E-3 Visa

The E-3 Visa is a new Work Visa category available only to Australian citizens. The E-3 Treaty Professional Visa is a temporary work visa, and is usually issued for 2 years at a time. United States legislation limits the E-3 Visa to citizens of Australia. The primary E-3 Work Visa applicant must be going to the United States for the purpose of working in a specialty occupation. The spouse and children of the main E-3 Visa applicant do not need to be Australian citizens. Spouses of E-3 Visa holders are entitled to E-3D (dependent) Visas and work authorization. E-3 Visa Eligibility Requirements: The term "Specialty Occupation" means an occupation that requires theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and attainment of a bachelor's or higher degree in the specific specialty (or its equivalent). In order for someone to qualify for the E-3 visa, they must meet these minimum requirements. The definition is the same as the Immigration and Nationality Act definition of an H-1B specialty occupation. E-3 Visa Additional Information: The annual quota for E-3 Visas is 10,500. This a very high quota, especially considering only 900 Australians succeeded in obtaining H-1B Work Visas in 2004. The H-1B Work Visa has an annual cap of 65,000. This quota applies to citizens of all countries in the world, while the E-3 Visa is available only to Australians. If you are an Australian citizen, the E-3 Visa can be easier to obtain than the H-1B Work Visa. E-3 Work Visas are temporary visas, meaning that when the visa expires, the individual has to leave the United States. E-3 Work Visas are usually issued for 2 years. However, E-3 Visas may be renewed indefinitely, in two-year extensions.Other Work Visas:
H-1B Work Visa is available to college-educated professionals
H-2B Work Visa is available to temporary workers on non-agricultural jobs
TN NAFTA Work Visas are available exclusively to Canadian and Mexican citizens