E-3 Visa: Certain Specialty Occupation Professionals from Australia
E-3 Visa - Description
If you are a national of Australia the E-3 classification applies to you. In order to be eligible, you must be coming to the U.S. solely to perform services in a specialty occupation. The specialty occupation requires theoretical and practical application of a body of knowledge in professional fields and at least the attainment of a bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, as a minimum for entry into the occupation in the U.S.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for an E-3 visa, you must demonstrate that you:
Are a national of Australia
Have a legitimate offer of employment in the U.S.
Possess the necessary academic or other qualifying credentials
Will fill a position that qualifies as a specialty occupation
How to Apply for an E-3 Visa from Within the United States
The Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker is used to apply for a change of status to obtain E-4 nonimmigrant temporary worker classification.
Required Supporting Document
Your Form I-129 must include the following documents:
A Labor Condition Application (LCA) which cannot be the same application used in a previous H-1B application. Until the Department of Labor develops a new LCA for an E-3, the applicant should use the standard ETA-9035 and ask that it be annotated as an E-3 LCA.
Academic or other credentials demonstrating qualifications for the position
Job offer letter or other documentation from the employer establishing that you will be engaged in a specialty occupation and that you will be paid the higher of the actual or prevailing wage
If required, before you may commence employment in the specialty occupation, you must have the necessary license or other official permission to practice in the specialty occupation.
How to Apply for an E-3 Visa with a United States Embassy or Consulate
If your petition Form I-129 is approved, we will forward a Form I-797, Notice of Action/Approval to the employer, who in turn will forward it to you. A Form I-797 approval notice is not a U.S. visa, as the visa must be obtained at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. After Form I-129 is approved by USCIS, the next step is to apply for a U.S. visa at a US. embassy or consulate, generally in your country of residence abroad.
How Long is the Period of Stay for an E-3 Visa?
2 years
Extension of Stay
Up to 2 years per extension; no maximum number of extensions, with some exceptions.
Change of Employment
Your new employer must file a new Labor Condition Application and a new E-3 visa application. The gap between the jobs must be 10 days or less
Note: Form I-129 is used to apply for an extension of stay or change of employment.
Family of E-3 Visa Holders
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age are entitled to the same E-3 classification. Your spouse is entitled to work authorization, but not your children. To apply for work authorization as a spouse of an E-3 nonimmigrant, your spouse would file a Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.