Ask most Australians about moving from Australia to USA for work, and the H-1B visa is usually the first thing that comes to mind, along with its infamous lottery system and slim odds of approval.
What many don't realise is that Australians have access to a far better option, one most other nationalities simply don't qualify for.
Meet the E-3 Visa
The E-3 visa is available exclusively to Australian citizens, a genuinely unique advantage in US immigration policy. It requires a job offer from a US employer in a specialty occupation requiring at least a bachelor's degree, along with a Labour Condition Application filed and approved by the US Department of Labor.
Unlike the H-1B, there's no lottery involved, and with approximately 10,500 visas available annually, demand rarely comes close to reaching that cap.
The visa is valid for two years and renewable indefinitely as long as employment continues, and spouses can receive an E-3D visa with its own work authorisation, a meaningful benefit for couples relocating together.
*Why This Matters More Than People Realise
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For Australians moving from Australia to USA with a genuine job offer in a professional field, the E-3 is almost certainly the clearest and most predictable pathway available.
Compare this to the H-1B lottery, where even qualified applicants face genuine uncertainty about whether they'll be selected at all, and the E-3's predictability becomes a significant practical advantage.
This doesn't mean the E-3 is the right fit for everyone. Other pathways exist depending on your situation, an L-1 for intracompany transfers if you're already employed by a multinational with a US presence, an O-1 for individuals with extraordinary ability in their field, or an EB-5 investor visa for those in a position to make a substantial capital investment.
But for the majority of Australian professionals with a standard job offer, the E-3 remains the most accessible and underutilised option.
Visa Sorted, What Comes Next
Once your visa pathway is confirmed, the practical side of the move needs the same level of planning. Shipping a household from Australia to the USA is one of the longer international freight routes, container ships from Sydney or Melbourne typically take three to six weeks to reach major US ports depending on the destination coast, and US Customs and Border Protection has its own specific documentation requirements that differ from Australian export processes.
Star Moving Australia manages this entire process for households moving from Australia to USA, professional packing, sea freight coordination, and preparation of US customs documentation including CBP Form 3299 for duty-free entry of used household goods. Getting this documentation right from the outset is what prevents the customs holds that can delay a shipment by weeks.
If you've secured your E-3 visa and are ready to plan the physical side of your move, get in touch with Star Moving Australia for a free consultation.
