5 ms·

I am on a E3 visa (australian). The process is easy and I didn't have any problems at all. All I needed was a degree (any university degree) and to be offered

I am on a E3 visa (australian). The process is easy and I didn't have any problems at all. All I needed was a degree (any university degree) and to be offered a job formally for a 'professional' position. 6 months into my employment here in seattle, I realized the role was completely different to what I was hired as ('consultant' sucking up money from microsoft vendor contracts) and no real design and development. So i got an offer from another company and left. I thought this would be a nightmare but as long as your not unemployed less that 10 (or was it 15) days you can submit to make adjustments to the visa. I am now happily with another company in seattle and going on 1 year in the USA. Any regrets? Yes. Healthcare is too expensive. My wife is having a baby in february and even with insurance it will cost us about $5000. In australia it would have been free and the government would have paid us a baby bonus of $5,500. If anyone has any questions about the process email me at lukemh *at gmail.com

semerda 15y ago
Depends on your private insurance. If private is via the company the costs should not be more then your co-pay (few bucks). The baby bonus in OZ definitely helps.
anon182739 15y ago
How long did it take to hear back from USCIS about changing your E3 to a new employer? I've heard it can take months in the worst case, or weeks in the best case. I long thought that bouncing out of the country and getting a new visa would be easier and I've heard of people doing that when changing employers. I'm guessing you either had a flexible new employer who was prepared to wait for you, or that waiting to hear back from USCIS isn't even necessary - you're actually allowed to start work for your new employer as soon as the LCA is approved?
- lukeholder 15y ago
  It took about 3-4 months. I did not leave the country and started with my new employer within the 10 days. My new employers' lawyer lodged the I-129 (application for change) during employment with the first employer and I started with the new before the approval came back under advisement of the lawyer. If it came back rejected I suppose I would have had to leave pretty quick.
  - anon182739 15y ago
    That's great to know. You probably just saved me and my wife a few grand and a lot of hassle bouncing in and out of the country! This is a great visa, but it seems (to me, at least) like they rushed thru defining some parts of it.

semerda 15y ago

Depends on your private insurance. If private is via the company the costs should not be more then your co-pay (few bucks). The baby bonus in OZ definitely helps.

anon182739 15y ago

How long did it take to hear back from USCIS about changing your E3 to a new employer? I've heard it can take months in the worst case, or weeks in the best case. I long thought that bouncing out of the country and getting a new visa would be easier and I've heard of people doing that when changing employers. I'm guessing you either had a flexible new employer who was prepared to wait for you, or that waiting to hear back from USCIS isn't even necessary - you're actually allowed to start work for your new employer as soon as the LCA is approved?

lukeholder 15y ago
It took about 3-4 months. I did not leave the country and started with my new employer within the 10 days. My new employers' lawyer lodged the I-129 (application for change) during employment with the first employer and I started with the new before the approval came back under advisement of the lawyer. If it came back rejected I suppose I would have had to leave pretty quick.
- anon182739 15y ago
  That's great to know. You probably just saved me and my wife a few grand and a lot of hassle bouncing in and out of the country! This is a great visa, but it seems (to me, at least) like they rushed thru defining some parts of it.