docnetau

Well, got my document package from our companies immigration lawyers for my E-3 renewal today.

All 124 pages of it! Most of them double-sided!

114 pages of it went either straight into the recycling bin or into the shredder.

10 pages got kept - LCA (5 pages), support letter (3 pages), and the G-28 (2 pages, even though I know I won't need it).

I can only presume we pay by the page...

kaimmy

Hi all,

Question regarding E3d visa for anyone that can help.

Ive read i can apply for my e3d appointment at the same time my partner applies for his e3. How exactly does this work - do we book to have the same appointment?

It states i need to show proof that the principal recipient is the holder of an e3 visa by showing a copy - how do i do this if he is yet to have his appointment?

ian-mstm

Yes. The E-3 applicant will be interviewed first, and the E-3 visa will be approved first. Once the E-3 is approved, the E-3D will be subsequently approved.


That's true only if there is a time lag between the two applications. If you're doing them both at the same time, it's not an issue.

Ian

docnetau

Had my new E-3R approved in Sydney today in record time due to some changes to the process, so I though I'd document them for anyone else going in Sydney.

Getting the appointment :
Apply for a U.S. Visa | Home - Australia (English) leads to the site to make the appointment - this is new since my last application, but I think it's been in place for some time. The good news is that you CAN make an appointment without an LCA. You need a DS-160 number, but you can start that process, stop before you get to the LCA question, and still get the DS-160 number to use to make the appointment.

During the booking process you need to pay the fee, either via credit card online (worked fine with my US credit card) or via Australia Post in person.

Day of the appointment :
As before, it's a trip through security and the initial first document checks on level 10, before going up to level 59. This is where things change. Historically you took a number, and then waited to get called up to the window 2-3 times.

Instead, everyone joins a line the moment you walk in the door, and they do the first step (fingerprints/etc) there and then, without having to wait for them to call your number.

Then they seem to split people into two groups - some people were told to take a number and wait for it to be called. In time they were called to one of a number of windows - just like the way it's been on previous visits.

Others, including me, were told to join a second "blue" line with only about 3 people in it. This line led to a single counter, where they carried out the interviews. Everyone in this line seemed to have a very short "interview", each lasting only a few minutes, and the few people in front of me all seemed to have their visas approved without issue.

Best I could work out, the people being sent to the "blue" line were the "easy" applications, where they pretty much knew from the start they were going to be approved (in my case, renewal of an existing E-3R, same employer, etc - about as much of a formality as you can get).

The end result was that I walked in the door of level 10 dead on 10am for an 10:15am appointment, and was out the door again at 10:28am, with probably less than 15 minutes of that time being spent on level 59.

I'm not sure which process a new E-3 would go through - I wouldn't be surprised if they were in the "take a number" group - but at least for an E-3R it's a much quicker process now than it used to be.

nikadett

So I got my LCA and my Visa appointment for my E3 in 10 days.

At this stage what sort of reasons could there be for application to be rejected?

I'm confident that my job is highly skilled, I've no criminal records etc. I know these interviews are far from formalities so what to be as prepared as possible.

ian-mstm

Is there actually a reason you think your application would be rejected? If not... don't worry about it.

Ian

yogibear14

Just had my E-3 visa approved at the consulate in Ottawa.

What I brought:

x Cover letter to US Consulate
(this was provided my the immigration law firm contracted by my employer)

x Form G28 for myself
(provided by firm - this is the contract of legal representation)

x Form G28 for the company
(provided by firm)

x DS-160 confirmation page
(provided by myself)

x Passport photo
(provided by myself)

x Passport
(provided by myself)

x Old passport
(provided by myself)

x I-94 card & ESTA
(provided by myself)

x LCA form 9035
(provided by firm/company)

x E-3 employer letter
(provided by firm/company)

x Copy of Degree
(provided by myself)

x Court paperwork from 2003
(provided by myself, this is because I had been arrested - not convicted - for a public order offence in 2003. I had to tick yes on the appropriate box on the DS-160)

x CV
(provided by myself)

x Appointment confirmation email
(provided by myself)

x Proof of income (bank statement printout)
(provided by myself


What they asked for:

Passport
Passport photo (as the one done electronically for the DS-160 was more than a year old)
DS-160 confirmation page
LCA/form 9035
Employer letter
Court documentation for the arrest

Essentially all my ducks were in a row with the paperwork due to my employer having had it done by legal counsel. All I was asked were some details around the nature of the role/duties and salary, and then some details around the arrest, including providing the paperwork showing the dismissal of the charge. Oh and because I had traveled to 46 countries in the last 5 years as stated on DS-160 I was questioned about that and just answered honestly that it was mostly holidays/backpacking but some work.

So just waiting for the passport back now

Dpaks

Hi All,

Has anyone attended an E3 interview at the Melbourne consulate recently, if so how long does it take to get the passport back ?

Thank you,
Regards,
Deepak

docnetau

Answering my own question. Interview in Sydney on Wednesday. Passport was delivered by Toll to an address in Sydney on Monday. Much slower than the old Express Post system when I've always had it back the very next morning...

I did ask about the option of picking the passport up from the consulate and was told no. I didn't ask about Express Post (they let me do this previously even when they were using Toll).

kaimmy

Hi guys - hoping someone can help!
We are in the stages of scheduling our visa - i wanted to schedule my appointment for e3D visa at the same time my husband goes for his e3. We didn't realise until after we both registered separately that only he needed to register and add me as a family member. Now because i started my own registration it wont allow him to add me. Do i now need to just book a separate visa appointment? Can i do this directly after his or will i need wait until he actually has been issued his visa to have my appointment?

Or is there anyway i can remove my own registration details?

If anyone can help would be greatly appreciated - stressful process!! :S

ppuujjaa2000

Hi, Thanks for the info i did get my visa approved and started work as well. the interviewer was really friendly and was also in a mood for some jokes so in short a very good experience and very relived.

Thanks all for all the info on this tread.

nikadett

I just got my E3 and started my job and I know its not right for me, I have another company who would be happy to take me on.

Would there be any issues changing job 1 week into my Visa (i know it looks so bad!)?

What exactly do I need to do to change job? I know my new employer has to do another LCA. What else?

kriggles33

I just came across your posting/s now as I was browsing through the e3 thread blog. Im glad you had your concurrent e3 visa approved. I was in the same boat as you back then, no replies on the thread that's why I took matters in my own hands and had it done in Tijuana (Aug 2012). Im based in LA so TJ is the best choice for me.

At first the consular officer was confused as I was the "First" concurrent e3 visa applicant in the entire world. Somehow they were able to successfully process my request. At the day of passport pick-up at TJ US consulate, they (same consular officer who interviewed me) were so apologetic for taking 2 days for my passport pick up as initially they promised for me to return the next day after consular interview. I requested for consular passport pick-up instead and they agreed. On top of that, consular officer said they have to call Washington to inquire how to go about my application since concurrent E3's havent been made possible before (Im proud that I was the first successful concurrent E-3)

As I exited TJ US embassy- I thought very hard when I read the visa label annotation "(2 part-time)" on my visa label- together with the 2 companies/employers' name and respective LCA /ETA numbers.

I requested to return inside the US consulate as I have requested 1 full-time job and 1 part time job.
I was escorted courteously by a security personnel inside and straight to the window section (did not have to take a number- I felt more like a VIP or the President) and spoke again with the same consular officer.

Consular officer was nice enough to change the annotation via the computer and stated your visa label does not have to be changed since I have made changes in the system. I asked if this would be trouble when I cross the border (Mesa De Otay) via private vehicle (or future queries on my visa label), officer said it should be fine since everything's in the system. Officer even gave me an email address/phone number of TJ US consulate for further queries (for employment verification from employers etc)

Next week I will be returning to Mexico (Im going this time in Mexico City as this have more tourist spots/ landmarks compared to TJ) for another concurrent e-3 visa as I will be changing employers. Thus - I stumbled across your post/s.

FEO- for everyone's information

-passport pick-up at US consulate in Mexico is allowed as requested. I have tried Vancouver E3 visa application/ they're strict with DHL delivery/pick up for passports.
-falling in line outside consulate, I got to fall in line in a shady area (as directed), locals get to fall in line under the sun) how sad.
-Mexico is not all that scary/dangerous (in Tijuana) as I was expecting it to be.
-overall e-3 visa experience in Mexico- I got preferential treatment- almost treated like royalty.

I shall post this on the thread to help other would-be concurrent e3 visa applicants.

augigi

Easier to get a new E3.

kriggles33

I have applied for my first E3 visa in Vancouver, Did not have any difficulty at all.