United States · Work
United States E-3 Australian specialty
First stay: 2 yrs
E-3 Specialty Occupation Worker (Australia)
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
E-3 Australian specialty is a work route for United States. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- $1,015
- First stay
- 2 yrs
Cost, time and long term
Government fees$1,015
- $1,015Form I-129 for E-1, E-2, E-3 or TN petitions (USD 965 online), filed and paid by the employer for an in-country change or extension; the petitioner also pays the Asylum Program Fee of USD 600 (USD 300 for a small employer, USD 0 for a nonprofit).
RenewalRenewable
Stay is 2 years at first and can be extended in steps of up to 2 years with no maximum number of extensions, with some exceptions.
CitizenshipTime here doesn't count
Naturalisation requires years of lawful permanent resident status (5 years, or 3 if married to a U.S. citizen), so time in this temporary status does not count toward it.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route doesn't count toward citizenship
- Needs a job offer from an employer in United States
- Only for passports from Australia
What you'll need
Who can apply4
- The applicant is a national of Australia.
- The applicant has a legitimate offer of employment.
- The applicant has the required academic or other credentials.
- The position qualifies as a specialty occupation.
What you must show1
- Pay is at the higher of actual or prevailing wage.
Documents2
- A Labor Condition Application supporting E-3 classification is required.
- A licence is required if the occupation requires one.
When you become tax resident
How United States decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
2 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- At least 31 days in the current calendar yearMinimum days of presence in the current year.
- At least 183 days in the current year plus two preceding years (weighted 1, 1/3, 1/6)Weighted days of presence over the three-year period.
- Foreign-source income
U.S. citizens and resident aliens are taxed on worldwide income at the graduated rates that apply to citizens; non-residents are taxed on U.S.-source income under Form 1040-NR rules.
All tax rules for United States Tax records checked
Full official text
Status for Australian nationals with a job offer in a specialty occupation requiring a bachelor's degree or equivalent. 1 2
What you must show and pay
- A fee of $1,015 · Form I-129 for E-1, E-2, E-3 or TN petitions (USD 965 online), filed and paid by the employer for an in-country change or extension; the petitioner also pays the Asylum Program Fee of USD 600 (USD 300 for a small employer, USD 0 for a nonprofit). 2
Requirements
- The applicant is a national of Australia. 1
- The applicant has a legitimate offer of employment. 1
- The applicant has the required academic or other credentials. 1
- The position qualifies as a specialty occupation. 1
- Pay is at the higher of actual or prevailing wage. 1
- A Labor Condition Application supporting E-3 classification is required. 1
- A licence is required if the occupation requires one. 1
Stay
- Initial stay 2 years; extensions of up to 2 years each with no maximum number of extensions, with some exceptions.
- Initial permitted stay: 24 months.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Nationals of Australia only. Open to: Australia.
Work
Work for the sponsoring employer; spouses in E-3 or E-3S status are work-authorised incident to status.
Family
Spouse and unmarried children under 21; children cannot work.
Official sources
- E-3 Specialty Occupation Workers from Australia · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-10
- Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/07/26) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-10-07
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part D, Chapter 2: Lawful permanent resident admission for naturalization · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
- I am married to a U.S. citizen (naturalization) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
E-3 Australian specialty and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-3 Australian specialty | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| EB-1B Outstanding researcher | – | – | – |
| EB-1C Multinational manager | – | – | – |
| EB-2 Advanced degree | – | – | – |
| EB-3 Skilled worker | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the E-3 Australian specialty?
A fee of $1,015. Form I-129 for E-1, E-2, E-3 or TN petitions (USD 965 online), filed and paid by the employer for an in-country change or extension; the petitioner also pays the Asylum Program Fee of USD 600 (USD 300 for a small employer, USD 0 for a nonprofit).
How long can I stay on the E-3 Australian specialty?
Initial stay 2 years; extensions of up to 2 years each with no maximum number of extensions, with some exceptions.
Can I work on the E-3 Australian specialty?
Work for the sponsoring employer; spouses in E-3 or E-3S status are work-authorised incident to status.
Can I bring my family on the E-3 Australian specialty?
Spouse and unmarried children under 21; children cannot work.
Who can apply for the E-3 Australian specialty?
Nationals of Australia only. Open to: Australia.
How are E-3 Australian specialty holders taxed in United States?
No special regime in our records is tied to the E-3 Australian specialty. The standard rules apply: U.S. citizens and resident aliens are taxed on worldwide income at the graduated rates that apply to citizens; non-residents are taxed on U.S.-source income under Form 1040-NR rules.
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≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 4 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- E-3 Specialty Occupation Workers from Australia · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-10
- Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/07/26) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-12
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part D, Chapter 2: Lawful permanent resident admission for naturalization · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
- I am married to a U.S. citizen (naturalization) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.