US Visa for Australian citizens

Key US Investor Visa Options for Australians

E-2 Investor Visa

This visa allows Australians to start new businesses, invest in existing companies, or acquire US franchises. To qualify, you must invest a substantial amount of capital in a legitimate US enterprise and actively manage its operations. To obtain an E-2 visa, you can either apply at a US Consulate or Embassy in your home country before traveling to the United States. Alternatively, if you are already in the United States on a different visa, you can apply for a change of status to E-2 within the country.

EB-5 Investor Green Card

This option provides a pathway to permanent residency (green card) for Australians and their family members through an investment in a US business that creates jobs for American workers. To be eligible, you must invest a minimum of $800,000 in a U.S. business located in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) or $1,050,000 in a business outside a TEA. This investment must result in the creation of at least ten full-time jobs for qualified U.S. workers. You can fulfill the investment requirement by directly investing in a US business or by investing in a USCIS-designated Regional Center project.

L-1 Visa

This visa facilitates the transfer of Australian executives, managers, and specialized knowledge employees from their company’s foreign offices to its U.S. operations, enabling them to work temporarily in the United States.

E-1 Trader Visa

This visa is for individuals who intend to engage in substantial international trade in goods or services between the US and Australia.

Temporary Work Visas for Australians

To legally work in the United States, most Australian citizens require a visa. This typically involves a process where the U.S. employer must first file a petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for approval before the worker can apply for the visa. However, for certain work visa categories, Australians may be eligible to apply directly at the U.S. border or a major international airport upon departure.

H-1B

For professionals in specialized fields, holding at least a Bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent

E3

The E-3 visa suits finance, science, IT, engineering, accounting, architecture, teaching, and healthcare professionals.

E-2

For investors and their employees

E-1

For treaty traders and their employees

L-1

For intra-company transfers of Australian executives, managers, and specialized knowledge employees

O-1

For Australians with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics

H-2B

For temporary non-agricultural workers

H-2A

For temporary agricultural workers

Permanent Work Visas (Green Cards) for Australians

Beyond temporary work visas, there are four categories of permanent work visas, depending on the employee’s education and the type of job offer. These categories are known as “preferences”, because the number of visas are issued according to the value of the selected field and the position that the employee will occupy. The permanent work visas provide a pathway to permanent residency (green card) for Australians and their family members through their US employer.

EB-1 (first preference)

For individuals with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, and multinational executives and managers

EB-2 (second preference)

For professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability, requiring either a PERM Labor Certification or a National Interest Waiver.

EB-3 (third preference)

For professionals with a U.S. bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent, skilled workers, and unskilled workers.

US citizens

US citizens can petition for permanent residency (green card) for the following family members:

Important Notes:
• Marriage: A marriage must take place before a spousal petition can be filed.
• Children of US Citizens: A biological child of a US citizen may be eligible for US citizenship.

For other family members, a limited number of visas are offered. Since the number of applicants is greater than the number of visas, after submitting the petition, the beneficiary must wait a period of time until the visa becomes available.

– Spouse or child of a US citizen;
– Parent of a US citizen;
– Stepparent or stepchild of a US citizen;
–Siblings (Brother or sister of a US citizen).

Permanent residents

Permanent residents can petition for permanent residency (green card) for the following family members: Spouse or child of a permanent resident

US Visas for Australian Artists, Professional Athletes and Models

Traveling to the United States for work as an Australian artist, athlete, or model requires careful planning and the right visa. Common options include:

P Visas

For internationally recognized performers and athletes.

O-1 Visa

For individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement in the arts, sciences, education, business, or sports, or those who has a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry.

H-1B Visa

For specialty occupations, which may apply to fashion models of distinguished merit and ability.

Green Cards and US Citizenship for Australians

A green card holder (i.e. a lawful permanent resident of the US) is an immigrant who is authorized to live and work permanently in the US. As proof of that status, US Citizenship and Immigration Services gives that immigrant a lawful permanent resident card called a green card.
After meeting specific residency requirements, Green Card holders can apply for U.S. citizenship.