Going global seems to be the latest trend in MNCs and various other global platforms. This concept does not merely include hiring in international markets. Going global is so much more than that, it means bringing talent and diversity to your business from other countries.
The E3 Visa is an exclusive US Visa for Australians which allows them to live and work in the US. This makes it easier for American companies to gain access to the talent from the South Pacific. The E3 Visa process is quite simple when done with proper professional guidance. It is not as lengthy and time-consuming as the H1B visa.
The E3 visa was originally introduced into the US immigration system during the year 2005. This visa gives Australia and the permit to work in the United States. The E3 visa is also much easier to obtain as compared to the H-1B visa.
Moving on let us have a look at the various aspect of the E3 visa:
- Eligibility
In order to be eligible to E3 visa, employees must be a citizen of Australia and must have legitimate employment from a U.S company. Also, one should make sure that their position/occupation must qualify as a specialty occupation. A specialty occupation is that which requires “theoretical and practical application of a body of knowledge in the professional field” along with this a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent. This is the minimum requirement for the entry into the occupation in the U.S.
These specialty occupations include occupations like software developers, fashion designers, architects, scientists and many more. The applicants should demonstrate a non-immigrant intent before applying for an E3 visa as this type of visa is not a dual intent visa.
- Benefits of E3 visa
One of the main advantages of the E3 visa is that the spouse of the visa holder is also eligible to work legally in the US. This is the biggest difference between H-1B visa and E3 visa. H-1B visa requires the spouse to have an individual visa or requires the spouse to be a citizen of the US in order to be eligible to work there.
The E3 visa is eligible for renewal every two years and this can be done without any restrictions regarding the number of extensions. Any other type of work permit has a certain time limit. For an instance, people who have H-1B visa only allow the employees to maintain visa status for up to six years. The E3 visa also has much lower filing fees as compared to the other work permits.
The E3 visa does not hold a lottery. There is a limit of 10,500 visas that will be granted, however, the number of applicants have not approached that limit. This means that all the eligible Australian workers who apply for this visa will receive it. The process is furthermore simplified as the E3 visa applicant does not require employees to file an I-129 petition with the USCIS. Employees who are aspiring to go to Australia can directly apply to the U.S consulate abroad.
- Employer requirements for an E3 visa
First and foremost thing is that each and every employee who is applying for the E3 visa application must meet the U.S corporation and immigrant – employment regulations. The employer also needs to pay the applicant a satisfactory salary and the visa filing costs. The employer also needs to prove that hiring a foreign national will not negatively influence the labour conditions of a similarly employed worker.
It is also important to keep in mind that if an employee switches job they need to reapply for the E3 visa through their new employer.