It is one of the largest American embassies in the Asia-Pacific region and the focal point for events relating to the United States held in Singapore.

Although Singapore was an important free trade port, there was some question over whether Americans were legally allowed to conduct business there by the British, and so he was officially assigned to "Rhio (Riau, then a part of the Dutch East Indies) and such other places as are nearer thereto than to the Residence of any other Consul or Vice Consul of the United States" while residing in Singapore and mostly conducting business related to the territory.

[6] Although the United States first proposed that the post be raised to embassy status in late 1965, the Singaporean government took a while to warm up to the idea as it gradually shifted to improve relations with the US while maintaining a non-aligned stance overall, and the promotion was finally agreed to and executed in April 1966.

[11] In March 2024, the U.S. Department of State Office of Inspector General released a report on Ambassador Jonathan E. Kaplan.

The audit found that Kaplan had threatened embassy staff and made poor relations with the Singapore government.