Singapore Expats

Okay, here's my current situation. I'm 14 and have lived in the U.S. for more than 10 years, so I left Singapore around when I was 4 years old with my family. But, I've just become a citizen of the U.S. when I was 13 and am now holding a dual citizenship with a U.S. passport. I want to avoid joining NS when I turn 18, as spending two years there will somewhat delay my education here in the U.S., and now I can't even go back to Singapore at my age as Singapore is now requesting $75,000 from my parents as a way to make sure that I will return to Singapore when the time comes to join NS. So, my question is that is there any hope for me to return to Singapore one day without having to serve in NS? Please note that I've renewed my Singapore passport before I got my U.S. passport a total of two times. I just don't see why I should have to serve in NS because I left the country at 4 years old, so therefore I never received a significant amount of benefits from the government at all.

If your parents have filed a notice with Mindef timely noting your intent to renounce then you shouldn't have to much problem. However, the fact that you have continued to renew you Singapore Passport means you HAVE enjoyed the socio-economic benefits of Singapore. Holding that Passport has made it easy for you to go to the US and to gain Citizenship. Holding that passport also would allow you to freely go to certain countries that US citizens cannot freely or easily go without visas. So, I think I would be asking my parents why they didn't follow protocol for your future. I also think getting in touch directly with the Ministry of Home Affairs/Mindef might be a good idea to see if there is a way around it.

Is there an email address my parents can use to contact the ministry of defense? Also, I heard about this NS Deferment I can request for. Is that a solution?

Good Luck. So many youths today are being caught because of their parents neglect in their headlong quest to run away from Singapore.

http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/header ... _info.html

http://www.mfa.gov.sg/

One more question please. I appreciate the help by the way, as I now feel one step closer to going back to Singapore. I read in another thread by the guy who successfully got an NS Deferment for his son that an exit permit is still required even if his son was granted the NS Deferment. So, does that mean that my parents will still have to pay the $75,000 or is there another way around it?

There is really no legal way out of NS for you. From 11 to 13 you were a citizen of Singapore only. That is one huge socio-economic benefit right there. You were in the USA under the protection and request of Singapore's government for two years. Wouldn't have been so easy if you were holding a North Korean passport, would it?

I'm not so sure about the financial bond. I believe the financial bond is required for deferment for overseas studies up to Diploma equivalent level. This is different from deferment to renounce, which as I have mentioned is unlikely to be granted in your case. You will still have to return to serve.

actually you are like me apart from the fact that I have renounced my sg. citizenship.

bedok wrote:actually you are like me apart from the fact that I have renounced my sg. citizenship.

Which means you are totally different! You're legal, he's not.

bedok wrote:actually you are like me apart from the fact that I have renounced my sg. citizenship.
I am also afraid to travel to singapore with my canadian passport because it shows singapore as place of birth and I am scared to be considered as a deserter of NS.

One of my daughters also has Singapore listed as her place of birth and neither parent is Singaporean, so that is not necessarily relevant.

Don't think she will be sought after for NS though......

I'll have you know that my three-year old is tougher than some of those pudgy-pasty-speccie boys that can't walk 100 yards they have to schlepp through basic training now.


(Plus she's miles cuter!)

Why doesn't that surprise me!

sundaymorningstaple wrote:Why doesn't that surprise me!

You've met my wife then?! (Both in terms of cuteness and toughness)

Exciting news! CMPB has approved my deferment until renunciation at age 21. I've been given a special exit permit that does not require a bond and will be returning to Singapore this Christmas.

Sing/Malay wrote:Exciting news! CMPB has approved my deferment until renunciation at age 21. I've been given a special exit permit that does not require a bond and will be returning to Singapore this Christmas.

congrats buddy. would be nice if you could chronicle your journey!