May 2025 US Embassy in Singapore Updates on MRV Fee Payment and Contacting the Embassy

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.

Below are the most recent updates with regard to MRV Fee Payment and Contacting the US Embassy in Singapore.

MRV Fee Payment

Please note that there are now only two modes of MRV fee payment for nonimmigrant visas (including H-1B1 visas) with the US Embassy in Singapore (per the US Travel Docs website for Singapore here):

1. Pay in-person (only possible if you are in Singapore):  Pay in-person with Cash or with a Debit card at VFS Global located at 79 Anson Road, #15-02, Singapore 0799062. 

2. Pay Online:  Credit/Debit card.

(Electronic Fund Transfer/EFT is no longer a valid mode of payment)

The most efficient payment method is to do so online via #2 - Credit/Debit card .  The problem is that at present only Mastercard is allowed (i.e. other cards such as a Visa card or American Express card, etc. are not accepted).  This is rather strange since many people use other types of cards besides Mastercard.  Having said that, if you do not have a Mastercard, one solution is to purchase a Mastercard gift card from here.  

Contacting the Embassy

The US Embassy in Singapore could historically be contacted via email at: Singaporecon@state.gov, and responses were usually prompt.  But as of now, this email is no longer in use for routine inquiries (although it may still be used if the Embassy directs an applicant to use it for post-interview document submission for the purposes of administrative processing).

As of now, to ensure that inquiries to the US Embassy in Singapore will be responded to, you will generally have to use the new interview booking US Travel Docs platform at https://www.usvisascheduling.com/ and choose the "Feedback/Requests" tab to send a message.

Further or in the alternative, the customer help desk hotline for the US Embassy in Singapore is currently still working for telephonic inquiries (8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Singapore time): 

A. Dial +65 3158 5400 if you are in Singapore, or 

B. Dial 703 520 2238 if you are in the United States. 

Disclaimer:  This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

February 2025 Interview Waiver Update in Singapore

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 Singaporeans seeking US visas, including H-1B1 visas, at the US Embassy in Singapore, please note that as of February 18, 2025, the Department of State has updated the categories of applicants that may be eligible for an interview waiver.  Consular officers have the authority and discretion to waive an in-person interview for the following categories:

• Applicants classifiable under the visa symbols A-1, A-2, C-3 (except attendants, servants, or personal employees of accredited officials), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-6, or TECRO E-1;
• Applicants for diplomatic- or official-type visas; and
• Applicants who previously held a visa in the same category that expired less than 12 months prior to the new application.

Applicants must also meet certain criteria, including that they:

• apply in their country of nationality or residence;
• have never been refused a visa (unless such refusal was overcome or waived); and
• have no apparent or potential ineligibility.

What this means for you as a Singaporean H-1B1 visa applicant is that if you have previously held an H-1B1 visa that is still valid or has expired within the last 12 months, you may generally qualify for an interview waiver with the U.S. Embassy in Singapore. 

Although thankfully interview waivers have not been totally eliminated yet, Singaporeans are reminded that the interview waiver program is discretionary.  In other words, applicants may still be called in by the Embassy for an in-person interview on a case-by-case basis at any time.

Furthermore, as I have explained in a previous blog post here, the Changi drop-off/pick-up location has been quite problematic for the interview waiver process involving H-1B1 cases.  In my opinion, it would be safer for you to use the Orchard Road drop-off/pick-up location even though using the Orchard Road one will cost you an extra SGD $18 (See my other blog post here regarding the discontinuance of the Chinatown drop-off/pick-up location and for details regarding the Orchard Road drop-off/pick-up location). 

Disclaimer:  This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.