E-3 Australian Specialty Occupation Visa

The E-3 is a nonimmigrant classification is specific to citizens and nationals of Australia. The E-3 allows U.S. employers to seek temporary employment authorization for certain professional Australian workers to work for the U.S. employer in a specialty occupation.

What is an E-3 Specialty Occupation?

The position in which the Australian worker will be employed must meet the definition of “specialty occupation” (i.e., require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or its foreign equivalent to perform the job duties). Additionally, the foreign worker must have a U.S. Bachelor’s Degree or its foreign equivalent in a relevant field and be otherwise qualified to perform the job duties of the specialty occupation position.

Australian workers may be approved for E-3 status for two (2) years at a time. However, there is no maximum period of time in which an individual can be employed in E-3 status. There is an annual limit on the number of E-3 visas of 10,500. However, this maximum has never been reached.

How to Apply for E-3 Visa

A U.S. employer may file a petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) requesting E-3 status for an Australian professional worker in a specialty occupation. However, qualified Australian workers with an employment offer from a U.S. employer in a specialty occupation can apply for an E-3 visa directly at a U.S. Embassy abroad without first having a petition approved by USCIS.

E-3 Family Members

Additionally, the spouse and children of an E-3 Australian Specialty Worker may be eligible for E-3 Dependent status. Spouses in E-3 Dependent status are eligible to apply for an employment authorization document (EAD) in order to work in the United States. Children on E-3 Dependent Status are eligible to attend school in the United States.

An Attorney Who Is Knowledgeable about E-3 Visas

Attorney Samuel Randall is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association His in-depth knowledge of immigration law enables him to efficiently identify your options, effectively explain them to you, and get the best outcome.

Contact Us for a Consultation

We will actively and compassionately help you navigate through the complex immigration process. Attorney Randall is knowledgeable and experienced in helping clients, their family members, or their employees gain legal status. In addition, he is a member of the following organizations:

American Immigration Lawyers Association
Arizona Employment Lawyers Association
State Bar of Arizona, Employment and Labor Law Section