Contemplating dual US-SG citizenship for child

[MOCHS]

So… hubby and I are contributing to the TFR and expecting a boy.

Unlike majority of SG-US couplings, we are the opposite where we are highly likely to live out our lives in SG. We are okay with our son going through NS even though my dad and my brother are negative towards NS in general ‘cos they had bad experiences

I feel NS builds character and independence.

Hubby has lived in small towns all his life, never lived or worked in any big cities in the US, and not in any lucrative industries that has better opportunities in the US. He earns more here than he did back in the US. Hardly an “expat” in the traditional sense. I also would earn better here than in the US.

Anyway, should we apply dual US-SG citizenship for our son after he’s born? He will be a Singaporean for sure but applying for American citizenship is a question mark. Hubby doesn’t think too highly of his homeland at the moment and is iffy about US citizenship for our boy.

We know he has to renounce one when he comes of age.

I’m okay with giving him dual citizenship since we can’t predict the future and we won’t know if he ever would wanna study there.

What are your thoughts? Worth it to go through the ultra strict security check at the American embassy in SG for this?

[malcontent]

If I were in your situation, I would not apply for US citizenship. Under current law, your child has the right to claim their US citizenship at anytime, for the rest of their life. They have the CRBA route until age 18, but there are other easy routes after that. All that they need is proof that their US parent was present in the U.S. for at least 5 years, with at least 2 of those years after turning 14.

There are many unforeseeable situations where you (or he) might decide it is best to claim U.S. citizenship later on, but I see zero benefit to doing that now given your fact pattern. His claim US citizenship has no expiry, doing it now will only complicate things and force an eventual renunciation.

Where this can get a little murky… I believe in the eyes of the U.S. government, they will be a U.S. citizen at birth even if it goes unclaimed. That means worldwide tax and reporting obligations are technically required — just something to keep in mind if they decide to claim it later in life after they start working.

[MOCHS]

I know CRBA is until 18 but wasn’t aware he could still claim US citizenship past that age too.

But SG wouldn’t allow dual citizenship past 21, anyway?

[malcontent]

I know CRBA is until 18 but wasn’t aware he could still claim US citizenship past that age too.

But SG wouldn’t allow dual citizenship past 21, anyway?

The fact that SG does not allow dual citizenship past 21 is exactly why I would not “exercise his right” to another citizenship now. By keeping that bullet safely in the chamber, he is not forced to decide at 21 and can keep the option to pull that trigger any time over his lifetime. He may decide to never do it.

I am not sure exactly what box he has to tick on Singapore passport renewal after age 21, I believe @sundaymorningstaple knows for sure — I thought it was simply to certify that he doesn’t have any other passports. You can have him renew just before age 21 to extend that box ticking exercise well beyond 21 — but if he hasn’t claimed another citizenship by that time, he won’t be perjuring himself.

Most people who didn’t get a CRBA by 18 will apply for a certificate of citizenship (N-600) instead. He could also simply apply for a passport, but passports expire and most people prefer to have a permanent proof. Just remember, he technically is a citizen at birth, even if he isn’t claiming it. If he never does, it’s a moot point — but if he does, then the tax and reporting obligations are retroactive, but not unresolvable (and really only applies later in life when income/assets reach thresholds).

[jumoo]

Keeping the option open makes the most sense. If he can still claim US citizenship later, there's little advantage in forcing the decision at 21 when his future plans might be completely different.