Non-Immigrant Visas

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I Need A Visa?
• Do I Need A Visa To Visit Guam Or To Transit Guam?
• What Is A Machine-Readable Passport?
• What Is The Biometric Passport Requirement?
• What If I Hold A Valid Visa In An Expired Passport?
• What If I Hold A "Multiple, Indefinite" Visa?
• How Do I Make An Appointment For A Non-Immigrant Visa Interview?
• Where Can I Get Visa Photos Of The Correct Size?
• How Do I Request Expedited Visa Service?
• Can I Apply For A Visa For A Family Member Who Is Not In Singapore?
• I Just Need To Change Airplanes In The U.S. On My Way To Another Country. Do I Need A Visa?
• Who May Apply For A Non-Immigrant Visa In Singapore?
• How Soon Can I Apply Again If My Application Was Not Approved?
• Who May Accompany Me To The Interview?
• I'm Interested In Working In The United States.  How Do I Get Work Authorization?
• What Is The Sevis Fee?
• What Is The Us-Visit Program?
• What Will Happen When I Arrive In The United States?
• How Long Can I Stay In The United States?
• What Will Happen When I Leave The United States?
• What If U.S. Border Authorities Did Not Take My I-94 Form When I Departed The U.S.? 

DO I NEED A VISA?

YES, unless you are a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program country AND in possession of a machine readable passport.

Citizens of Singapore and 26 other countries may travel to the U.S. without a visa for tourism or business for up to 90 days; this is known as the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Permanent residents of Singapore who are not from one of the VWP countries are not eligible for this program. Click here for a list of all the countries in the program.

To qualify for the program, the VWP country citizen must have a valid passport and be seeking to enter the U.S. for 90 days or less as a visitor. You need to have a round-trip or through transportation ticket on a participating carrier—most airlines are participating carriers, but you can verify this with the airline you intend to use. You cannot have any visa ineligibilities such as a serious criminal record or prior visa refusals. You must also be able to show that you can cover your expenses while you are in the United States.

Please note that under the VWP you cannot extend your stay in the U.S. beyond 90 days and cannot change your status while you are in the U.S. Also, you may not work or study in the U.S. while traveling under the VWP.

Additional information is available at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_novisa_waiver.html. We recommend you visit this page before any travel to the U.S. to check if WVP procedures or requirements have changed.

DO I NEED A VISA TO GO TO GUAM OR TO TRANSIT GUAM?

YES, unless you are a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program country, or a country on the list below.

The Guam Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of designated countries to make a temporary visit to Guam for business or pleasure for periods of no more than 15 days without having to obtain a visa. The designated countries are:

The following conditions apply:

1. Travelers must be willing to waive their rights of review and appeal of any decision to deny entry or deport;
2. No extension of stay, adjustment of status, change of non-immigrant status or onward travel to another destination in the United States is permitted, and
3. They must travel aboard a participating airline.

As with the (non-Guam) Visa Waiver Program, the list of participating carriers is quite long. Most airlines participate, but you can check with the airline you plan to use to be sure.

WHAT IS A MACHINE-READABLE PASSPORT?

Look at the data page of your passport (the page with your name and photograph). A machine-readable passport has two parallel lines of letters and numbers entered on the data page according to an international standard, as in the example below. If you have questions about your passport, you may want to contact the passport issuing agency in your country of citizenship.

All Singapore passports issued in Singapore since January 2, 1991 are machine-readable. Non-machine-readable Singapore passports continued to be issued at overseas missions until October 18, 1999. These passports are normally handwritten and do not possess the machine-readable zone.

After October 26, 2004 all travelers entering the United States under the Visa Waiver Program must have a machine-readable passport.

WHAT IS THE BIOMETRIC PASSPORT REQUIREMENT?

A biometric passport or "e-Passport" is a passport that includes an integrated computer chip capable of storing biographic information, a digital passport and other biometric information. Countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) will have to begin issuing this type of passports by October 26, 2006 in order for their citizens to travel without a visa to the United States.

As a preliminary step, starting on October 26, 2005, new passports issued by Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries must include a digital photo. The digital photo should be printed onto the biographic data page and not glued or laminated into the passport. Owners of VWP passports issued after this date that do not have a digital photo will be required to obtain a visa for trips to the United States.

In the meantime, owners of VWP passports can still travel without a visa if the passport is machine-readable. Owners of non-machine readable VWP passports will be required to obtain a visa.

WHAT IF I HOLD A VALID VISA IN AN EXPIRED PASSPORT?

If you have a valid, undamaged visa in a passport which has expired or been canceled, and the old passport is from the same country as your current passport, you do not need to obtain a new visa. You may simply carry the old passport together with your currently valid passport to enter the U.S. The two passports need not be attached or sealed. If you want to have a visa placed in your new passport, you will need to submit an application through one of our regular channels, pay the application fee and any issuance fees, and come in for an interview if required.

WHAT IF I HOLD A "MULTIPLE/INDEFINITE" VISA?

Holders of visas of "indefinite" validity should be aware that these visas are only valid for ten years from the date of issuance. If your indefinite visa is more than ten years old, you should apply for a new visa.

Note that instead of an expiration date, this visa has the word “INDEFINITELY.” If your visa has an actual expiration date, it is NOT a multiple/indefinite visa.

HOW DO I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A NON-IMMIGRANT VISA INTERVIEW?

The US Embassy in Singapore does not have an appointment system for non-immigrant visas and will not accept requests for appointments on specific days. We have three application channels - travel agencies, mail-in submissions and walk-in applications - all of which are described in detail here.   Please follow these instructions to submit your application.

WHERE CAN I GET VISA PHOTOS OF THE CORRECT SIZE?

Visa photos must be 2-inch by 2-inch (5cm by 5cm), taken against an white or off-white background with the applicant facing forward. One photo is required per visa application. The Embassy has installed a photo booth which produces photos of the correct size and appearance; the fee to obtain photos from this machine is S$10 (Singapore currency, exact change only). There are also a number of photo shops around Singapore which are able to provide the required photos; fees vary depending on the shop.

HOW DO I REQUEST EXPEDITED VISA SERVICE?

As the U.S. Embassy in Singapore has a walk-in application option for all applicants, there is no additional procedure for expediting visa application processing. Individuals with medical problems requiring urgent travel to the United States should contact the Non-Immigrant Visa Section for assistance with walk-in applications.

CAN I APPLY FOR A VISA FOR A FAMILY MEMBER WHO IS NOT IN SINGAPORE?

NO. All applicants (even children) must be physically present in Singapore to apply for a visa here. We cannot approve a visa for someone who is not in Singapore at the time of application.

I JUST NEED TO CHANGE AIRPLANES IN THE U.S. ON MY WAY TO ANOTHER COUNTRY. DO I NEED A VISA?

YES, you need a visa unless you are from a Visa Waiver Program country.

The United States has suspended the Transit Without Visa (TWOV) program. All travelers intending to transit in the U.S. on their way to another country must either qualify for the Visa Waiver Program or obtain a transit visa. If you already have a valid Business (B-1), Visitor (B-2) or Business/Visitor (B1/B2) visa, you can use it to transit the United States.

WHO MAY APPLY FOR A NON-IMMIGRANT VISA IN SINGAPORE?

Anyone who is a Singapore citizen, permanent resident, or holder of an employment pass or dependent pass is welcome to apply here.

We will also accept applications from holders of work permits, student passes, long-term social visit passes or short-term entry cards if they are physically present in Singapore at the time of their application. However, all visa applicants are encouraged to file their applications in their home countries if they have not been in Singapore for a significant amount of time. The reason for this policy is that the visa officers at the U. S. Embassy or Consulate in an applicant’s home country are more familiar with his or her circumstances and documents than the officers here would be.

Such applicants should be aware that in some circumstances the interviewer might deny the application and refer the applicant back to his or her home country anyway. In that case, the application fee will not be refunded.

HOW SOON CAN I APPLY AGAIN IF MY APPLICATION WAS NOT APPROVED?

You may apply again as quickly as you wish if your application was not approved. If your application was denied because the interviewing officer did not believe you overcame the presumption of immigrant intent (under regulation 214b), you should try to collect additional information which you believe supports your contention that you have a residence outside the U.S. that you do not intend to abandon, or wait to apply again until you have had a change in your personal situation (employment, family, etc.) which would convince an interviewing officer that you now have stronger ties to your residence abroad.

WHO MAY ACCOMPANY ME TO THE INTERVIEW?

You may bring family members if they will assist you in applying by helping with translation. Our office employs fluent speakers of Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien, Malay, and Tamil, so you should not need translators for these languages. If you do not speak one of these languages and you are unable to converse in English, you should bring someone to translate for you as otherwise we will not be able to complete your interview and you will be required to apply in your home country. You may bring an immigration attorney if you wish, although the attorney may not participate during your visa interview unless asked by the interviewing officer.

I'M INTERESTED IN WORKING IN THE UNITED STATES. HOW DO I GET WORK AUTHORIZATION?

Before you may work in the United States, you must have a U.S. employer offer you a job (in an authorized category and one for which you are qualified), and sponsor you for employment. 65,000 Speciality Occupation (H-1B) visas are made available worldwide each year. A special quota of 5,400 visas are set aside for Singaporeans, who may apply for a visa known as the H1-B1 Free Trade Agreement visa.  There are other visa categories for nurses and other medical professionals, and for seasonal/temporary labor. Some Exchange Programs may also include temporary work authorization.

For an H-1B visa, the U.S. employer must initiate the process of obtaining work authorization for a foreign citizen by petitioning the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS, part of the Department of Homeland Security) for their prospective employee. Once this petition is approved, the employee must apply for a visa if they are outside the U.S. so they may enter to start work. For more information about how an employer petitions for a potential employee, please visit the USCIS website.

You may not take up employment while in the U.S. on a B1/B2 visa or the Visa Waiver Program, but you may interview for jobs with prospective employers. Visa Waiver Program travelers will have to depart the U.S. to obtain work authorization before returning to start their job. B1/B2 holders may petition for a change of status while in the U.S., but this is not automatic, as B visas are not approved for people whose stated intention is to remain in the U.S. and work.

WHAT IS THE SEVIS FEE?

Beginning September 1, 2004, many international students and exchange visitors will have to pay a extra fee to cover the costs for the continued operation of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information Service (SEVIS). For more details about who must pay this fee, how much it will cost, and how to pay, click here.

WHAT IS THE US-VISIT PROGRAM?

US-VISIT is a U.S. Department of Homeland Security program that enables the United States to verify the identity of incoming visitors and confirm compliance with visa and immigration policies.

The initiative involves collecting travel information and “biometric identifiers” (such as fingerprints, using an inkless scanner) from visitors on arrival to the United States. The identity of visitors who need a visa to travel to the U.S. will be verified upon their arrival and departure.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN I ARRIVE IN THE UNITED STATES?

At the airport or seaport where you enter, your travel documents (such as your passport and visa) will be reviewed, and a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer will ask specific questions regarding your planned stay in the United States. As part of the US-VISIT procedures, most visitors traveling on visas will have two fingerprints scanned by an inkless device and a digital photograph taken. All of the data and information is then used to assist the border inspector in determining whether or not to admit the traveler.

All data obtained from you is securely stored as part of the your travel record. This information is made available only to authorized officials and selected law enforcement agencies on a need-to-know basis.

HOW LONG CAN I STAY IN THE UNITED STATES?

Please note that the length of your visa does not equate to a length of stay. The expiration date on your visa only refers to the date by which you have to enter the United States. When you enter the United States, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will interview you. He or she will determine the amount of time you will be permitted to remain, and it is perfectly legitimate for you to be in the United States after your visa has expired as long as you do not stay past the date the CBP officer authorizes. Extensions of stay will generally be approved only for unexpected or compelling humanitarian reasons. To apply for an extension, contact the local U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office. USCIS is a part of the Department of Homeland Security.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN I LEAVE THE UNITED STATES?

At present, there are no departure formalities from the U.S.

However, in the near future, as part of US-VISIT, most visitors who require a visa will need to verify their departure. The US-VISIT system is being designed to make this check out process easy by planning the placement of automated self-service workstations in the international departure areas of airports and seaports. By scanning travel documents and capturing fingerprints on the same inkless device, the system is intended to validate the visitor’s identity, verify their departure, and confirm their compliance with U.S. immigration policy.

Compliance with these new security procedures is critical because the exit information will also be added to the individual’s travel record to protect their status for future visits to the United States.

WHAT IF U.S. BORDER AUTHORITIES DID NOT TAKE MY I-94 FORM WHEN I DEPARTED THE U.S.?

If you returned home with your Department of Homeland Security (DHS) departure record Form 1-94 (white) or Form T-94W (green) in your passport, it means that your departure was not recorded properly. It is your responsibility to correct this record. You must provide the DHS sufficient information so we can record your timely departure from the United States. This will close out your earlier record-of arrival to this country.

If you do not validate a timely departure from the United States, or if you cannot reasonably prove otherwise when you next apply far admission to the United States, the DHS may conclude you remained In the United States beyond your authorized stay. If this happens, the next time you apply to enter the United States, your visa may be subject to cancellation or you may be returned imrriediately to your foreign paint of origin.

In particular, visitors who remain beyond their permitted stay in the United States under the Visa Waiver Program cannot reenter the United States in the future without obtaining a visa from a United States Consulate. If this occurs and you arrive at a United States port-of-entry seeking admission under the Visa Waiver Program without a visa, United States immigration officers may order your immediate return to a foreign point of origin.

To validate departure, the DHS will consider a variety of information, including, but not limited to:

• Original boarding passes you used to depart the United States
• Photocopies of entry or departure stamps in your passport indicating entry to another country after you departed the United States (you should copy all passport pages that are not completely blank, and Include the biographical page containing your photograph), and
• Photocopies of other supporting evidence, such as:

• Dated pay slips or vouchers from your employer to indicate you worked in another country after you departed the United States

• Dated bank records showing transactions to indicate you were in another country after you left the United States

• School records showing attendance at a school outside the Unitad States to indicate you were in another country after you left the United States

• Dated credit card receipts, showing your name, but the credit card number deleted, for purchases made after you left the United States to indicate you were in another country after leaving the United States

Your statement will not be acceptable without supporting evidence such as noted above.

You must mail legible copies or original materials where possible. If you send original materials, you should retain a copy. The DHS cannot return original materials after processing. To help us understand the situation and correct your records quickly please Include an explanation letter in English. You must send your letter and enclosed information only to the following address:

ACS - DHS SBU
P.O. Box 7125
London, KY 40742-7125
USA

Do not mail your departure Form I-94 or supporting information to any United States Consulate or Embassy, to any other DHS office in the United States, or to any address other than the one above. Only at this location are we able to make the necessary corrections to DHS records to prevent inconvenience to you in the future.