Singapore Expats

Hi
I'm an Indian SPR who is also a graduate from NUS. Me and my spouse (another NUS graduate & Indian) have been granted SPR two years back. I'm working as a software engineer in Autodesk. We were married recently and we have also registered our marriage in Singapore. We will be applying for the Singaporean Citizenship. I have heard that, with Singaporean citizenship, its possible to get a H1B1 visa in the US. I'm awaiting a job offer in the US by end of this year. Any idea on how long is the processing period for the citizenship? The ICA website claims its 6 months to 2 years. I have heard from people saying it takes longer than that.

sgaeiou wrote:Hi
I'm an Indian SPR who is also a graduate from NUS. Me and my spouse (another NUS graduate & Indian) have been granted SPR last year. I'm working as a software engineer in Autodesk. We were married recently and we have also registered our marriage in Singapore. We have applied for the Singaporean Citizenship. I have heard that, with Singaporean citizenship, its possible to get a H1B1 visa in the US. I'm awaiting a job offer in the US by end of this year. Any idea on how long is the processing period for the citizenship? The ICA website claims its 6 months to 2 years. I have heard from people saying it takes longer than that.

I'm not sure I'm getting this right - You applied for SC after one year of being a PR? I'd thought that the minimum requirement is two years of SPR. The regulars would tell you that it's advisable to apply for SC after at least one round of REP renewal.

And you plan to leave Singapore to work in the US? So the intention of applying for SC is? Obtain the red passport as a springboard to get to the States?

Maybe you should first worry about whether or not you can have your REP renewed when it's due.

jamie9vardy wrote:

sgaeiou wrote:Hi
I'm an Indian SPR who is also a graduate from NUS. Me and my spouse (another NUS graduate & Indian) have been granted SPR last year. I'm working as a software engineer in Autodesk. We were married recently and we have also registered our marriage in Singapore. We have applied for the Singaporean Citizenship. I have heard that, with Singaporean citizenship, its possible to get a H1B1 visa in the US. I'm awaiting a job offer in the US by end of this year. Any idea on how long is the processing period for the citizenship? The ICA website claims its 6 months to 2 years. I have heard from people saying it takes longer than that.

I'm not sure I'm getting this right - You applied for SC one year after being a PR? I'd thought that the minimum requirement is two years of SPR. The regulars would tell you that it's advisable to apply for SC after at least one round of REP renewal.

And you plan to leave Singapore to work in the US? So the intention of applying for SC is? Obtain the red passport as a springboard to get to the States?

Maybe you should first worry about whether or not you can have your REP renewed when it's due.

Sorry, my bad. Its about 2 years and 2 months now on SPR.

sgaeiou wrote:Hi
I'm an Indian SPR who is also a graduate from NUS. Me and my spouse (another NUS graduate & Indian) have been granted SPR two years back. I'm working as a software engineer in Autodesk. We were married recently and we have also registered our marriage in Singapore. We have applied for the Singaporean Citizenship. I have heard that, with Singaporean citizenship, its possible to get a H1B1 visa in the US. I'm awaiting a job offer in the US by end of this year. Any idea on how long is the processing period for the citizenship? The ICA website claims its 6 months to 2 years. I have heard from people saying it takes longer than that.

Somehow, I don't think this is going to fly very well. You essentially want SG citizenship so you can leave Singapore for the USA on a H1B1 visa, yes? I just don't think that's the kind of citizens Singapore is looking for.

sgaeiou wrote:The ICA website claims its 6 months to 2 years. I have heard from people saying it takes longer than that.

As of what I know from the website it is 6 months to 1 year. But it may take a bit more longer than that on a case to case basis.

Have you submitted your application with the documents at ICA?

If you are trying to take SG Citizenship just for the sake of a working visa in USA, your chances are going to be very slim. Also, 2+ years of SPR may not be enough for getting citizenship ( based on the ethnicity and other details that you have quoted in your initial post)

sgaeiou wrote:Hi
I'm an Indian SPR who is also a graduate from NUS. Me and my spouse (another NUS graduate & Indian) have been granted SPR two years back. I'm working as a software engineer in Autodesk. We were married recently and we have also registered our marriage in Singapore. We have applied for the Singaporean Citizenship. I have heard that, with Singaporean citizenship, its possible to get a H1B1 visa in the US. I'm awaiting a job offer in the US by end of this year. Any idea on how long is the processing period for the citizenship? The ICA website claims its 6 months to 2 years. I have heard from people saying it takes longer than that.

careful .... for posting your intentions to obtain a SG citizenship ....
especially when ICA always have heads poking around.

now that you have profiled yourself, if ICA happens to read this post ... well good luck to your application or REP renewal .

@dynoto, you have quoted the entire OP post and asking him to be careful

sgaeiou wrote:I have heard that, with Singaporean citizenship, its possible to get a H1B1 visa in the US. I'm awaiting a job offer in the US by end of this year. .

And Indians wonder why Singapore is making life difficult for PR and SC applicants from India ...

You wouldn't, by any chance, withdraw your SC application right ?

I don't think your proposed plan or timeline is realistic.

Autodesk is an international company with considerable U.S. presence. You may qualify for a U.S. assignment with Autodesk on an L-1B visa.

singaporeflyer wrote:@dynoto, you have quoted the entire OP post and asking him to be careful

ain't just me quoting it either.

BBCWatcher wrote:I don't think your proposed plan or timeline is realistic.

Autodesk is an international company with considerable U.S. presence. You may qualify for a U.S. assignment with Autodesk on an L-1B visa.

to me ... it doesn't sound like he's planning for some U.S assignment while still working with his current company.
if he did, the company would have at least assisted on necessary arrangements including finding a suitable visa

dynoto wrote:

BBCWatcher wrote:I don't think your proposed plan or timeline is realistic.

Autodesk is an international company with considerable U.S. presence. You may qualify for a U.S. assignment with Autodesk on an L-1B visa.

to me ... it doesn't sound like he's planning for some U.S assignment while still working with his current company.
if he did, the company would have at least assisted on necessary arrangements including finding a suitable visa

You gotta have a very open mind there and let the guy keep all his options open pun intended

My application was rejected after 11 months, the service standard for ICA is ASAP-as slow as possible, that day the officer told some cases will be taken more than 2 years, can you imagine it?

We've been telling you all this for the past 12 months. But nobody wants to hear the cold hard truths. What to do?