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Navigating the H1B1 visa process (updated 2024)
For Singaporeans who want to work in the US, we have the benefit of applying for a special H1B1 visa. This H1B1 visa is a subset of the H-1B visa commonly used by the rest of the world, but the application process is fundamentally different.
The good news is it’s wayyyy easier and faster to obtain the H1B1 visa.
Since I have gone through the process three times, I decided to document the entire process in detail to share with fellow applicants. The US administrative process to apply for the H1B1 visa is complicated and there is a scarcity of information about the process online. It might surprise you to know that even professional immigration firms are not well versed in H1B1 and have been known to make serious mistakes, so I hope this guide will save you a lot of anguish on this crucial journey.
What’s the H1B1 visa for Singaporeans?
The H1B1 visa is considered a temporary non-immigrant visa. It allows qualified professionals to temporarily live and work in the United States. It is important to note the non-immigrant intent of this visa type when considering which visa type to go for, and when preparing for the embassy interview. Proving “non-immigrant intent” by demonstrating family ties and property ownership in Singapore may play a part in the approval process.
If you have successfully landed yourself a job in the US (congrats!), you will need to begin the H1B1 visa application process immediately. Typically the immigration lawyers engaged by your new company will guide you through the process. However, since as this is not a common visa type and only applicable for Singaporeans and Chileans, not all lawyers are familiar with the entire process. (We’ve heard of many instances where the firms messed up or caused costly delays.) Given how any delays can cause you thousands of dollars in salary/relocation issues, I urge you to be kiasu and do your own due diligence!
Other visa types which Singaporeans typically use to work in the US are the L1 visa (internal company transfers) and the H1B visa (lottery basis). I will not go into details on these two visa types as there are plenty of online resources about them.
