Getting an E3 is dead easy, practically instant and they are renewable indefinitely (in 2 year blocks) -- at least until the quota is hit (there is a twist here; the E3 can be renewed indefinitely and is not subject to quota, but this is an in-country renewal which won't let you travel; an out-of-country renewal hits the quota; so once there are ~21k E3 holders, the E3 will start hitting the quota due to renewals). Anyone who will employ you on an E3 will most likely be happy to apply for the H1B for you every year while you're on it, which is then the gateway to a green card. Both the E3 and the H1B need to be sponsored by the employer, and you need to follow a non-trivial process to change employers. Also, you can't even take 10 days off work without leaving the country.
The E3 is such a good option to get into the US right now that I know people (from New Zealand, India, Pakistan, etc) who have pursued Australian citizenship so they can then go on and get an E3 and work in the USA. It is simply the best visa available to work in the USA (compared to other preferred countries, such as Singapore and Canada, the E3 wins on the benefits conferred to the spouse of the visa holder: the spouse can work even in a job which does not meet labor certification requirements).
Some alternatives: Marry a US citizen, work for a US company overseas then transfer (L visa), have your company declare you a research scholar (J visa), or get a PhD or other similar classification (EB1/EB2 green card, which for an Australian would take around 9 months). Also the green card lottery as you mentioned - the odds are low single digit percentage for an Australian, which is actually not too bad if you're willing to try a few times.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-10 01:51 am (UTC)The E3 is such a good option to get into the US right now that I know people (from New Zealand, India, Pakistan, etc) who have pursued Australian citizenship so they can then go on and get an E3 and work in the USA. It is simply the best visa available to work in the USA (compared to other preferred countries, such as Singapore and Canada, the E3 wins on the benefits conferred to the spouse of the visa holder: the spouse can work even in a job which does not meet labor certification requirements).
Some alternatives: Marry a US citizen, work for a US company overseas then transfer (L visa), have your company declare you a research scholar (J visa), or get a PhD or other similar classification (EB1/EB2 green card, which for an Australian would take around 9 months). Also the green card lottery as you mentioned - the odds are low single digit percentage for an Australian, which is actually not too bad if you're willing to try a few times.