My citizenship journey

[malcontent]

Thanks for sharing smoulder. I never would have guessed you would do all of those things.

It also makes me think, after living more than half of my life here, shouldn’t I be considering it at some point? Definitely not the right time now, but under the right circumstances in the future… who knows. Just have to take life step by step.

I recall you mentioning that you plan to return to the US when your daughter goes to college? If that's the case, why would you bother seeking citizenship?

That’s why now is not the right time. It would be post-retirement, similar to SMS.

There are certain privileges that US citizenship brings, including the ability to get a green card for my wife so that we can all move over there together while our kids are in college and enjoy significant savings on in-state tuition.

We also need to live in the US for a minimum 5 years so that my wife can get coverage under my Social Security (I’ve been paying all these years - working in Singapore for a US company that insisted on covering US citizens). Her spousal benefits will be at least equal to CPF LIFE at ERS, and if anything happens me, she will get my full benefit (double CPF LIFE at ERS) for the rest of her life. The coverage applies even to a non-US citizen living overseas.

One other benefit that my kids will pick up by living there during their college years is the ability to transmit citizenship to an overseas born child if they marry a non-US citizen.

[jalanjalan]

Most definitely. It's cheap and can be made in big batches so I wouldn't be surprised. I'm still looking for this drink I was served once at a random cc function a couple years back. The mystery liquid had no name or label, and was served out of one of those big brown vats with the spout that you can serve yourself with. It was kind of milky in color, and fairly thick with a slight citrusy flavor. Anybody know what this might be? It was delicious.

One never truly knows what's in those big brown vats...
Some kind of lime juice cordial maybe?

Definitely not lime, it was sort of a milky, translucent liquid.

soursop cordial? was craving soursop and this just occurred to me

[Lisafuller]

Thanks for sharing smoulder. I never would have guessed you would do all of those things.

It also makes me think, after living more than half of my life here, shouldn’t I be considering it at some point? Definitely not the right time now, but under the right circumstances in the future… who knows. Just have to take life step by step.

I recall you mentioning that you plan to return to the US when your daughter goes to college? If that's the case, why would you bother seeking citizenship?

That’s why now is not the right time. It would be post-retirement, similar to SMS.

There are certain privileges that US citizenship brings, including the ability to get a green card for my wife so that we can all move over there together while our kids are in college and enjoy significant savings on in-state tuition.

We also need to live in the US for a minimum 5 years so that my wife can get coverage under my Social Security (I’ve been paying all these years - working in Singapore for a US company that insisted on covering US citizens). Her spousal benefits will be at least equal to CPF LIFE at ERS, and if anything happens me, she will get my full benefit (double CPF LIFE at ERS) for the rest of her life. The coverage applies even to a non-US citizen living overseas.

One other benefit that my kids will pick up by living there during their college years is the ability to transmit citizenship to an overseas born child if they marry a non-US citizen.

Same way my daughter got citizenship (she was born at Mt E). I take it then you don't plan to move to the US when your daughter goes to college?

[Lisafuller]

One never truly knows what's in those big brown vats...
Some kind of lime juice cordial maybe?

Definitely not lime, it was sort of a milky, translucent liquid.

soursop cordial? was craving soursop and this just occurred to me

Seems like it would be too exotic to be served at a function. I think they'd serve something that's more approachable and palatable to the general crowd. Honestly though, I don't even remember what soursop tastes like, last time I had the juice was years ago.

[malcontent]

Same way my daughter got citizenship (she was born at Mt E). I take it then you don't plan to move to the US when your daughter goes to college?

My daughter starts college in the fall of 2024. I already submitted a petition for my spouse back in Feb this year — it should be approved by early 2023, then we will apply for her green card, which will take another 8-12 months. It now takes roughly 2 years to complete the entire process, which has increased since I filed in Feb, so it’s good that I started early.

My daughter takes the SAT on Dec 3 we will all be in California visiting some target schools a week after that.

[malcontent]

Same way my daughter got citizenship (she was born at Mt E). I take it then you don't plan to move to the US when your daughter goes to college?

How is your daughter doing? Did I remember correctly that she took a gap year? If yes, is she enjoying it? When will she start college? Did she already confirm which college she will attend?

[Lisafuller]

Same way my daughter got citizenship (she was born at Mt E). I take it then you don't plan to move to the US when your daughter goes to college?

My daughter starts college in the fall of 2024. I already submitted a petition for my spouse back in Feb this year — it should be approved by early 2023, then we will apply for her green card, which will take another 8-12 months. It now takes roughly 2 years to complete the entire process, which has increased since I filed in Feb, so it’s good that I started early.

My daughter takes the SAT on Dec 3 we will all be in California visiting some target schools a week after that.

No way! My daughter is taking the SAT on December 3 as well, at Stamford American. She took it last year, but wanted to give herself her best shot scorewise.

[Lisafuller]

Same way my daughter got citizenship (she was born at Mt E). I take it then you don't plan to move to the US when your daughter goes to college?

How is your daughter doing? Did I remember correctly that she took a gap year? If yes, is she enjoying it? When will she start college? Did she already confirm which college she will attend?

She's loving her gap year, this year she did an internship at a publication that she's been a fan of for years, tutored creative writing every weekend, and very recently finished writing a book. She really seems to be coming into her own, so I could not be more proud. She's currently in the process of re-applying to college, last year she was accepted to a number of schools, but did not choose to hold a place as she was not ready to commit anywhere. It's a good thing she did as it seems like the list of schools she's applying to this year are vastly different from those which she was interested in last year. She will be entering college in the fall of 2023, and seeing how fast this year passed us by, I'm sure that time will be here before I even know it so I'm trying to maximize our time together until then.

[yoongcy421]

Hi everyone, just gotten my IPA letter for citizenship but I will be overseas until early Feb.
Anyone knows if all 3 section of the SGjourney can be completed online now?

I saw some forum/blogs saying they were all online.

[smoulder]

Hi everyone, just gotten my IPA letter for citizenship but I will be overseas until early Feb.
Anyone knows if all 3 section of the SGjourney can be completed online now?

I saw some forum/blogs saying they were all online.

I don't know what's the time frame for the posts you are referring to, but when I went through the SC Journey around September and Oct, out of the 3 tasks, only 1 was online. The other 2 were in person - no other options. I doubt there would be any change to this format given that bringing it online was a result of covid and the covid situation is quite stable at the moment.

If I were you, I'd check with the ICA about my options at this stage.

[Lisafuller]

Hi everyone, just gotten my IPA letter for citizenship but I will be overseas until early Feb.
Anyone knows if all 3 section of the SGjourney can be completed online now?

I saw some forum/blogs saying they were all online.

Congrats! Not online.

[kopikosongdude]

Congrats! Agree with smoulder. If you really can't meet the deadline in the IPA letter, call or write to ICA explaining your circumstances and am sure they will work something out for you. Otherwise, the activities calendar is fairly spread out so you might just be able to squeeze the SEV & CSS in upon your return to SG.

@smoulder - thank you for being so generous with the details of your journey!

Hi everyone, just gotten my IPA letter for citizenship but I will be overseas until early Feb.
Anyone knows if all 3 section of the SGjourney can be completed online now?

I saw some forum/blogs saying they were all online.

I don't know what's the time frame for the posts you are referring to, but when I went through the SC Journey around September and Oct, out of the 3 tasks, only 1 was online. The other 2 were in person - no other options. I doubt there would be any change to this format given that bringing it online was a result of covid and the covid situation is quite stable at the moment.

If I were you, I'd check with the ICA about my options at this stage.

[kopikosongdude]

Hi, can anyone kindly share what documents does ICA require during Stage 3 of the SGC process? Thanks!

[singaporeflyer]

Hi, can anyone kindly share what documents does ICA require during Stage 3 of the SGC process? Thanks!

Did ICA not share the list with you via an email/letter? I think you should focus on list in the letter rather than asking here, mainly because what if something changes?

[kopikosongdude]

Thanks, will definitely focus on the letter when it comes. Right now, just seeking broad guidance to prepare in advance, like making more copies of common documents also needed for renunciation. Appreciate any insight, thanks!

Hi, can anyone kindly share what documents does ICA require during Stage 3 of the SGC process? Thanks!

Did ICA not share the list with you via an email/letter? I think you should focus on list in the letter rather than asking here, mainly because what if something changes?