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One can become a U.S. Citizen through a variety of means—birth in the United States, birth abroad to a U.S. citizen parent, or through the naturalization process. For all of these, a specific series of legal requirements must be met. At the U.S. Embassy in Singapore, we can provide certification of U.S. citizenship for eligible individuals born abroad to U.S. citizen parents. We also process Certificates of Loss of Nationality for those U.S. citizens who would like to give up their U.S. citizenship or believe that they have expatriated themselves.
For routine questions on services for American citizens, please review the information available on our website. You may contact us if you have further questions. For the quickest and most complete reply, we encourage you to email us at singaporeacs@state.gov. If you call, please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Applicants coming to the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy cannot bring large personal electronic devices to the Embassy. Those items include but are not limited to: laptops, iPads, and other tablet devices, or handheld gaming devices. Effective immediately, the Embassy Local Guard Force cannot store laptops and large electronic devices for customers. Please make arrangements to leave large devices elsewhere before arriving at the U.S. Embassy to avoid inconveniences.
International Parental Child Abduction
International parental child abduction is the removal or retention of a child outside their country of habitual residence in breach of another parent or guardian’s custody rights.
The Department of State is committed to ensuring fair and humane treatment for U.S. citizens imprisoned overseas. We stand ready to assist incarcerated citizens and their families within the limits of our authority in accordance with international law, domestic and foreign law.
Death is a time of crisis for the family and friends of the deceased, particularly if it occurs abroad and the procedures involved are not clearly understood. Even if no assistance is needed in making funeral arrangements, the death of an American citizen, whether resident or tourist, should be reported to the ACS Unit so that a Consular Report of Death of an American Citizen Abroad can be issued. This document is necessary to settle legal and estate matters in the United States.
The State Department is committed to assisting U.S. citizens who become victims of crime while abroad. We help in two ways: Overseas: consular officers, agents, and staff work with crime victims and help them with the local police and medical systems. In the United States: our office of Overseas Citizens Services will stay in touch with family members in the United States, and help provide U.S.-based resources for the victim when possible.
Emergency Financial Assistance
If destitute, an American citizen can get help from American Citizen Services. ACS can assist by contacting the destitute person’s family, friends, or business associates to raise private funds. ACS can also assist with transmitting these funds to destitute Americans. If no funds can be procured, then an application for a repatriation loan must be authorized by the Department of State to pay for destitute Americans’ direct return to the U.S. The destitute American’s passport is then restricted for direct return to the U.S. only.
Consular Affairs (CA) is the public face of the Department of State for millions of people around the world. We provide many services, and the most common are listed below.
U.S. Citizens overseas can renew passports, replace passports, or apply for new passports.
If you reside in Singapore and have questions regarding services provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA), you must contact the SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) located in Manila. For more information on their services and how to contact them, please visit their webpage at: https://ph.usembassy.gov/services/social-security/. For comprehensive information on SSA’s services abroad, please visit SSA’s webpage Service Around the World. If you are already receiving SSA benefits payments, there will be no change in the method of distribution of those payments.
Service members, Veterans, and their beneficiaries can apply for benefits services on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website at www.va.gov. The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) can also be of assistance if Veterans and beneficiaries have questions about benefits and services.
If you are a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder), you are responsible for filing U.S. federal income tax returns while abroad. You will find useful information on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website, such as Frequently Asked Questions about taxes or how to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). If you are a U.S. government employee working overseas, you cannot claim the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. For additional information, visit the IRS website.
U.S. embassies and consulates overseas assist the Selective Service System with its registration program abroad.
Now all U.S. citizens can receive their blank ballots electronically. Depending on the state in which you are eligible to vote, you may get your ballot by email, fax, or internet download. To start, go to www.FVAP.gov to complete a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), print and sign the form then return it to your local election office in the United States. If your state requires you to return paper ballots by mail, you may send them by international mail/courier service (SingPost, FedEx, DHL, etc.), or through U.S. Embassy Singapore’s diplomatic pouch. Ballots dropped at the embassy’s American Citizens Services unit during public hours 1) must be addressed to your local election officials, and 2) must have sufficient domestic U.S. postage or be in a postage-paid envelope. A postage-paid envelope label is available on the FVAP web site. Ballots dropped at the embassy may take up to four weeks to reach their destination.
The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the entities or individuals whose names appear on the following lists. Inclusion on this list is in no way an endorsement by the Department or the U.S. government. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other significance. The information on the list is provided directly by the local service providers; the Department is not in a position to vouch for such information.
Legal assistanceIn the event that you decide to pursue a legal remedy, you should review the list of attorneys who have expressed an interest in representing Americans. We cannot, however, recommend an individual attorney nor can we provide legal advice.
The Embassy strongly urges prospective adoptive parents in Singapore to consult with the Embassy before identifying or taking custody of a child or otherwise proceeding with any adoption case. The United States government is fully committed to protecting the welfare and interests of children and their parents and to preserving the integrity of the international adoption process. Prospective adoptive parents should be aware that U.S. law, and not a foreign court, determines if a particular child qualifies for an immigrant visa. An adoption by a court decree or comparable order by a competent authority does not automatically qualify a child for an immigrant visa for entry into the United States.
Births
A child born outside the United States to a U.S. citizen parent or parents may be eligible for U.S. citizenship if the parent(s) meets the requirements for transmitting U.S. citizenship under the Immigration and Nationality Act. U.S. citizens eligible to transmit citizenship are required to file for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA).
Though I was born and raised in Indiana, my parents are from Ethiopia and immigrated to the US in the late 80s. Alongside my grandmother, they raised me and my older siblings, working long hours and…
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Please call: 6476-9100
Outside of Office Hours, contact: 6476-9100
Outside of Singapore: +65-6476-9100
Emergency Contact – All Locations Enroll in STEP International Parental Child Abduction Arrest of a U.S. Citizen Death of a U.S. Citizen Victims of Crime Emergency Financial Assistance
