds
--- return the CDA baby bonus funds (if possible)? ----> after some digging, I learned this is not returnable. It'll just sit in the account.
--- Should I preemptively write in to CMPB on the day of his 13th birthday announcing choice to renounce and request NS deferment? ----> the person on the phone did say to write in to let CMPB know (better to be proactive than to wait for them to send a letter which may or may not make it to us).

Hope this helps. Any other feedback or suggestions from anyone is much appreciated too.

[PNGMK]

They will never give a firm answer.

My feeling is you will be ok.

[Mad Scientist]

See reply in blue
According to a phonecall to CMPB general inquiry line, what we understand is that:
- once he turns 13, CMPB will send him a letter telling him to set up an account at the portal.
Send a letter before that on your intention to renounce so that they have a record of the comms
- We then have 1 month to register and announce his intent to renounce (if that is the case).
Yes
- Then we have to write in/email CMPB to *apply* for a deferral of NS until 21 with the intent to renounce. ---> This is the part that scares us.
if you send that email before he turns 12 , that reference number will be your lifeline.
A standard SOP reply will be send. Do not be afraid.

- *If* approved to defer till 21 in anticipation of renounciation of Citizen, we need to apply annually for exit permit until 21.
Yes, and you have to renounce your SG citizenship before that to cut any loose ends !!

He is now 4. He does have SG passport which he only used once when he was 1 year-old to enter and exit SG and that has been his only trip to SG so far. Never used the passport anywhere else. He does have CDA account, all funds given by the government still sit in the account and have never been touched. In the past 4 years, our lives have settled in more where we are and we have no plans in the foreseeable future to move to SG, attend school in SG, or for him to spend any more than a week a year for visiting family.

**I would like to seek advice on what we should do or not do to optimize his chance of getting his NS deferred to 21 on account of intention to renounce citizenship when he turns 21 (if we choose to). Example:
--- Not use SG passport anymore.
Ditch it
--- Surrender SG passport back to ICA?
Yup
--- Not use any CDA baby bonus funds.
--- return the CDA baby bonus funds (if possible)?
Not sure but best not to use it as this is way after my time
--- Should I preemptively write in to CMPB on the day of his 13th birthday announcing choice to renounce and request NS deferment?
Before that matey, be pro-active . Read the minds of those with a 10 year series exam paper in front of them and you will win the battle

Thank you everyone.