NS Defaulter 40+ yr old

[OneGoodSon]

Hello all,

I'm one of these NS defaulters. Left at the age of 17 for the US. Now I'm 45 years old.

My questions are:
1) Can I renounce my Singapore citizenship now that I'm over 40 years old? It seems the Enlistment Act does not apply anymore after 40. If so, is there any benefit to doing that.
2) Should I contact Mindef or CMPB? Could they tell me what the exact penalty is before I ever land in Singapore? Incarceration is not an option for me, as I have to provide for my kids.
3) Can there be other forms of amends besides incarceration? Community service, etc.

OneGoodSon

[offshoreoildude]

Re Point 2. You could contact Mindef and CIMB but I doubt they will tell you that much. I would contact them anonymously.

Are you still a Singapore citizen? Have you been renewing your Red PP? (Sorry that wasn't clear to me).

[OneGoodSon]

I still have my Singapore passport, which is why I asked about possibly renouncing it. But since I left Singapore I haven't used or renewed it.

[offshoreoildude]

I still have my Singapore passport, which is why I asked about possibly renouncing it. But since I left Singapore I haven't used or renewed it.

Have you formally renounced your Singapore citizenship? Have you given the Singapore government any notice that you are now (presumably) a citizen of the USA?

[OneGoodSon]

I still have my Singapore passport, which is why I asked about possibly renouncing it. But since I left Singapore I haven't used or renewed it.

Have you formally renounced your Singapore citizenship? Have you given the Singapore government any notice that you are now (presumably) a citizen of the USA?

Nope. Since I left, I have not communicated with the Singapore government in any way. And yes I have US citizenship now.

[offshoreoildude]

I still have my Singapore passport, which is why I asked about possibly renouncing it. But since I left Singapore I haven't used or renewed it.

Have you formally renounced your Singapore citizenship? Have you given the Singapore government any notice that you are now (presumably) a citizen of the USA?

Nope. Since I left, I have not communicated with the Singapore government in any way. And yes I have US citizenship now.

Well that's curious. I have no idea of what status you would be now. You may even be in the unfortunate situation of being an illegal dual citizen (in Singapore eyes). Did your parents inform the Singapore government they were migrating. Did they cash their CPF in? This would have required them to cancel their SC which means possibly yours was as well.

[offshoreoildude]

The reason I ask these questions about your parents status is that it's possible you are NOT a SC from the time of migration which really means you're not likely to be a NS defaulter.

I just reread your orginal post OP - I thought you'd left at 7 - however leaving at 17 is a problem!

[offshoreoildude]

At this point I would be inclined to contact ICA to determine your SC status. You may have to get someone in Singapore to do it for you;

http://www.ica.gov.sg/page.aspx?pageid=135

[OneGoodSon]

At this point I would be inclined to contact ICA to determine your SC status. You may have to get someone in Singapore to do it for you;

http://www.ica.gov.sg/page.aspx?pageid=135

I'm definitely still an SC because they do not allow renuncification if there is still NS liability. Which is why I'm asking my question #1.

[sundaymorningstaple]

This is a question for Mad Scientist to answer as he's the only one with tentacles long enough to get something hard for you. You have probably already seen a number of his posts re the NS issues.

I'm sure he'll see this and hopefully give you something positive (although, I'm pretty sure there will be money exchanging hands via a substantial fine at the very least.

But, let's let MS handle this one.

sms

[Mad Scientist]

I need more info in order to get concrete advise eg
When you left , what for the whole shebang
Have you served NS or being call up for NS
Parents has they been pursued by MIndef on your disappearance to US

BTW you are still a Sger whether you like it or not

I hazard to guess with so little info

[OneGoodSon]

I need more info in order to get concrete advise eg
When you left , what for the whole shebang
Have you served NS or being call up for NS
Parents has they been pursued by MIndef on your disappearance to US

BTW you are still a Sger whether you like it or not

I hazard to guess with so little info

I left Singapore at 17 after first year of JC, never served NS. My whole family emigrated to US. We didn't pay the bond as we couldn't afford to. Don't think my dad got pursued by Mindef for the few months he was still in Singapore to sell the flat and renounce his SC to get CPF after we left. Thanks MS.

[Mad Scientist]

Again you leave me with so little info to work on.

Did you get the NS check up when you turned 17?

Mindef cannot get hold of you and they do not know where to locate you and your family as the NS enlistment only starts when you turned 18.
The Mindef system like any other gahmen service works like clockwork with a 10 year series beside them.
Hence your name is classified as NS defaulter if you have gone for check up which you had as back then in the 80s the medical check up is at about 17 years old but did not turn up for NS enlistment.
When you left JC, you had to give reason for leaving your JC and this will be forwarded to MOE and ICA too as in your case as you are leaving for SG good
Moreover you went to JC.
You admitted about the bond issues which back then was about $25K which means your family must have come across this or contacted Mindef. In the 80s , it is more of hush hush on the bond issues.
Your SG PP back then is 10 years validity hence you should have enough time to acquire your green card and then on apply for US citizenship before the SG PP expires which means you did not renew your SG PP once you left SG.
I think you have not step back into SG with your SG PP or even US PP
Your case is similar to piano man.
Whilst he got slap on the hand, you may not get the same treatment.
A fine of $10 K or 3 years jail or both is the sentence meted out for defaulters. More and more are getting the jail term for scooting.
Your parent did a very calculative risk and if I can see this so does the judge

Correct me if I am wrong and only then we can go forward. If you cannot help me , I cannot help you

[OneGoodSon]

Again you leave me with so little info to work on.

Did you get the NS check up when you turned 17?

Mindef cannot get hold of you and they do not know where to locate you and your family as the NS enlistment only starts when you turned 18.
The Mindef system like any other gahmen service works like clockwork with a 10 year series beside them.
Hence your name is classified as NS defaulter if you have gone for check up which you had as back then in the 80s the medical check up is at about 17 years old but did not turn up for NS enlistment.
When you left JC, you had to give reason for leaving your JC and this will be forwarded to MOE and ICA too as in your case as you are leaving for SG good
Moreover you went to JC.
You admitted about the bond issues which back then was about $25K which means your family must have come across this or contacted Mindef. In the 80s , it is more of hush hush on the bond issues.
Your SG PP back then is 10 years validity hence you should have enough time to acquire your green card and then on apply for US citizenship before the SG PP expires which means you did not renew your SG PP once you left SG.
I think you have not step back into SG with your SG PP or even US PP
Your case is similar to piano man.
Whilst he got slap on the hand, you may not get the same treatment.
A fine of $10 K or 3 years jail or both is the sentence meted out for defaulters. More and more are getting the jail term for scooting.
Your parent did a very calculative risk and if I can see this so does the judge

Correct me if I am wrong and only then we can go forward. If you cannot help me , I cannot help you

I don't recall going for the NS check up. Let's assume the worst scenario and say I had it. I remembered going to some event prepping the students for NS.

You are correct in all you said above. I've never traveled with SG passport after. I haven't set foot in SG since the 80's. However I have US passport now and I travel with this.

Yes my case is similar to Melvyn Tan. Only that we didn't pay the bond, and we didn't inform MinDef we were emigrating, and I left later at 17 yr old.

When we emigrated halfway through my JC, the reason we gave was we were going for vacation. My classmates knew I was emigrating, but not my teachers. Both my dad and I had return air tickets to prove I was coming back after the Xmas break.

[sundaymorningstaple]

When we emigrated halfway through my JC, the reason we gave was we were going for vacation. My classmates knew I was emigrating, but not my teachers. Both my dad and I had return air tickets to prove I was coming back after the Xmas break.

Ouch.