How Singaporean Citizens Can Obtain a U.S. Green Card

A U.S. Green Card allows you to live and work in the United States permanently.

For Singaporean citizens, obtaining a Green Card opens doors to exciting opportunities, such as working in any job without restrictions, accessing top-quality public services, and having the freedom to travel in and out of the U.S. with ease.

Although the Visa Waiver Program permits Singapore nationals with visitor visas to travel to the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days, the idea of working and living permanently in the U.S. is a goal worth pursuing.

But how do you turn this dream into reality? In this article, we’ll explore the various ways citizens of Singapore can apply for a U.S. Green Card.

What Is a Green Card?

A Green Card, or a permanent resident card, is a document that gives foreign nationals the right to live and work in the United States permanently.

It’s an important step toward eventually becoming a U.S. citizen, although you can remain a Green Card holder without seeking citizenship.

Obtaining a U.S. Green Card offers Singapore passport holders numerous advantages, including:

• Freedom to work in almost any job in the U.S. without requiring employer sponsorship.
• Unrestricted access to public services and benefits, including health insurance and educational programs.
• The ability to travel in and out of the U.S. more easily compared to a traditional visa holder.
• Border protection under U.S. laws by local authorities, as well as labor and employment rights.
• Live indefinitely in the U.S. without needing to meet visa requirements and schedule frequent renewals.
• Potential to obtain citizenship and gain full civic rights and responsibilities after meeting residency requirements.

How Can Singapore Citizens Get a U.S. Green Card?

There are several pathways to obtaining a Green Card. The most common options you can explore as a Singaporean citizen include:

1. Marriage Visa

One of the most straightforward ways for a foreign national to obtain a Green Card is by marrying a U.S. citizen. You can obtain a marriage-based Green Card by virtue of your legitimate marriage to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Upon application, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) undergoes a verification process to confirm the authenticity of your marriage before granting a marriage-based Green Card. Some of the requirements you must fulfill include:

• Proof that your marriage is genuine and not arranged solely for immigration benefits.
• Evidence of joint financial accounts, travel records, shared housing, etc. to confirm a legitimate marriage.
• Relevant documents and forms filled out accurately and completely.

You can explore multiple options to obtain a U.S. Green Card as a Singaporean national married to an American citizen. Some of them include:

Filing the Petition for Alien Relative

If you have a Singapore visa and get married to an American outside the United States, you can obtain a U.S. Green Card by filing Form I-130. The form, also called a Petition for Alien Relative, is a request to establish the marriage.

Filing the Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)

You can apply for a fiancé(e) visa by filing Form I-129F. This is a great pathway if you don’t reside in the United States but plan to marry your American fiancé(e) in the U.S. The USCIS grants the K-1 visa if your petition is approved, allowing you to enter the United States for up to 90 days for your marriage to hold.

Filing Other Relevant Forms

There are other important documents you must file for the USCIS to approve your marriage visa. Some of them include:

• Form I-864: When you file this document, you confirm that you can support your spouse financially.
• Form I-485: If you are already living in the United States, you need to file Form I-485 to adjust your immigration status to that of a permanent resident.

If married for less than two years at the time of approval, you’ll receive a conditional Green Card, which you can convert to a permanent one after two years.

2. Immigrant Work Visa

Many Singapore passport holders apply for a Green Card through work opportunities. This could be a good option if you have specialized skills or work in a high-demand field.

Also, the immigrant work visa is grouped into categories, catering to different professionals from early to advanced career stages. Below are the main categories of employment-based Green Cards.

EB-1 Visa for Priority Workers

USCIS awards EB-1 (first preference) visas to foreign nationals with extraordinary prowess in their field, showing national or international recognition in that field. Here are the categories of EB-1 visas:

• EB-1A: Persons with extraordinary ability in the arts, athletics, business, education, or sciences.
• EB-1B: Foreign nationals who have gained recognition for excellence as a professor or researcher.
• EB-1C: Foreign nationals with experience as a multinational executive or manager.

One key advantage is that EB-1 applicants are not required to obtain labor certification from the Department of Labor, which may reduce the overall processing time. However, this visa comes with stringent criteria to fulfill.

EB-2 Visa for Advanced Degree Holders

Suitable for professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability. For example, if you have a master’s degree or higher and work in engineering, technology, or medicine, you might qualify. Only applicants who fulfill these requirements are eligible for the EB-2 (second preference) visa:

• Have an advanced degree (master’s degree or higher or a bachelor’s degree with at least five years of relevant work experience).
• Have exceptional ability in the arts, business, or sciences.
• Qualify for a National Interest Waiver.

USCIS only approves EB-2 applications when applicants have job offers from employers with a labor certification, impacting the time frame. However, it’s different for applicants with the National Interest Waiver, as they don’t need an employer sponsor or labor certification.

The waiver speeds up the process for individuals with specific skill sets valuable to U.S. national interests.

EB-3 Visa for Workers

The EB-3 (third preference) visa is designed for professionals, skilled workers, and some unskilled workers. To qualify, you must have a job offer from a U.S. employer who will sponsor your application. Eligible EB-3 applicants must fit into one of these categories:

• Have an advanced degree (master’s degree or higher or a bachelor’s degree with at least five years of relevant work experience).
• Have exceptional ability in the arts, business, or sciences.
• Qualify for a National Interest Waiver.

To be approved, EB-3 petitioners must have full-time job offers that have passed the labor certification process.

Hence, the application may encounter longer wait times with consular services. For example, some Indian EB-3 applicants have been waiting for visas for over a decade.

How to Apply for EB-1, EB-2, And EB-3 Work Visas

The application process for immigrant work visas usually involves the following steps.

• File Form I-485 if you’re located in the United States or DS-260 if outside of the United States.
• Gather and provide relevant documentation, including proof of expertise and experience, and pay applicable filing fees.
• If applicable, the sponsoring employer submits Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, to USCIS.
• Participate in a visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
• 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.

3. Family Sponsorship

You can go through the family route to get a U.S. Green Card. If you have family members who are U.S. citizens, have a valid passport or are Green Card holders, they can sponsor your application.

Your family members must fall into one of the following categories for your petition to be successful:

• Immediate Relatives: Applications in this category receive the highest priority. U.S. citizens can sponsor their spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents.
• Family Preference: This category typically takes longer and is subject to annual numerical ceilings. To qualify, you need to prove a specific family relationship with U.S. citizens.

The U.S. citizen or lawful resident sponsoring your Green Card application must take certain steps for the application to be successful. Some of these steps include:

• Submit Form I-130 to begin the immigration process.
• Submit Form I-864 to confirm the ability to support the relative financially.
• Gather and submit relevant supporting documentation.

Singaporean nationals residing in the U.S. must also file Form I-485 to receive an immigrant visa. If they have yet to move to the U.S., they file Form DS-260 for consular processing.

4. Diversity Visa Lottery

Each year, the U.S. allocates 55,000 visas to people from countries with low immigration rates to the U.S. through the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery.

Foreign nationals from Singapore can also obtain a U.S. Green Card through this route, as Singapore is currently eligible for this program.

However, since there is a lottery involved, the chances of obtaining a Green Card through this pathway mainly depends on luck.

5. EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program

You can also explore the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program to obtain lawful permanent residence in the U.S. To get a Green Card through this route, you need to invest $800,000 in the U.S. economy, if the selected project is in a targeted employment area.

A successful EB-5 application confers permanent residency on foreign nationals, their spouses, and children under the age of 21.

To qualify for the EB-5 visa, USCIS must confirm that:

• Your investment capital was sourced lawfully.
• Your investment must create a minimum of 10 full-time jobs for workers in the United States and must be committed to an eligible U.S. business called a new commercial enterprise (NCE) for at least two years.
• Your investment capital must be kept “at-risk,” having the potential to incur profits or losses.

You can follow these steps if you decide to get your U.S. Green card on the EB-5 route:

• Make an Investment Plan: You must decide if you want to invest in U.S. businesses directly or through a regional center. It’s advisable to partner with a regional center as it’s safer and less stressful. EB5AN has a long list of low-risk regional center projects across the United States.
• Gather Your Documents: The EB-5 visa application process requires multiple forms and documents, such as financial records, loan certificates, and business records. You may need an experienced immigration attorney to gather all the documents to make your application process faster.
• Fund a New Commercial Enterprise (NCE): Typically, the minimum investment amount is $1,050,000. However, you can invest in a targeted employment area (TEA), which attracts a lower minimum investment of $800,000.
• File Form I-526E: Proceed to file your immigrant petition after releasing the required capital to an investment opportunity. Submit Form I-526E if you invested via a regional center. You also need the help of an immigration attorney at this stage.
• Change Your Status: Submit Form I-485 with your immigrant petition if you’re physically present in the U.S. as a foreign national. If you haven’t made the move to the U.S., you can submit Form DS-260 to the U.S. consulate or embassy in Singapore or where you’re resident. Approval of any grants you a conditional Green Card to live and work in the U.S. for two years.
• Submit Form I-829: Finally, you can file Form I-829 after you’ve fulfilled all the EB-5 visa requirements. If approved, you get a permanent Green Card, which removes all the conditions for lawful permanent residency.

Move From Singapore to the United States With EB5AN

Getting a U.S. Green Card as a Singaporean citizen is a life-changing opportunity, but it requires careful planning and effort.

Whether you’re applying through family, work, marriage, or investment, remember that persistence and preparation are key to achieving your dream of living in the United States.

EB5AN is here to walk you through the process of making your dream move a reality. We have helped more than 2,700 families from 70+ countries relocate to the United States as lawful permanent residents.

Book a free call with our team to take the first step of your Green Card journey.