AdminSingapore and the United States both attract skilled professionals with high pay, global employers and a path to long-term residence. But in 2027, both are harder to enter than older guides suggest. Singapore is raising salary floors on 1 January 2027. The US has added a $100,000 fee on some new H-1B petitions and made its lottery favor higher-paid jobs.
This guide explains the current routes, the in-demand fields, and how to avoid expensive mistakes.
The Short Version
- Singapore is salary-driven. The Employment Pass (EP) minimum rises to S$6,000 a month for new applications from 1 January 2027, and you must also pass a points test.
- The US is lottery- and fee-driven. The H-1B has an annual cap, selection is now weighted by wage level, and a $100,000 fee may apply to some workers who are abroad.
- Neither country guarantees sponsorship. The employer applies, and approval is never certain.
- Settlement is slower and discretionary. Singapore permanent residence (PR) is not automatic, and US green card waits depend on your category.
- Scams target job seekers. Never pay for a job offer.
Singapore and the USA at a Glance
| Singapore | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Main skilled route | Employment Pass (EP) | H-1B, O-1, employment-based green card |
| Who applies | Your employer | Your employer (O-1 can use an agent) |
| Key hurdle | Salary threshold plus COMPASS points | Annual cap, weighted lottery, possible $100,000 fee |
| Mid-skilled route | S Pass, with quotas and levies | Limited; most roles need degree-level work |
| Route to settlement | PR, assessed case by case | Employment-based green card, with queues |
| Language | English widely used | English |
Singapore: Your Visa Options
Employment Pass (EP). The EP is for professionals, managers and executives. Your employer applies through MOM. The qualifying salary is S$5,600 a month for most sectors and S$6,200 for financial services, rising with age. For new applications from 1 January 2027, it increases to S$6,000 (S$6,600 for financial services), climbing to about S$11,500 for applicants aged 45 and above. Renewals follow the higher rates from 1 January 2028.
Meeting the salary is not enough. Applicants also need at least 40 points under the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS), which scores salary against local peers, qualifications, diversity of the employer’s workforce and support for local employment. A fixed monthly salary of S$22,500 or more exempts you from COMPASS. Employers must also generally advertise the job locally under the Fair Consideration Framework.
S Pass. The S Pass is for mid-skilled staff such as technicians. The minimum salary is S$3,300 now and rises to S$3,600 (S$4,000 in financial services) for new applications from 1 January 2027. S Pass hiring is limited by employer quotas, and employers pay a monthly levy, currently S$650 per worker. That makes S Pass candidates more expensive to hire than they appear.
ONE Pass. The Overseas Networks and Expertise (ONE) Pass is for top-tier talent. It requires a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000, or outstanding achievements in fields such as research, arts or sport. It is not tied to one employer and lasts five years. A new ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track is planned to replace the Tech.Pass from January 2027, and reports say part of the S$30,000 may be met through vested equity.
Permanent residence. An EP or S Pass can lead to a PR application, but approval is discretionary and not guaranteed after a set number of years.
Singapore: Fields With Demand
Hiring in Singapore centres on technology, finance, engineering and research. Roles that regularly appear in work-pass discussions include software engineers, data and AI specialists, cybersecurity professionals, finance and risk professionals, and engineers in infrastructure and energy. Recruiters report that AI skills are especially hard to find.
Do not assume a salary range from an old article. Your offer must clear the qualifying salary for your age and sector, and COMPASS compares you with local peers in the same job. A role that pays well in another country can still fall short in Singapore.
How to apply
- Search MyCareersFuture, company career pages and LinkedIn.
- Confirm the company is genuinely registered through Singapore’s business registry, ACRA.
- Interview and get the job title, salary and start date in writing.
- Ask your employer to check your EP salary and COMPASS score before filing.
- Let the employer submit the application through MOM.
Singapore does not use a UK-style sponsor register, so do not rely on advice to “check whether the company is a registered EP sponsor.” Check the company itself.
USA: Your Visa Options
H-1B (specialty occupation). The H-1B is the main route for degree-level professionals. The cap is 85,000 new visas a year (65,000 regular plus 20,000 for US advanced degree holders). Employers register in March, and USCIS selects registrations when demand exceeds the cap. A weighted selection rule effective 27 February 2026 gives better odds to registrations tied to higher wage levels, so entry-level roles are at a disadvantage.
The $100,000 fee. A September 2025 proclamation requires a $100,000 payment for certain new H-1B petitions unless an exception applies. It generally applies to workers outside the US and not to many change-of-status cases for people already in valid status, such as students. The fee has survived at least one court challenge, and efforts to exempt healthcare workers had not succeeded when we checked. Ask any employer upfront whether they will pay it.
Cap-exempt H-1B. Universities, affiliated nonprofits and some research organisations can file without the lottery, which makes academic and research jobs attractive.
O-1 (extraordinary ability). This is for people with sustained acclaim in fields such as science, business, arts or athletics. It requires strong evidence and is not a back door for average candidates.
Employment-based green card (EB-2 and EB-3). Most applicants need an employer to complete PERM labour certification first. EB-2 suits advanced-degree or exceptional-ability roles, and EB-3 covers professionals and skilled workers. Waiting times have eased for some categories in 2026 but can lengthen again, so check the monthly Visa Bulletin. Some applicants can qualify for EB-2 through a National Interest Waiver (NIW) without an employer, but the standard is demanding.
TN (Canadian and Mexican citizens). The TN visa under USMCA is for citizens of Canada and Mexico in listed professions. It has no lottery.
USA: Fields With Demand
Technology and AI. Software, data and AI roles remain the most visible H-1B users. Because the lottery now favors higher wage levels, mid-level and senior candidates are better placed than juniors.
Engineering. Civil, electrical and mechanical engineers can qualify when the role requires a degree, and employers in infrastructure and energy hire internationally.
Registered nurses and physical therapists. These roles are on Schedule A, which lets employers skip PERM labour certification and file the green card petition directly. Nurses rarely use H-1B because most bedside roles do not count as specialty occupations. You still need to meet licensing and English requirements, and visa queues apply. Occupational therapists are not on Schedule A and usually follow the standard PERM route.
Pharmacists and clinical researchers. Licensure is state-based and usually takes years for foreign graduates. Hospital and academic employers are often the most realistic sponsors.
Finance and consulting. These fields hire internationally, but sponsorship depends on your role level and the employer’s tolerance for the H-1B lottery and fees.
How to Find Real Sponsors in the US
- Use LinkedIn, Indeed and company career pages, but treat the “visa sponsorship” filter as a starting point, not proof.
- Check past filings on MyVisaJobs or H1BGrader, which draw on public Labor Department data.
- Prioritise cap-exempt employers if you are abroad and want to avoid the lottery.
- Prepare a US-style resume: concise, achievement-focused and without a photo.
- Ask about the $100,000 fee, the lottery and the green card plan before you accept an offer.
Which Country Fits You?
Singapore may fit if you are a mid-career professional with a strong salary offer, you want a smaller, fast-moving market, and you can accept that PR is uncertain.
The US may fit if you have a degree-level profile, can wait through selection or green card queues, and work in a field with clear demand, such as nursing, engineering, healthcare or technology.
Neither may fit yet if you are early in your career, your offer is below the thresholds, or an agent is promising a guaranteed visa. In that case, build experience, improve your credentials and consider other destinations.
Avoid Sponsorship Scams
- A genuine employer does not charge you for a job offer, a work pass or a petition.
- No agent can guarantee an EP, an H-1B selection or a green card.
- Verify the company’s registration, website and recruiter contact details independently.
- In Singapore, your employer files the EP application. Be cautious if someone asks you to buy the pass yourself.
- Never pay by gift cards, cryptocurrency or personal bank transfers to unknown people.
- Use a regulated immigration adviser or attorney for your own case.
Conclusion
Singapore and the United States still offer strong careers for skilled foreign workers, but both now reward candidates who are well paid, well documented and well matched to a genuine shortage. For Singapore, aim for an offer that clears the 2027 salary floor and the COMPASS test. For the US, plan around the lottery, the possible $100,000 fee and green card timelines.
Start with the official rules, verify every employer, and make decisions on current facts rather than on guides written before the 2026 changes.
This article is for general information and is not legal advice. Check the latest rules with MOM, USCIS and the US State Department, or speak to a regulated immigration adviser.
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