The E3 visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows Australian professionals to enter the United States to pursue a professional position relevant to their field of expertise.
This “Australian Specialty Occupation Professional” visa is available only to professionals, meaning the applicant must have a university degree, and the occupation they are seeking must require university-level skills and knowledge.
The applicant must be an Australian citizen, have a legitimate job offer in the US for a position that qualifies as a “specialty occupation,” and be able to demonstrate that they have the appropriate qualifications and experience.
E3 visas allow the holder to remain in the US for two years, with no limit on the number of two-year extensions (in most cases).
The visa holder’s spouse and dependent children (who must be unmarried and under 21 years of age) may also accompany them on a dependent visa. The spouse may apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), which also allows them to work in the United States.
It refers to the “Other Workers” sub-category of EB-3, which allows foreign nationals to obtain U.S. permanent residency via a full-time, permanent job offer in the U.S. that requires less than two years of training or experience, meaning a university degree is not required.
A U.S. employer must offer a permanent, full-time position (not temporary or seasonal) and obtain the labor certification showing no qualified U.S. workers are available for that job.
Yes — for the “Other Workers” (unskilled workers) sub-category, the Applicant must be able to perform a job requiring less than two years of training or experience.
Yes — even without a degree, the employer must obtain the permanent labor certification from the U.S. Department of Labor and then file the petition (Form I-140) with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Not necessarily — while the degree-requirement is waived in the “Other Workers” category, the process is still subject to visa quotas, priority-date waiting lists, and the usual employment-based immigration rigour.
The spouse and unmarried children under 21 of the principal beneficiary are eligible to accompany or follow-to-join once the principal’s petition is approved and visa number is available.
Common eligible roles include laborers, housekeeping/cleaning staff, food service workers, agricultural workers, warehouse staff and other roles requiring minimal formal education or training.
