E-3 (Visa)

You may be eligible for this visa if you are an Australian national and entering the US to perform services in a special occupation.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• You must be an Australian national
• You must perform services in a special occupation* in the United States
• You must have qualifications fitting to the special occupation
 

GENERALLY REQUIRED EVIDENCE

• Proof of Australian nationality
• A letter from the prospective US employer describing the alien’s occupation, the alien’s anticipated length of stay, and salary/remuneration arrangements
• Evidence that the alien meets the educational requirements for the position to be filed (a bachelor’s degree or higher or its equivalent in the specific specialty occupation)
• Evidence that the alien meets any licensing or other occupational requirements
• Evidence that the prospective US employer has filed with DOL a labor condition application (LCA) specifically designated for E-3 Specialty Occupations
 

PROCEDURE

Stage 1: Collecting Evidence        
Stage 2: Employer's FEIN Verification        
Stage 3: File LCA        
Stage 4: Submit Petition to USCIS        
Stage 5: Approval
 

EXCEPTIONS & NOTICE

A. Special Occupation generally refers to jobs which require the theoretical and practical application of highly specialized knowledge along with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution
B. The time period between Stage 1 and Stage 2 may vary case by case due to the complexity of your occupation and the employer’s entity
C. E-3 visa is same as H-1B visa, except for the following aspects:

Differences                                         E-3                                                         H-1B
Nationality                                      Australia                                       Any foreign national
Visa Duration    Initial 2 years and Extension may be indefinite  Initial 3 years and Extension                                                                     for only 3 years (unless you are qualified for a special condition)                                                                            
A yearly cap for new visa              10,500    US Master Degree: 20,000 Bachelor Degree: 65,000
Spouse's work authorization in USA    Yes                                                         No
Effective Date for new visa                                                               October 1st of each year