National Service - PTS / Investor scheme exemption

[FuturesTrader]

Main applicants who are granted SPR status under the first generation Professionals/Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers (PTS) Scheme or the Investor Scheme are exempted from NS.

I recently gained PR status having previously been on a Dependent's pass (I am British my wife is Singaporean) and I was a bit surprised to receive a computer generated letter last week requiring me to register online for National Service.

The problem seems to be that I do not fit neatly into the exempted PTS or investor categories as I work from home for myself (as a trader). I have brought significant personal wealth into Singapore and we have a house here and a baby girl (registered as a Singaporean).

Before I respond to the MINDEF letter next week, I wanted to check in here to see if anyone else is familiar with this situation and the best approach to take.

For the avoidance of doubt, I do not want to be liable for 40 days service every year until I am 50 (13 years) or 40 for non-officer. [By the way what do the 40 days each year entail? Maybe I should just suck it up, could be fun, I'm an out-doorsy type after all...]

Looks like a I made a bad trade! Advice on the best course of action from this point forward will be very much appreciated. I don't need anyone telling me I'm in a pickle, I know that already.

[sundaymorningstaple]

If your SPR was based on your family connections (your wife being a Singaporean) then you are well and truly screwed. However, a number of things can come into play here.

1. You current age. You would have to register but if you are in your 30's the odds are against you being required to actually serve and you would probably get an exemption.

2. Your race. I've been told that if you are a non-asian then, again, while you have to register, you would probably get an exemption as well.

I was already past my use-by date when I got my PR.

However, neither of the above are any guarantees. Also, I don't think they actually DO 40 days per year but you could be liable. What I see (aside from your 21 months BMT) is a period of usually 15 days once a year and a number of call-ups that can amount to 1 to 3 days. Again, I've not bothered to actually track this sort of thing.

Didn't bother to vote as it could go either way.

[jpatokal]

You might want to start by double-checking with ICA -- I was under the impression that you needed to specify your grounds for PR when you apply, and this may be just a mix up on their part if you were supposed to get a PR on a basis other than being married to a local. Unlikely, but you've got nothing to lose.

On the upside, as SMS says, I don't see Mindef being very interested in putting 37-year-old ang mohs through BMT either.

[FuturesTrader]

Thanks for your replies - there appears to be the common sense get-out clause, given my age and race. Have you ever seen an ang moh in uniform here?

The approach I will take will be to go along with the registration process like a good citizen but appear unusually keen to fire guns and run around in uniform. That should have me exempted in no time.

The irony is I believe NS is a good thing for young men and should probably be reintroduced in the UK - would help solve many problems over there. Didn't expect a call up at 37 though! (Yes, I know it is my fault.)

Thanks again, I'll post with the outcome when I know it.

Now, about that direct flight to Zurich....

[sundaymorningstaple]

Thanks for your replies - there appears to be the common sense get-out clause, given my age and race. Have you ever seen an ang moh in uniform here?

Now, about that direct flight to Zurich....

There have been a couple.

In my day it was an express train to Canada!

[FuturesTrader]

Just to complete this thread - I registered online as advised and the result is that I am not required to do NS (this judgment came back immediately so I guess it was already on file at time of my PR application).

Someone may find this info useful if they find themselves in a similar predicament.

[sundaymorningstaple]

FuturesTrader,

Thanks for the head-up.

I am sure this info will come in handy to somebody else. It's nice when these things get resolved amicably isn't it. Congrats.

sms

[Mochisaw]

Hello,

Just thought I'd add my 2 cents. I too was in the same predicament...wife singaporean, I'm 35 and ABC (American Born Chinese). I did the online registration thing and was notified that I am required to serve. So, I emailed them and attached some medical records and basically asked where I should go to cancel my PR. I got an email a few days later saying I was exempt and needed to go pick up my exemption. So I went and they made me log into the website and do everything again but this time the message was I have been exempted, I collected my exemption and left.
Oh, I needed to supply my wife's citizenship/IC so if anyone has to go in, be sure to bring those (I used a photocopy).