Singapore citizens have many good reasons to relocate to the United States. Whether they’re seeking new professional or personal opportunities, Singaporeans who make the move often find it to be a rewarding and worthwhile life change.
Thanks to the Visa Waiver Program, Singapore nationals are eligible to visit the United States for business or tourism for up to 90 days without a visa. However, to reside in the United States permanently, it’s necessary to get a U.S. Green Card.
So how can immigrants from Asian countries obtain U.S. lawful permanent residency?
In this article, we’ll describe the Green Card options that are available to Singaporeans and what EB5AN can do to help.
Ways Singapore Citizens Can Get a Green Card
Immigrate From Singapore to the United States With EB5AN
Ways Singapore Citizens Can Get a Green Card
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular immigration visas Singaporeans who want to move to the United States consider, and what’s involved with each pathway.
Marriage Visa
A Singapore citizen who has a legitimate marriage to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident may receive a marriage-based Green Card. Qualified individuals have an average wait time of a little more than nine months to get approved. That’s a faster processing time than several other immigrant visas.
Approval from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for a marriage-based Green Card depends on fulfilling the requirements below.
- Showing that the marriage is genuine and not arranged solely to obtain a valid visa.
- Providing evidence of shared housing, joint financial accounts, and messages that reflect a valid marriage.
- Filling out relevant paperwork accurately and completely.
Singapore nationals who marry Americans have multiple options to obtain permanent residence in the United States.
Apply for a Fiancé(e) Visa
Applying for a fiancé(e) visa by filing Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e), is suitable for a Singaporean fiancé(e) who is located outside of the United States but wants to get married inside their new country of residence.
If approved, they will receive a K-1 visa. This will allow the fiancé(e) to enter the United States for up to 90 days for the marriage to take place.
The cost to file this form is $675.
Get Married Overseas
A marriage between a Singaporean and an American outside of the United States requires submission of Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, for the Singaporean spouse to establish the marriage.
The cost to file this form is $625-$675.
Change Existing U.S. Immigration Status
If the Singaporean fiancé(e) is already present in the United States with another immigration status, it’s possible to file a Form I-130 relative petition to get married in the country and get the marriage visa that way.
Important Forms
These are additional required documents to file as part of the approval process for a marriage visa:
- Form I-864: The petitioner files this to show they can support their spouse financially. There is no filing fee for this form.
- Form I-485: The spouse files this to adjust status if they are already physically located in the United States. The fiancé(e) should submit Form I-485 within 90 days of the marriage for the fastest and easiest approval process. The cost to file this form is $1,440.
Family Sponsorship Visa
A family sponsorship visa is another option for Singaporeans who wish to emigrate to the United States.
Family-based sponsorship is available for Singaporeans who fall into one of these two categories.
Immediate Relatives
The immediate relative category can result in a quick approval, as there is no visa backlog for it. A Singaporean can apply for a family-based visa as an immediate relative if they are one of the following:
- Married to a U.S. citizen.
- Unmarried child under the age of 21 of a U.S. citizen.
- Mother or father of a U.S. citizen.
Family Preference
The family preference category typically takes longer and is subject to annual numerical ceilings. A Singaporean can apply for a family preference visa if they are one of the following:
- Unmarried son or daughter of a U.S. citizen. The applicant’s minor children can be approved too.
- Married son or daughter of a U.S. citizen. The applicant’s spouse and minor children can be approved too.
- Brother or sister of a U.S. citizen. The applicant’s spouse and minor children can be approved too.
- Spouse, son, or daughter of a U.S. lawful permanent resident.
The sponsoring U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident must take the following steps on behalf of the Singaporean applicant under the family-sponsored Green Card approval process:
- Submit Form I-130 to begin the immigration process.
- Submit Form I-184 to demonstrate the ability to financially support the relative.
- Compile and submit relevant supporting documentation.
The sponsored Singaporean must also file Form I-485 while physically located in the United States or file Form DS-260 for consular processing while outside of the United States to receive this immigrant visa.
Diversity Lottery
The diversity visa lottery program is another option for Singaporeans who seek U.S. Green Cards. The U.S. Department of State distributes 55,000 visas annually to foreign nationals from countries that have had historically low immigration rates to the United States. This includes Singapore.
You can find more details here, and it’s free to apply. However, it’s not a reliable option. Being selected is largely a matter of luck.
Immigrant Work Visas
An immigrant work visa is an option for a Singaporean who has work experience and training to match one of the following available visa categories.
Employment-Based First Preference (EB-1)
An EB-1 visa can be awarded to a Singaporean who matches one of the descriptions below:
- EB1A: Possesses extraordinary ability in the arts, athletics, business, education, or sciences.
- EB1B: Has been recognized for excellence as a professor or researcher.
- EB1C: Has worked as a multinational executive or manager.
EB-1 approval times vary widely between individuals. However, in general, applicants who demonstrate they have one of the characteristics above get approved faster than applicants for other types of immigrant work visas.
EB-1 applicants do not need to get labor certification approval from the Department of Labor, which often adds several months to the adjudication time frame.
Employment-Based Second Preference (EB-2)
The EB-2 visa is intended for those who fit into one of the following categories:
- Have an advanced degree (master’s degree or higher, or a bachelor’s degree with several years of relevant work experience).
- Have exceptional ability in the arts, business, or sciences.
- Qualify for a National Interest Waiver.
An EB-2 visa application often takes longer to process than an EB-1 petition, as approval generally depends on the applicant getting a job offer and the employer receiving a labor certification.
This is not the case for EB-2 applicants who qualify for an EB-2 National Interest Waiver. To be approved for this waiver, the individual must have a specific skill set valuable to U.S. national interests. They must also agree to work in their field of expertise after relocating to the United States.
Employment-Based Third Preference (EB-3)
The EB-3 visa is meant for foreign nationals who receive valid job offers from U.S. companies and fit into one of the following categories:
- Are professionals with a bachelor’s degree (or the foreign equivalent) and related work experience.
- Are skilled workers with two or more years of job experience and related training.
- Are unskilled workers with less than two years of experience or training.
EB-3 petitioners must receive full-time job offers that have passed the labor certification process to be approved. EB-3 visa applications may encounter long wait times. For example, some Indian EB-3 applicants have been waiting for visas since 2012.
Application Process for EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 Visas
The application process for one of these immigrant work visas usually involves the following steps.
- For most EB-2 and all EB-3 applications, the sponsoring employer must get a PERM labor certification from the Department of Labor. This should show that no qualified U.S. worker was available for the job offered to the foreign national. EB-1 and EB-2 National Interest Waiver applicants do not need either an employer sponsor or labor certification.
- The applicant gathers and provides relevant documentation, including proof of expertise and experience, and pays applicable filing fees.
- If applicable, the sponsoring employer submits Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, to USCIS.
- The applicant participates in an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
- The applicant files Form I-485 if located in the United States or DS-260 if located outside of the United States.
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program is another option for a Singaporean who is interested in obtaining lawful permanent residence in exchange for an investment of at least $800,000 in an eligible U.S. business.
By making a qualifying EB-5 visa investment, a Singaporean investor, their spouse, and children under the age of 21 can all get U.S. Green Cards, gaining permanent residency in the United States.
EB-5 Program Advantages
The EB-5 route offers some advantages to Singapore nationals compared to the other visa options we’ve mentioned. These benefits include:
- Accessibility: The program is open to most foreign nationals who can make the required minimum investment of $800,000.
- Low risk: It offers investors relatively low immigration and financial risk, especially for those who invest via a USCIS-approved regional center.
- Reliability: The application process is straightforward and has been a reliable pathway to lawful permanent residence for decades.
EB-5 Program Requirements
To be approved, foreign investors must show USCIS that:
- Their investment capital was sourced lawfully.
- Their capital will be kept “at risk.” This means the investment must have the potential for loss or gain, and remain committed to an eligible U.S. business called a new commercial enterprise (NCE) for at least two years.
- The funds will create a minimum of 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers.
A Singaporean investor who follows these EB-5 visa rules will be approved for U.S. permanent resident status. The investor and their family will be able to live and work anywhere in the United States.
These are the main steps to follow when applying for an EB-5 visa.
- Choose How to Invest: Decide whether to invest money directly or via a regional center. For most EB-5 applicants, partnering with a regional center is the best and safest approach. EB5AN offers many low-risk regional center projects across the United States.
- Compile Documentation: Make copies of your passport, birth certificate, and marriage certificate if you’re married. The application also requires you to fill out multiple forms and submit other supporting documentation, such as copies of financial statements, business records, and loan certificates. Consulting an experienced immigration attorney about this is a good idea.
- Make a Qualifying Investment in a Project: The usual minimum investment amount is $1,050,000. However, a project located in a targeted employment area (TEA) is eligible for a lower minimum investment of $800,000. Investing in a TEA project helps investors to avoid visa backlogs. Rural TEA projects are also eligible for priority processing.
- File Form I-526/I-526E: Submit your immigrant petition. Direct investors file Form I-526 and regional center investors file Form I-526E. Your immigration lawyer can also help you with this step.
- Adjust Status: If you are physically present in the United States on a nonimmigrant visa, submit Form I-485 concurrently with your Form I-526E immigrant petition to save time. If outside of the United States, submit Form DS-260 at a U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country before traveling to the United States. Approval of either will give you a conditional Green Card to live and work in the United States for two years.
- File Form I-829: Submit Form I-829 with proof that you have fulfilled all program requirements to remove conditions on your lawful permanent residency. This will give you a permanent, unconditional Green Card.
Immigrate From Singapore to the United States With EB5AN
Singapore citizens have much to gain from becoming lawful permanent residents of the United States. As Green Card holders, they can live and work anywhere in the country, access the U.S. educational and healthcare systems, and live under a democratic political system with a strong economy, among other benefits.
With so much at stake, you’ll want to give your US visa petition the best possible chance of approval. The EB-5 program is the clear choice for those who meet the criteria.
You’ll also need help from EB-5 professionals and experienced immigration counsel to fulfill all EB-5 visa requirements.
EB5AN has helped more than 2,300 families from 60 countries relocate to the United States as lawful permanent residents. Our expert team has more than a decade of experience, and offers clients first-rate, low-risk EB-5 regional center projects with a 100% USCIS project approval rate to date.
To learn more, book a free call with us today.
