This is a somewhat unique situation that I have not been able to
find an answer to on the CMP website. I emigrated from Singapore to
the US with my family at the age of 8 yrs 10 months in 1989. I
returned briefly in 1994 at the age of 13 on a short family
vacation. While on that short vacation in Singapore, my family
obtained an IC for me. After returning from the vacation, I have
not returned to Singapore since (though my parents did file for NS
deferment when I approached 16 yrs of age). After I finished my
high school education in the US, I decided not to return to
Singapore for my National Service and instead continued my
education by attending an University in the US. At that time, I was
also nationalized as a US citizen with US passport and sought to
renounce my Singapore citizenship via an email request (so not an
actual appeal proceeding), which was subsequently denied. I, thus,
became a National Service Defaulter. In any case, I then attended
graduate school after my undergraduate training and attained a PhD
in Medical Neuropharmacology.
My question is, since I emigrated from Singapore at 8 yrs 10 months
and thus did not enjoyed significant socio-economic benefits of
citizenship, will i have any success in the actual appeal process
to renounce my citizen, escape National Service Default status with
no punitive punishments and still be allowed to visit families in
Singapore? does returning to singapore on a short family vacation
and getting the IC while on that vacation (after 5 yrs of living in
the US) then immediately leaving and not returning since 1993
constitute "enjoyed significant socio-economic benefits of
citizenship"? What were the socio-economic benefits of citizenship?
The IC? It didn't exactly help me in any way at all in the US. Do I
have grounds for a successful appeal?
"National service-liable males who migrated from Singapore
before age 11 and have not enjoyed significant socio-economic
benefits of citizenship (e.g., applied for a Singapore identity
card or studied in Singapore beyond the age of 11) are allowed to
renounce their Singapore citizenship if they do not wish to fulfill
their NS obligations. They will be required to register for
national service with Central Manpower Base and apply for deferment
from full-time NS until the age of 21, pending the renunciation of
their Singapore citizenship. They can continue to make short social
visits to Singapore and will not be required to serve NS if they
renounced their citizenship at age 21. "