E3only

?

you mean your masters is australian and graduate is not?

rayyang

Why didn't he go to Canada to get his H1B stamped? It should be much much cheaper than flying back to Australia.

rayyang

I did take my evaluation certificate when I went to the see the visa officer but she did not look at anything - not even the offer letter. So, I think it's really case by case but it does not make anything wrong if you bring it with you.

docnetau

An ESTA is only required if entering the US via air. They are NOT needed when entering via land or sea.

You will most likely have to fill in an I-94W (remember them?) when re-entering via land.

rayyang

That's my understanding as well. Just want to know if somebody has the real experience of doing this immediately after his E3 expires.

msgd

yes i have my master from australia and bachelors from india. they didn't ask for my Education Evaluation cerificate when i went for my interview. i am going for an E3 visa extension and is it necessary to get it,Education Evaluation, done though ?

does my wife need an EAD,she has E3D visa, before she can apply for SSN?

E3only

1. No, they didnt ask me. I dont even remember if they asked for Masters transcipt.
2. No.

msgd

cool thanks i was told to apply for an EAD first and then get the SSN but i will give it try at the ssn Admin office

E3only

Hmmmm..you might have a point. I think I may be wrong.

msgd

hmm thanks

Do E3D visa candidates need an EAD before they can apply for a SSN??
anybody else please give us your thoughts on this?

ian-mstm

I've no idea... but what does it matter? Nothing can be done until you're in the US anyway... so about 10 business days after you arrive in the US your E-3D spouse can go to SSA and apply for a SSN. Either they'll process it without an EAD or they won't - and then you'll have a definitive answer.

Regardless, the E-3D spouse can apply for an EAD the day you arrive in the US.

Ian

rayyang

No - E3D cannot directly apply for SSN. The SSN staff directly rejected my wife's SSN application and asked her to apply for an EAD. So after quite a while later she got her EAD and then went to SSN office again for the SSN. It's not quite complex but really no sense.

Also, if somebody wants to get his/her SSN on the next day after he/she visits SSN office, it's not available anymore - told by staff that it's unlawful and they cannot do it.

rayyang

It's really painful.

Another painful period I experienced is waiting for my passport back with the visa stamped - it took 28 days after the visa interview.

Although the visa officer confirmed that it was granted on-site, couple days later I found the status was changed a category which meant there was an investigation underway and it might take more than 6 months to be finalized. At that time, I had resigned from my previous employer and almost started packing everything up, then saw this potential bad news which really really scared me.

I called every phone number I can find on embassy's website but each time I was re-directed to a call center somewhere in USA and the representatives could only tell me whatever was recorded in the database. Until I submitted the question on a feedback form to get the direct connection with Sydney Consulate General, they replied just couple days before it reached my home.

After received the passport, I only had 2 weeks to take the whole family to USA to start the new job! What a horrible experience!

So, good luck mate! E3 is easy and also can be difficult.

ian-mstm

I'm not aware that it's actually unlawful, so it seems that someone at SSA deliberately lied to you. They are allowed to lie to you.


I can understand it being frustrating... but painful?


With respect, you shouldn't have resigned until you actually had the visa in your passport, and you had the passport in your hands. I can't tell you how many times people have been caught unaware because they assumed things were going forward smoothly.


The call center isn't in the US... it's in Scotland.


I'm not unsympathetic to what happened to you, but it sounds as though some of your bad experiences were self-inflicted.

Ian

zenjabba

No, your E3D visa is acceptable for SS to let you apply for a SSN