I am a Singaporean U.S. immigration attorney based in Los Angeles specializing in H-1B1 visas for Singaporeans.  My California State Bar record can be found here and my law firm website can be found here.  Feel free to connect with me on Linkedin. Because the H-1B1 visa is not suitable for Singaporeans wishing to be self-employed and to run their own businesses in the U.S., I often end up suggesting to Singaporeans to consider an E-2 visa.   I summarize the key requirements for an E-2 visa for Singaporeans below. E-2 Visa for Singaporeans Requirement ..read more

I am a Singaporean U.S. immigration attorney based in Los Angeles specializing in H-1B1 visas for Singaporeans.  My California State Bar record can be found here and my law firm website can be found here.  Feel free to connect with me on Linkedin. For interested Singaporean citizens who are born in Singapore*, the Fiscal Year 2025 U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery opens on October 4, 2023.   *Eligibility for entering the Green Card Lottery is based on country of birth and not citizenship, as discussed below. H-1B1 and the DV Lottery Some Singaporeans seeking a ..read more

I am a Singaporean U.S. immigration attorney based in Los Angeles specializing in H-1B1 visas for Singaporeans.  My California State Bar record can be found here and my law firm website can be found here.  Feel free to connect with me on Linkedin. I am writing to provide two updates regarding the H-1B1 consular processing services in Singapore; 1.  MRV Fees for H-1B1 to Increase from $190 USD to $205 USD effective June 17, 2023 The MRV (Machine Readable Visa) Fee for the H-1B1 visa has traditionally been $190 USD per applicant.  As of June 17, 2023 (sli ..read more

I am a Singaporean U.S. immigration attorney based in Los Angeles specializing in H-1B1 visas for Singaporeans.  My California State Bar record can be found here.  Feel free to connect with me on Linkedin. On June 22, 2020, President Trump issued Presidential Proclamation 10052 (subsequently amended on June 29, 2020) "Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak" (the "Proclamation") impacting certain nonimmigrant visas. Of note is whether this Proclamation (as amended) would encompass H-1B1 visas sin ..read more

I am a Singaporean U.S. immigration attorney based in Los Angeles specializing in H-1B1 visas for Singaporeans.  My California State Bar record can be found here.  Feel free to connect with me on Linkedin. In this blog post I will explain the difference between (1) H-1B1 visa validity duration, and (2) period of authorized H-1B1 admission, and how this helps you to "stretch" your H-1B1 visa usage toward the end of your first year on H-1B1 status. You may have come across inconsistent information regarding a 1-year duration or 18-month duration. Specifically, you may have ..read more

I am a Singaporean U.S. immigration attorney based in Los Angeles specializing in H-1B1 visas for Singaporeans.  My California State Bar record can be found here and my law firm website can be found here.  Feel free to connect with me on Linkedin. An H-1B1 (Singapore) visa, like any temporary (non-green-card) U.S. work visa, has its own pros and cons.  But a notable advantage is that it is NOT subject to the H-1B lottery.  Nevertheless, there is one situation where an H-1B visa may be a more useful option than the H-1B1 (Singapore) visa. If you are a Sin ..read more

I am a Singaporean U.S. immigration attorney based in Los Angeles specializing in H-1B1 visas for Singaporeans.  My California State Bar record can be found here and my law firm website can be found here.  Feel free to connect with me on Linkedin. In this blog post I address the following questions from Singaporeans who are currently on H-1B status but were on H-1B1 status immediately before that: (1) Does H-1B1 time count towards H-1B time? (2) If so, can any time spent outside the U.S. during H-1B1 also be recaptured and added towards my H-1B time? I answer the ..read more

I am a Singaporean U.S. immigration attorney based in Los Angeles specializing in H-1B1 visas for Singaporeans.  My California State Bar record can be found here and my law firm website can be found here.  Feel free to connect with me on Linkedin. Singaporeans who wish to continue working for their H-1B1 employer will inevitably face the question of: how can I extend my H-1B1 with the same employer?  There are two mechanisms for this: #1.  Apply for a new H-1B1 visa at the U.S. Embassy in Singapore* #2.  Have your employer file an I-129 petition wi ..read more

I am a Singaporean U.S. immigration attorney based in Los Angeles specializing in H-1B1 visas for Singaporeans.  My California State Bar record can be found here and my law firm website can be found here.  Feel free to connect with me on Linkedin. Singaporeans working on H-1B1 status in the U.S. may wonder if they have any grace period after their employment is terminated.   The answer is Yes, but some discussion is warranted.  The applicable federal regulation is found in 8 CFR 214.1(l)(2), which provides as follows:  An alien admitted or othe ..read more

I am a Singaporean U.S. immigration attorney based in Los Angeles specializing in H-1B1 visas for Singaporeans.  My California State Bar record can be found here and my law firm website can be found here.  Feel free to connect with me on Linkedin. If you are currently working in the U.S. on H-1B1 (Singapore) status and are thinking of getting married to an American citizen, you may be wondering if (and how) you can apply for a green card based on the marriage. First off, it is possible to apply for a green card while you are in the U.S. on H-1B1 status – the proce ..read more