4 ms·

If I may ask, which visa category did you have and how did you get it?

danpat 10y ago
It's probably an E-3, which was created as part of a free-trade deal between Australia and the US. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-3_visa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-3_visa Source: I've had one.
- scurvy 10y ago
  Is that the "thanks for all the help in WWII" program that I hear Australians refer to? Many Australians I've met have mentioned that it's really easy for them to come and work in the US because of "this program", but I've never been able to figure out the official name of "this program." TIA!
  - Trundle 10y ago
    It's only been around since 2004ish. Our PM back then was really chummy with Bush. Dunno if it was a thanks for military help but we've been war buddies plenty of times since ww2. We rarely invade people on our own initiate and mostly use our military to help you guys out. Also, I don't know why you guys would be giving us thank you privileges for ww2. We were at a lot more risk from Japan and you put in far more work to stop them. If anything it'd be the other way around!
    - scurvy 10y ago
      Yeah this was around before 2004. As for the thank you, it was probably compensation for whatever damage was caused to the MCG. ;)
  - znebby 10y ago
    More like "thanks for going to Iraq with us". Either way, us Australians are certainly lucky to have this visa.
arkem 10y ago
I had been on an E-3 visa (similar to a H1-B but for Australians and without dual-intent), I applied for a PERM via the EB-2 category (employment based advanced degree / extraordinary ability). I had good immigration lawyers (McCown & Evans) and the process really had only a few main steps. 1. My employer describes to the Department of Labor a position that they would like to fill and demonstrating that they are unable to fill the position with a permanent resident or citizen. 2. A process where my employer submits my resume and reference letters to the Department of Labor to show that I am an alien that could fill the position. 3. I submit an application for permanent residence and and application to adjust my immigration status (from E-3 to PERM). Because there isn't a queue in my category (for my nationality) these can be filed simultaneously. The first two steps took about 6 months and the final step about a year.
- elithrar 10y ago
  > The first two steps took about 6 months and the final step about a year. That's quite lengthy (by the book): the LCA usually has a two-week turnaround. A nice perk is that it's also 'free' for the employer (there is no filing fee), although many have immigration lawyers on retainer to handle supporting paperwork and shepherd you through the process. Excluding the interview process at the employer, LCA -> visa interview -> issued E3 for me was about ~3 weeks.
  - arkem 10y ago
    My E-3 process was always about 2 or 3 weeks (including interview) except for the one time the US Government shutdown while I was trying to get a LCA. The six month process for the labor requirements for a green card was longer in processing but also longer due to non-processing time spent getting letters attesting to my skills from previous employers and my current employer running job adverts to try and find local candidates that met the skill requirement.

It's probably an E-3, which was created as part of a free-trade deal between Australia and the US. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-3_visa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-3_visa Source: I've had one.

scurvy 10y ago
Is that the "thanks for all the help in WWII" program that I hear Australians refer to? Many Australians I've met have mentioned that it's really easy for them to come and work in the US because of "this program", but I've never been able to figure out the official name of "this program." TIA!
- Trundle 10y ago
  It's only been around since 2004ish. Our PM back then was really chummy with Bush. Dunno if it was a thanks for military help but we've been war buddies plenty of times since ww2. We rarely invade people on our own initiate and mostly use our military to help you guys out. Also, I don't know why you guys would be giving us thank you privileges for ww2. We were at a lot more risk from Japan and you put in far more work to stop them. If anything it'd be the other way around!
  - scurvy 10y ago
    Yeah this was around before 2004. As for the thank you, it was probably compensation for whatever damage was caused to the MCG. ;)
- znebby 10y ago
  More like "thanks for going to Iraq with us". Either way, us Australians are certainly lucky to have this visa.

arkem 10y ago

I had been on an E-3 visa (similar to a H1-B but for Australians and without dual-intent), I applied for a PERM via the EB-2 category (employment based advanced degree / extraordinary ability). I had good immigration lawyers (McCown & Evans) and the process really had only a few main steps. 1. My employer describes to the Department of Labor a position that they would like to fill and demonstrating that they are unable to fill the position with a permanent resident or citizen. 2. A process where my employer submits my resume and reference letters to the Department of Labor to show that I am an alien that could fill the position. 3. I submit an application for permanent residence and and application to adjust my immigration status (from E-3 to PERM). Because there isn't a queue in my category (for my nationality) these can be filed simultaneously. The first two steps took about 6 months and the final step about a year.

elithrar 10y ago
> The first two steps took about 6 months and the final step about a year. That's quite lengthy (by the book): the LCA usually has a two-week turnaround. A nice perk is that it's also 'free' for the employer (there is no filing fee), although many have immigration lawyers on retainer to handle supporting paperwork and shepherd you through the process. Excluding the interview process at the employer, LCA -> visa interview -> issued E3 for me was about ~3 weeks.
- arkem 10y ago
  My E-3 process was always about 2 or 3 weeks (including interview) except for the one time the US Government shutdown while I was trying to get a LCA. The six month process for the labor requirements for a green card was longer in processing but also longer due to non-processing time spent getting letters attesting to my skills from previous employers and my current employer running job adverts to try and find local candidates that met the skill requirement.