Documenting my E3 renewal process in the hope it helps others.

What is involved?
Labor petition from the employer. An I-797 form will be filled which effectively extends the I-94 status. This is enough to stay employed while within the country (USA). You cannot travel out since your visa is still expired.

If you have a spouse, she can apply for an extension to her EAD at this point.

An E3 peition will be lodged by the employer. Once approved, you can travel to a US Consulate to get a new Visa stamped. This will allow you to leave the country and come back.

Costs
LCA - $250.00
I-94 - covered in E3 application
E-3 - $1375 (petition fee), $325 Government filing fee
I-797 - Approval notice, bottom of new I94

I thought that the LCA filing is free in the past, has that been changed now?
Also, it sounds like the total cost of renewing a E-3 within the U.S. is higher than applying for an E-3 visa outside of the U.S.

Keep in mind this are fees from my company's legal firm.

Hey All,

Thought I'd share my recent E-3 experience at the Ottawa Consulate...

I've been living in LA for 5 years - first visa was a B1/B2, 2nd and O1 an the 3rd an E-3. My time was up on my E-3 so I found a new employer and submitted the LCA on their behalf to get another E-3. I was under the pump for time and the first LCA submitted was denied because the business EIN needed to be confirmed. So I sent through the original document from when the FEIN was created as well as company articles. A few days later the LCA was certified. This took a total of about 7-9 days all up!

Once I had this I completed the DS-160 online and paid the $390 visa fee online at the CSC US Visa website. I tried to get an appointment at Vancouver but the first one I could get was 42 days, Calgary was 19 days, Montreal and Toronto had no available slots so my last Canadian option was Ottawa. Halifax was just too far!

I looked up Mexico City also but the wait was 12 days and I had already started my new job so this was not an option. Ottawa's wait time was 5 days so reluctantly I booked a trip to Ottawa.

I arrived the evening before my interview with all my paperwork ready to go. At around 8.45am the next day I went to the consulate which was a short walk from the cheap hotel I was staying in. My appointment was at 9.30am but I was there at 9...after walking through security and showing my DS-160, passport and job offer letter to the guy who greeted me I was told to go to the first window and hand them over. I was given a number and told to take a seat About 15 minutes later I was called up to a different window and the lady told me she just wanted my finger prints and then to sit back down. I waited another 5 minutes before being called up to another window for my interview. The guy asked about what my job title actually involved. I explained it and we briefly conversed for 5 mins before he told me my visa had been approved. He gave me a DHL follow up sheet for my passport pick up and that was that. He did not ask for any paperwork - NONE - not even the LCA! This whole process from the time I left my hotel, went for my interview and got back to my room was under an hour!!

So my meeting was yesterday morning and at 6.29pm today I received this message from the DHL:

Your passport has been picked up from the Consular Section and within the next few days you will be able to pick it up at:

DHL Ottawa HOLD FOR PICKUP
46 AURIGA DRIVE
NEPEAN, ON, K2E7Y3

Please click the link below to track your passport until it is ready for pickup.

So apart from wanting to leave here asap to get back to work this was a good experience. I'm hoping my visa will get the green light tomorrow! But all in all the process really is a week long event. THe DHL is near the airport so I'll pick it up on my way through.

Ottawa is a very easy city and the cheap hotels nearby make it easy to get to the US Consulate. I stayed at the Days Inn as there were no rooms available at a hotel within my budget nearby. I do recommend this hotel as it was clean and quiet or the Quality Hotel on Rideau St. Also, a really great option nearby is the Barefoot Hostel on Cumberland St. It's gorgeous, homey, new and spotless and only $40 a night. They are adjoined to the Swiss Inn next door which is also a great little find at around $120 pn.

Would recommend this as an alternative option to the busier Canadian cities or Mexico if you're worried about being stuck in a strange place.

Cheers,

Chappo

It is often stated that you should apply for the E3 in your country of residence.

But for those of us who already have E3s, and just want to renew them (or change employer), has anyone had problems getting their new E3 in a country that is not their primary residence?

I think this is referred to as 'third party nationals'.

If so, which consulates have you been to? Canada? Mexico City?

I think you mean "Third Country Nationals". Some have posted success stories of getting E3 renewals in Canada and Mexico, refer to the various E-3 threads here. I personally will prefer not to do that, as I don't wanna risk getting a visa denial because of that.

You have posted this question 6 times in the past few weeks; I suggest that there may not be anyone where who can answer your question.

Please don't post it again.

Did you start your new job before you applied for work authorization to do so? If so, I probably wouldn't put that out there for anyone to see.

Yup, violated the law because you are not supposed to work without authorization for the new employer!! You should consult an immigration attorney before you try to renew next time, if you do.

I just renewed my E-3 visa in Mexico City. Far too verbose to paste the entirety of my experience here, but I wrote a fairly detailed blow by blow for my blog.

Renewing in Mexico City actually could not be easier. Certainly beats a long flight back to Aus and they are very friendly and helpful down there. Word of caution though, unfortunately someone I know tried to get their initial E3 in Mexico and was denied. He was in the US on a J1 visa, so figured it would not be a problem. He now has to go back to Aus to get the E-3.

Hello,
I want to understand this a little better – the overall E-3 extension process. Can someone guide me to a decent webpage?
My concerns are around how I would get my driving license extension, can I leave and re enter the country after approval (of do you have to leave the country and then take my documents to the US Consulate for new stamp?) etc….
Regards,