I don't think finding a job in the US would be particularly easy.

http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,20349051^15306,00.html

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Despite the layoffs in high tech in the USA. I'd bet it's easier to find work in the USA than here in Oz. A lot of the USA lay offs are occuring on the production lines as this is the easiest work to move off-shore. Plus, a friend managed it about 18 months ago, although his job came through personal contacts.

Getting a job in another country is always difficult. There may be language/cultural diferences, or it could simply be that you don't have the contacts, or are to ar away. Sometimes you have to be in country and that itself can be daunting.

Having said that, assuming there is some attitude in the US that foreign workers are a good deal, then australians may be in the situation of being more attractive than the local worker.

Be it due to cost or ability. Of course for australians there is a greater appreciation of Oz workers overseas than there is here.

Microsoft and Google have been hiring practically anyone with a computer science degree and a few years of development experience.

All the big IT employers know about the extra 10,000 visas created for Australians.

Goes without saying - you have to be under 30. They won't say it because that would be age discrimination.

www.strongvisa.com For More Information...

This is General Advice and not to be construed as legal advice specific to a certain question or particular circumstance. Generally speaking the requirements of an E-3 visa are as follows: You must be an Australian citizen who has a "legitimate job offer" from a U.S. employer for a "specialty occupation" for which you are "qualified." Legitimate job offer simply means your employer will provide a job offer letter delineating that they are a U.S. Company with certain assets that wants to hire you for a temporary job that is a Specialty Occupation for which you are Qualified. They must also pay you the "prevailing wage" for that job meaning at least what the average U.S. worker gets for the same job. They can not pay you less. A Specialty Occupation is generally one in which a U.S. Bachelor's Degree or equivalent is required. If your degree is unrelated to the Specialty Occupation offered, then you must show supplemental evidence of having attained the equivalent of a related U.S. Bachelor's Degree in another way - e.g., through 5 years of directly related practical/work experience. Qualified, of course, means you hold that U.S. Bachelor's Degree or equivalent. From an employer's standpoint, it is highly advantageous to hire Australians who qualify for an E-3 over H-1B qualified workers for three reasons: (1) there are far more E-3 visas available per qualified worker than H-1Bs. This year, the fiscal year began October 1, 2006. However, H-1B visa numbers ran out in July, 2006, less than three months after the first date you could begin applying for H-1Bs. On the other hand, E-3 visas are STILL available for the current fiscal year (4 months AFTER H-1B numbers ran out for the current year). (2) E-3 visas are much cheaper for employers because they don't have to pay the substantial mandatory fees associated with H-1B visas ($750/$1500 Scholarship and Training Fee & $500 Fraud Detection Fee). And (3) E-3 visas can be renewed indefinitely unlike the 6 year cap with H-1B visas. From the employee's perspective, the E-3 is significantly different from the H-1B in two ways as well. First, spouses of E-3 visa holders can obtain work authorization whereas H-1B spouses generally can not. Secondly, there is no "dual intent" allowed for E-3 visa holders. This means an E-3 visa holder is a strictly "temporary" worker and can not simultaneously pursue permanent residency (green card) in the U.S. while on an E-3 visa. H-1B workers, although also considered "temporary" can pursue an immigrant visa (permanent residency) while they are on an H-1B. That being said, however, it should be relatively easy to transfer from E-3 to H-1B if the E-3 visa holder decides to pursue a green card. The E-3 visa is a relatively new matter and not too many of these visas have been processed. I have had a lot of luck with them and I think they are good for both employee and employer. One other note, there is no "expedited processing" available for E-3s. So, if you're in a rush, it's better to obtain this visa via consular processing in Australia vs. filing from the U.S. One final note, H-1B portability provisions do not apply to E-3 visas. This means that you can not change employers unless you obtain an actual approval to do so (which could take several months unless you obtain the approval directly from the U.S. Consulate in Australia).

I'm not in IT at all but I have just made the trip to the US to look for work (in the science/sales field) and there is plenty of work here (New York).

I would highly recommend the trip on the 3 month visa waiver to anyone who is serious about getting work here. I have had several job offers after going through the normal interview process.

My stumbling block has been actually getting the LCA from employers... They get very concerned about the "specialty occupation" title. For some reason their concern borders on paranoid and I wonder if there are some hefty fines involved for lodging incorrect/false LCAs... I'm really not sure.

Also many companies have a "no sponsorship" policy which they are enforcing for the E-3. This happened to me with one company that really wanted me quite badly but the legal department just squashed it based on this policy.... but I would have never known this without coming here myself and doing the rounds.

I am hoping that as the E-3 gets better known that more opportunities open up for Australians as the work is definitely here and the $$ are very good.

Very interesting reading about the E-3 visas.Never knew they existed.

DOES ANYONE KNOW IF YOU VISIT US IN "THE VISA WAVIOR PROGRAME" CATEGORY, CAN YOU ATTEND A 5 DAY COURSE THERE?

Hi All,

Two questions, can anybody help? Thanks a lot!

How much tax do I (under E-3 visa ) have to pay out of my pocket if the salary is $50,000.00 per year?

How much tax money does my employer( located in Chicago) have to pay for me?

I was told it should be 30-40% of the gross income. I’m afraid that I won’t be able to make a living there. Is it true?

Thank you very much for your help!

Like Geri, I'm not an IT professional but in scientific field (chemistry). I have talked with agents in the U.S. but more don't know about the E-3. What is the best way to get them to understand that this visa is a very good option for employers seeking science grads?

thanks for any advice/answers.

I have lived and worked in the USA for just over 2 years now. I have written a blog of my E3 experiences.

Here's a link to my blog

Hi,

I have been living in the US for a year now, and my girlfriend came with me from Australia.

Since the US doesn't recognise de-facto, she needed an E-3 visa. We went though all sorts of research places but ended up here:

E-3 Visa website

Better than spending a bomb on lawyer fees, I reckon!

Cheers,

Braith

Hi,

I finally got a job offer last week (after 1 month of searching in the LA County) in IT - QA Engineering.

The permanent job was advertised on craigslist.org and I had 3 interviews: phone interview and 2 "face to face" (future co-workers/managers, etc.)

There is plenty of IT work in California.

Not all of the job advertisments (dice.com, monster.com, craigslist.org, careerbuilder.com) have: "...No H1-B please", ".. "must be Permanent Resident" and you may still be in the running for the position if your Resume "fits".

There's never a better time than now to get OS work experience and California is undoubtedly the best place to obtain IT Work Experience or start a Company.

Good Luck!

Google (e-3 visa experience)