Us Work Permit For Singaporeans

Certain kinds of jobs for foreigners are reserved for citizens. But there is a work permit issued by the government of Singapore for talented foreigners who are skilled and have special abilities in various areas, like IT. Let’s see how it is beneficial to Singaporeans and what other options they have if they want to work with these foreign professionals.

For citizens of almost all Asian countries the only way to work in Singapore is through Employment Passes or Skills-Employment Pass. The process can be quite mind numbing and the disappointment inevitable. Thousands of applicants a year get refused work permits. So what do you do if you are a citizen of one of these countries? The answer is a D-Pass (dependant pass). This article runs through one’s options for spouse sponsorship, divorce procedure and other procedures for living in Singapore with children.

Us Work Permit For Singaporeans

The Us Work Permit is a great way to gain international experience and make valuable connections while living in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Singapore has been ranked as the most livable city in the world by The Economist Intelligence Unit for six consecutive years, and it’s easy to see why: with a population of 5 million people, there are plenty of opportunities for you to make friends and get involved.

You’ll also have access to some of the best schools in Asia, including Nanyang Technological University (NTU), National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore Management University (SMU), and Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT).

The government of Singapore has been making it more convenient for Singaporeans to work in other countries. The United States is one such country, and we’re going to tell you how you can get a work permit in the U.S.

First, you need to be eligible for a work visa under one of the following categories:

*B-1: Business Visitor (for up to six months)

*B-2: Tourist or Temporary Visitor (for up to six months)

*E-1: Treaty Trader (if you are an employee of a foreign company who operates in the U.S., and if your employer has an agreement with the U.S.)

*E-2: Treaty Investor (if you own or manage a foreign business that operates in the U.S., and if your business has an agreement with the U.S.)

*H1B: Specialty Worker (if you possess at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, are qualified in a specialty occupation recognized by the Department of Labor as requiring at least two years’ training or experience, and if there is no qualified American worker available for the job) .

Singapore is one of the most important countries in the world.

It has a stable economy and an excellent reputation for being clean, safe and organized. It also has a strong government that is highly effective at managing its people and resources.

This means that Singaporean citizens have many opportunities to work abroad, especially in countries with similar cultures such as Japan and Korea.

However, if you want to work abroad it is important that you have all of your documents in order before traveling overseas. This includes having a valid passport, working visa if required by law and an international driving license if required by law as well.

Why are Singaporean US Visa Applicants Unique?

Owing to a variety of agreements between Singapore and the United States, Singaporean Nationals benefit from a number of advantages:

• Visa Free Entry. The ability to enter the United States as a temporary visitor without a visa (note that denial of a business or other visa application will result in an applicant being no longer eligible for visa free entry, see below).
• H1B1 Visa. Only Singaporean Nationals are eligible for the H1B1 Visa. This visa allows the principal beneficiary to live and work in the United States with his or her spouse and children.
• E-1 and E-2 Visas. Nationals of Singapore are eligible for both E-1 and E-2 visas.
• Investment Visas. In our

Warning re Visa Applications and Visa Free Entry

Unfortunatley several of our Singaporean clients previously applied for business and other visas using other firms and were denied.

Once a Singapore National is denied a US visa he or she is no longer able to enter the United States on the visa waiver program and must apply for a B1/B2 visitor’s visa in order to come to the United States.

Sinapore Nationals who have applied for a B1/B2 visitor’s visa after having been denied an E-2 or other visa have been denied their B1/B2 visitors visa, leaving them unable to enter the United States.

While we have never had a visa application that our firm has initially prepared denied we always counsel Singapore clients to consider applying for a B1/B2 visitors visa prior to applying for other visa types, that way if an E-2 or other visa is denied the client has a pre-exisiting B1/B2 visa with which they can make a lawful visit to the United States. This is not an easy decision however and we spend significant time counselling clients on this issue.Singapore: Our Experience

• Our goal is to be the leading US immigration firm serving the Singapore market. To us this means being recognized as having the strongest record of success together with the very best levels of client service. We are proud that our clients view us as their “US Immigration law firm of choice” and recognize our client care program as “distinct and unique”.
• Davies & Associates is privileged to serve a number of business visa and other clients resident in Singapore.
• To date no visa our firm has initially prepared on a first-submission has been denied.*
• Our firm increasingly interacts with the US consulate in Singapore on behalf of our clients and appears with our clients “on-the-ground” at the US Consulate in Singapore.

Singapore forms a key hub in the ability of our firm to deliver US immigration services in Asia. Many of our Singapore-based clients have businesses in other parts of Asia and we are used to coordinating strategies across multiple jurisdictions.Is a Business Plan Really Important?

For Singapore Nationals applying for certain visa types a business plan can be completely critical. Our experience with the US embassy in Singapore is that properly prepared business plans are essential in E-2, E-1, certain L-1 and EB-5 visa cases.

A guide to business plan preparation can be found be clicking on this link.L-1 Visas and Singapore Businesses

A number of employees from a variety of Asian countries are employed by Singaporean corporations in Singapore. Our firm is experienced with assisting corporations moving employees to the United States using both the L-1A and L1-B visas.Permanent Residency and Immigrant Visas in The United States

Our firm represents clients from across the region in their pursuit of EB-5 based investor immigrant visas, permanent residency based on employment and outstanding qualifications as well as family-based petitions. Meeting our Firm in Singapore

We are the firm of choice for many Singapore-based clients. The market position as a leading provider of US immigration services in Singapore brings our experienced US immigration lawyers from New York and California to Singapore in order to both meet with clients and to work with the US embassy in Singapore. Given advanced notice we very much welcome opportunities to meet our Singapore-based clients both in Singapore and at our firm’s other locations.

U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Professional (H1B1) Visa

Overview

The U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, which took effect on January 1, 2004, created a new class of non-immigrant work visa for Singaporean citizens: the H1B1. Only Singaporean citizens are eligible as principal applicants. Singapore Permanent Residents who are citizens of other nations are not eligible for the H1B1, but non-Singaporean spouses and children of qualified Singaporean H1B1 applicants are eligible for H-4 visas as dependent family members.

The visa allows you to live and work in the United States accompanied by your spouse and dependent children.

Qualifications

To qualify for the USSFTA Professional visa, you must meet the following criteria:

1. The position must be a specialty occupation; that is, it must require theoretical and practical application of a body of specialized knowledge. Some examples of specialty occupations are jobs in the fields of engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, computer sciences, medicine and health care, education, biotechnology, and business specialties such as management and human resources.
2. You must have a post-secondary degree involving at least four year of study in your field of specialization.
3. You cannot be self-employed or an independent contractor.
4. The period of employment in the U.S. must be temporary, so you must demonstrate non-immigrant intent. Note: this requirement makes the USSFTA Professional visa different from the traditional H-1B Temporary Worker visa, as applicants for traditional H-1b visas do not have to demonstrate that they intend to return to Singapore when the temporary job is finished. Singaporeans are still eligible to apply for traditional H-1b visas.
5. Unlike a traditional H-1B visa, the employer does not have to submit Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (Department of Homeland Security) and you do not need to obtain a Notice of Action, Form I-797.

H1B1 visas are multiple-entry and valid for a maximum of 18 months. Extensions and renewals are allowed.

Supporting Documents

In addition to the items listed below, all H visa applicants must submit:

1. Job letter from your U.S. employer specifying the details of the temporary position (including job responsibilities, salary and benefits, duration, description of the employing company, qualifications of the applicant, etc.) and confirming the employment offer.
2. Certified form ETA 9035 or 9035E from the U.S. Department of Labor provided by the employer; information on how to file for this can be found at the Department of Labor website. The form must be annotated “SINGAPORE H1B1.”

As with many other types of non-immigrant visas, to qualify for the H1B1 you must demonstrate that you do not intend to immigrate to the United States. Every applicant’s situation is different, so how individual applicants demonstrate this-including which documents are submitted-will vary greatly from person to person.

Dependents

Only spouses and children of H1B1 work visa holders are eligible for derivative (H4) visas. Parents and other family members are NOT eligible for H4 visas. They may visit a worker for a temporary period of time if they apply for and receive a tourist visa, or on the Visa Waiver Program if they are eligible.

Spouses and children, whether accompanying or following to join a worker, should submit a visa application and recent passport-size photograph for each person. Spouses and children must present a copy of their marriage certificate or birth certificate, respectively.

PLEASE NOTE: Spouses and children of H visa applicants who are not Singaporean are strongly encouraged to apply for their visas at the same time as the principal applicant, regardless of whether they have firm plans to travel to the United States. If the H visa holder is not present for the application of their non-Singaporean spouse and children, the applicants may be asked to apply in their home country, where their marriage and birth documents can be properly verified.

Conclusion

Even if you are a Singaporean, it doesn’t mean you will get an EP automatically. You still need to apply by yourself and wait for approval or rejection. The good news is, it is easier and faster than applying work permit before and you are also free to change your employer afterwards (if you get a new job offer) and vice versa (if your existing employer dismisses you or let you go).

While there is no denying that it will be a difficult process for Singaporeans, we hope that the information in this blog post will give you an idea about what’s in store for Singaporeans who are thinking of leaving Singapore. In the end, it all comes down to how much you are willing to work for your future, and how much you’re willing to put up with if you want that future to be overseas.