The Rant, 2nd-Anniversary Edition

[Merrytooth 5,748]

so, i have a job offer in singapore, with the same employer but different department. interview was yesterday and they want an answer from me "asap". they have offered to let me take a month off two or three times a year to travel to the US on top of my existing vacation time (amongst some other things like working from home whenever necessary, flex work hours etc). obviously that's still not going to be enough to maintain the residency requirements for my green card.

i'm prepared to give up my green card if i have to and then just go the IR1 route when the time comes to move back...but i am torn between:

a. voluntarily surrendering my green card at the US embassy in singapore; and

b. traveling back and forth a couple times a year and hoping CBP still lets me in. and if they do take my green card away well then i guess i'll just have to go the IR1 route.

if CBP deems that i've abandoned my PR and refuses entry, am i barred from using esta ever again? then again with a US citizen spouse, CBP might not even let me in on the VWP...so...

i guess another option is to get a re-entry permit. i'm not 100% sure how that will work if i don't have the 10 yr green card yet? apply for ROC from abroad?

What is your hubs response?

Will he be following you to Singapore to work, able to find a job that he would like?

Will he like the hot humid weather in Singapore and the increased frequency of MRT breakdown?

I would apply for re-entry permit first to buy some time. Then see how it goes from here.

[Ontarkie 14,296]

And that's different than any other day.....how?

Well I clean daily, so I fell better then coming home to the mess they leave saying they cleaned.

[Ontarkie 14,296]

Ok I'm off to bed, 2 hours of sleep is not enough.

[kitthekat 1,317]

What is your hubs response?

Will he be following you to Singapore to work, able to find a job that he would like?

Will he like the hot humid weather in Singapore and the increased frequency of MRT breakdown?

I would apply for re-entry permit first to buy some time. Then see how it goes from here.

he may or may not like the weather. right now he seems content with how novel it will be to see the sun all the time lol. but it seems that whether we live in singapore or in the US, one of us will be unhappy in some way. i have really missed my job and i miss my family even more.

thanks for the advice (and thanks to everyone who posted earlier as well), i guess i will go ahead and apply for the re-entry permit once i'm back in the US.

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Hmmm....I gotta say Tooth......I dunno......

But my Ex-GF did it. (the one you guys saw a pic of).

And I know one other family has both Singrapore and US passports......

If you really want, I'll ask around to see what they did, and what the recourse is.....

Now, I gotta drop off the pygmy.....

Obviously they lied on the Singapore passport applications forms.

Then it would also be a trouble / confusion to fly with 2 passports.

Like which passport to use when entering Singapore, or leaving Singapore to US?

I also read online about people having Singapore & US passports.

Some said they know of people getting caught, with Singapore Passport taken away, or Singapore Govt forced them to give up the other citizenship before issuing the Singapore passport.

I guess it is down to whether one is willing to take the risks or not.

Right now I am ok with being a Green Card holder, not much differences from being US citizen.

Still need to pay the f u c king taxes for global accounts.

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

Then it would also be a trouble / confusion to fly with 2 passports.

Like which passport to use when entering Singapore, or leaving Singapore to US?

Well, that part is probably the easiest - you use the Singapore one to enter and leave Singapore and the American one to enter America.

That is how I use my 2 passports.

[Merrytooth 5,748]

he may or may not like the weather. right now he seems content with how novel it will be to see the sun all the time lol. but it seems that whether we live in singapore or in the US, one of us will be unhappy in some way. i have really missed my job and i miss my family even more.

thanks for the advice (and thanks to everyone who posted earlier as well), i guess i will go ahead and apply for the re-entry permit once i'm back in the US.

Both of you would have to discuss about the situation, and career wise, which location will offer better opportunity.

If you have better career opportunity in Singapore, bringing home the bigger share of income, then stay in Singapore

The bigger thing I would be worried about is applying PR for spouse in Singapore.

I think Singapore govt needs to be more transparent and have clearer guideline/requirements for PR application.

Then people will know outright if they stand a chance or not.

--------------------------------------

I like my lifestyle here in US. Flexible working hours that I can't get in Singapore.

I don't have to squeeze in crowded trains, crowded shopping malls, "people mountain people sea" everywhere I go.

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Well, that part is probably the easiest - you use the Singapore one to enter and leave Singapore and the American one to enter America.

That is how I use my 2 passports.

If I use Singapore passport when I leave Singapore, then the check-in counter will want to see either the Green Card or ESTA / Visa.

So I would probably have to declare that I don't have green card because I am also US citizen?

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

If I use Singapore passport when I leave Singapore, then the check-in counter will want to see either the Green Card or ESTA / Visa.

So I would probably have to declare that I don't have green card because I am also US citizen?

Well, I show the US passport at the check-in counter, but the UK one for exit controls in the Schengen. Does Singapore have exit controls?

[Merrytooth 5,748]

To add on.

Something to consider here:

I think you can't buy HDB flat (directly from HDB? maybe resale flat is ok?) if you own private property (local or overseas).

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Well, I show the US passport at the check-in counter, but the UK one for exit controls in the Schengen. Does Singapore have exit controls?

There is a pre-screen area before the check-in counter where the custom officer will look at your passport, visa documents, ask questions for US travel. I think this is part of the US travel security requirements.

[SAT 9,609]

Obviously they lied on the Singapore passport applications forms.

Then it would also be a trouble / confusion to fly with 2 passports.

Like which passport to use when entering Singapore, or leaving Singapore to US?

I also read online about people having Singapore & US passports.

Some said they know of people getting caught, with Singapore Passport taken away, or Singapore Govt forced them to give up the other citizenship before issuing the Singapore passport.

I guess it is down to whether one is willing to take the risks or not.

Right now I am ok with being a Green Card holder, not much differences from being US citizen.

Still need to pay the f u c king taxes for global accounts.

Use 1 passport to travel. That's what everyone does.

I haven't seen anyone get caught. Reality is, yeah, hello, people lie all the time....

Like me, "do you have anything to declare?"

"No, I wore these 4 new rolexes abroad when I left the US".....

Edited March 11, 2015 by SAT

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Use 1 passport to travel. That's what everyone does.

I haven't seen anyone get caught. Reality is, yeah, hello, people lie all the time....

Like me, "do you have anything to declare?"

"No, I wore these 4 new rolexes abroad when using left the US".....

Don't play play with Singapore Govt. You know we have no human rights

[SAT 9,609]

To add on.

Something to consider here:

I think you can't buy HDB flat (directly from HDB? maybe resale flat is ok?) if you own private property (local or overseas).

Again, goody tooth shoes, how are they gonna know?

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Again, goody tooth shoes, how are they gonna know?

Well, if there is some paper trail with foreign address.

I know you are risk taker with shyster lawyers at your disposal