Does Baby Bonus affect exemption from NS?

[snuggleball]

Background: We are/were SG citizens. We had recently gained foreign citizenships, and just started the SG renunciation process. We have 2 sons, aged 9 & 6, both born in SG. We left SG 5 years ago.

We will be following the recommended steps to gain exemption from NS for our sons to the letter (ie, at age 11/13, 16.5/17.5, 21, etc).


Questions:
1) We had previously accepted the Baby Bonus for our 2nd son, and probably some cash bonus ($1k? so many years ago, can't remember now). Would that be used against him in future when applying for his exemption from NS? ie, is it considered as having enjoyed "socio-economic benefits"?

If so, could we refund the government matched funds?
If so, should we do it immediately, or wait till we need to cross that bridge?

Unrelated to our situation... I understand if a child leaves SG before 11yo and had gained a foreign citizenship by then, and provided the parents followed the "steps", he is "safe" from NS. By then, that child might have had enjoyed ~4 years of Primary education. From the discussions in the various threads here, it appears the child had not enjoyed significant socio-economic benefits(?) Back to our situation, accepting the Baby Bonus appears to have a smaller impact than 4 years of SG education(?) Would that pose an adverse threat to his NS exemption application?

2) Once our SG renunciation is approved, and our CPF withdrawn, is it too early for us to write in to CMPB to indicate our sons had gained foreign citizenships, their parents have renounced their SG citizenships, and they have intentions to renounce theirs too at 21? As mentioned, they are aged 9 & 6 now. Our understanding is to send that letter before the child turns 11yo. Is sending it at 6yo "too early"?

[snuggleball]

To add, I understand there was another similar post on this which received grief from the replies.

To clarify, it was not our intention to take advantage of SG and run. We were using the Baby Bonus for preschool expenses for our older son during the first year of our younger son, living a typical SG life. We had not expected we would find an opportunity to leave SG shortly after, so we took the whirlwind leap. We are now wondering if taking up the Baby Bonus then, had inadvertently sealed the fate of our son/s w.r.t. NS. Would appreciate input.

[Mad Scientist]

Background: We are/were SG citizens. We had recently gained foreign citizenships, and just started the SG renunciation process. We have 2 sons, aged 9 & 6, both born in SG. We left SG 5 years ago.

OK understood

We will be following the recommended steps to gain exemption from NS for our sons to the letter (ie, at age 11/13, 16.5/17.5, 21, etc).

Good on you and make sure you update yourself with any changes in SG
www.ns.sg, www.mindef.gov.sg, www.mha.gov.sg and www.ica.gov.sg



Questions:
1) We had previously accepted the Baby Bonus for our 2nd son, and probably some cash bonus ($1k? so many years ago, can't remember now). Would that be used against him in future when applying for his exemption from NS? ie, is it considered as having enjoyed "socio-economic benefits"?

Yes and no.This is a two part
1. Yes you have enjoyed having SG PP and baby bonus etc
2. No, as the guideline is you must leave before 11 yrs of age and not travel back to SG using SG PP after 11/13 yrs of age. Having the SG PP and using it is considered enjoying socio economic benefit after that age.

If so, could we refund the government matched funds?
If so, should we do it immediately, or wait till we need to cross that bridge?

DO not worry about it. They will ask you to refund if need be. To my small pea brain it is not a major

Unrelated to our situation... I understand if a child leaves SG before 11yo and had gained a foreign citizenship by then, and provided the parents followed the "steps", he is "safe" from NS. By then, that child might have had enjoyed ~4 years of Primary education. From the discussions in the various threads here, it appears the child had not enjoyed significant socio-economic benefits(?)

Yes this is correct

Back to our situation, accepting the Baby Bonus appears to have a smaller impact than 4 years of SG education(?) Would that pose an adverse threat to his NS exemption application?

IMHO not really

2) Once our SG renunciation is approved, and our CPF withdrawn,

It takes about 6 weeks for CAB/ ICA to approve, then on you have to download the CPF form and do all those notarisation all over again to be submitted to CPF. It takes about one month for them to authenticate in one deparment. Then on it will proceed to Account Department for the release of your golden eggssssssss.

is it too early for us to write in to CMPB to indicate our sons had gained foreign citizenships, their parents have renounced their SG citizenships, and they have intentions to renounce theirs too at 21? As mentioned, they are aged 9 & 6 now. Our understanding is to send that letter before the child turns 11yo. Is sending it at 6yo "too early"?

Once you have yours(both parent) sorted, then on send a letter to ICA and Mindef via snail mail with a returning address stating that your two sons and the whole family has gained foreign citizenship. Both of you have renounced your SG citizenship yadda yadda yadda
Attached copies of all your foreign citizenship , PP , your sons admission letter from school, academic achievement. THE WHOLE SHEBANG !!
make sure provide them everything that you might feel is important for the DEFERMENT PROCESS WHICH WILL Be Forwarded to Application of Deferment prior renounciation at the age of 21 docs.
At this stage ICA will inform you that they have forwarded your request to Mindef. Mindef will inform you that they are not able to capture your sons BC since they are under 13. 13 will be the magic number to apply for Exit Permit etc although you have submitted the applications for deferment and renounciation. Hence there will be a ref file for you for future correspondences.
They will not process your application until your son reach the age of 13. You must apply EP at 13 . If you fail to register after 2 months your son turns 13, you are in violation of EP and you can kiss goodbye your applications for renounciation.

Now turning to your 6 yrs old son. Under the law a child can hold dual citizenship before the age of 5. ICA may choose to accept this renounciation if your child received his foreign citizenship before that age

[Mad Scientist]

To add, I understand there was another similar post on this which received grief from the replies.

To clarify, it was not our intention to take advantage of SG and run. We were using the Baby Bonus for preschool expenses for our older son during the first year of our younger son, living a typical SG life. We had not expected we would find an opportunity to leave SG shortly after, so we took the whirlwind leap. We are now wondering if taking up the Baby Bonus then, had inadvertently sealed the fate of our son/s w.r.t. NS. Would appreciate input.

Do not worry about it . Under the Enlistment Act Cap 93; baby bonus is NOT inside the clause of violations.
EXIT PERMIT , using SG PP after 13, Pink IC.

[snuggleball]

MS, thank you SO MUCH for making the effort to reply. I want you to know that I truly, truly appreciate that! Sorry for taking so long to thank you. The whole SG citizenship renunciation process took a big chunk of our attention. To top, we just relocated to *another* country. I kept your reply at the front of my inbox, as a constant reminder that it is due to people like you, that people like us found freedom.

I read you are/were in Christchurch? Do you live there? *wave*

(Please feel free to ignore the last question if you prefer privacy. I understand )

[Mad Scientist]

No worries, I am here to help

CHCH is only work with CERA. I live on the other side of the world