E3only

With my limited experience - I think you should be fine. The Authoritiese have nothing to do with who you end up working for as a consultant. As long as you are on the Consultancy payroll and they hold your LCA that's all good.

GOod luck - keep us posted.

capeli

Hi, i'm getting close to being offered a job in Houston. I'm Australian citizen and will require and E-3 visa. I would be applying at the US consulate in Perth. Does anyone have experience with how long it takes to get the E-3 visa from start to go in Perth.

The prospective employer is suggesting I go to Houston start work, then fly back to Perth for E-3 interview. I would rather avoid that if possible.

On a second note, are E-3 visa workers subject to all the taxes a US citizen pays.

Appreciate any replies. Thanks

ian-mstm

I strongly suggest you avoid doing that... it's illegal to work in the US without first having the proper visa.

Ian

E3only

Do you realise that E-3 is the work visa it's in order that would come first before you starting work?

retep

Hi,

I am reading main E3 thread, but it is pretty long Maybe somebody could answer these questions?

It is written in the FAQ ("What requirements and documentary evidence are needed for the application?" http://canberra.usembassy.gov/consul...as/niv/e3.html) about the degree:

... If your qualification(s) are not from an Australian institution, a certified copy of the foreign degree and evidence that it is equivalent to the required U.S. degree could be used to satisfy the “qualifying credentials” requirement, but you may prefer to wait until your visa interview to confirm whether this is necessary. You should take your original certificates and transcripts to your visa interview, and if it is also necessary to produce certified copies of certificates and evidence of U.S. equivalence, you can send these to the Consulate after the interview, although your visa will not be approved until this is received....

1. What is the evidence that the degree is equivalent to the required U.S. degree? How to get it and how quickly is it to get it? (Do they mean some organisation like http://www.wes.org/ ?)

2. It is not written there, but obviously they need a translation of the degree certificate into English. Do they have some requirements about the translation? (A translator from NAATI is required? Or something like this)

3. Is it necessary to provide both bachelor & master degree certificates? (as it is written there bachelor is en enough, but can could master help in some way?)

Thanks in advance!

retep

It seems I found a part of answer for my questions:

www.trustfortecorp.com (augigi at E3 Eligibility)

augigi

The more information that you're a specialty professional, the better. It's up to you how much evidence you provide.

To capeli, you cannot enter the US to start work without the visa. Once the employer has obtained the online LCA (from Dept of Labor website) and letter of job offer for you, and you have required documents, visa can be had in 2 days if you're approved at consulate interview.

nani

Can you change (COS) from H1b to E3 via USCIS and keep working on the H1b until E3 is approved? I know that once E3 is approved I will lose h1 status but do i need to go out of US for new E3 to take effect?

Does anyone have any experience with this kind of situation?

ozEcho

Hi,

I have an E3 visa that is valid to Oct 2009, as stamped in my passport.

Last year, I left the country and returned, and my I94 has been stamped as being valid until February 2010. (2 years from the date of entry)

I plan to return to Oz permanently in December 2009.

Do I have to renew my visa in Oct 2009, or is the I94 date of entry acceptable?

thanks,

ian-mstm

I believe you can stay in the US as long as the I-94 is valid. However, you will *not* be able to leave the US for any reason whatsoever between the date your visa expires and the date the I-94 expires. I mean, you can leave, but you won't be able to get back into the US (since the visa will be invalid by then). Other than that, you'll be okay for those few months... and you can leave when you're ready.

Ian

augigi

But you can only work for the validity of the LCA, right?

shorrock

Yes, the E3 visa is only valid for the duration of the LCA. Even if your Visa expiry date or your I94 date is after the LCA date. The LCA date is the Expiry date.

klebe82

I was made redundant last month from my job. I changed my status to H4 using my wife's H1b visa.

I have a job offer right now and they want me to start immediately.

Can I do a adjustment of status again and start working immediately or do I have to go to a consulate to get a new E3 visa.

Appreciate your help.

E3only

Well, to my understanding you would have to leave the country and get a new E-3?

You basically need to go through the E-3 application process I think......basically you would have to leave US. YOu can not apply for E-3 within US - http://canberra.usembassy.gov/consul...as/niv/e3.html

I am sure experts will correct me if I am wrong..

klebe82

Sorry but there is nothing in there saying so. Or am i missing it?

It says that if im already in US and wants to change my status to E3, it is USCIS's headache. I understand that it will take 2-4 odd months to get that approved - am I allowed to work in the meantime?