Working in US on an Australian E-3 dependent (spouse) visa - help!!

[tully]

Well here goes with my first post! First let me say I have read and researched widely including on this forum and just want to hear some general advice from people, especially those in my position.

Hubby has landed himself a great job and we move to the US at the end of the year. My question relates to Australian E-3 dependent visas and is for anyone who has had experience with the employment authorization (EAD) process. I understand it can take 3 months to process to obtain work authorization - what I can't seem to find out is how long the authorization is for. Must you renew/reapply every year (and pay $380) or does it run for the period of the visa for an E-3 dependent (eg 2 years)?

Can you apply for the EAD at the same time as you apply for your E-3 dependent visa or must you be in America and have a SSN etc?

How easy is the renewal process for E-3s once the 2 years is up? Eg, is it just a matter of leaving the country, going to a US consulate and reapplying or is there a lot more to it?

Also, I work as a consultant (self-employed) here in Oz and will probably want to do so in the US - does the EAD under the E-3 dependent visa limit you to working for an employer or can you be self-employed?

I would really appreciate some tips on this and hope I can make some contacts through this forum! Thanks in advance!

[twostep]

USCIS - Employment Authorization Document

USCIS - E-3 Certain Specialty Occupation Professionals from Australia

You can continue your consulting job AFTER your EAD has been granted.

[tully]

Thanks twostep - sounds like I need to take a break in work.

I had consulted the USCIS site and noted that it said 'in most cases' EADs are granted for one year. I was wondering if anyone on an E-3 dependent had theirs granted for the period of the E-3 visa. Also wondered if anyone had applied at the same time as their visa. Hope someone has some more information. Cheers!

[hutais]

They are issues for 2 years however its really 21 months as you loose 3 months in the application process. I am working and for a company here now and its that 3 month wait that can be tricky. You don't have to leave the country for then EAD as its totally dependant on the E3.
Also the USCIS can not be the easiest people to deal with. My last renewal which was a bit different as my husband changed companies too 6 months.
You just need to be one step ahead I think.

[hutais]

Oh forgot to say you are free to work in any industry. I have my own business and I just started also doing some work for an AU Pair company here in the US too. Unlike the E3 we can work for whoever and don't need to keep changing our visa. On and E3 if you change employer you need to have a new E3 issued. If that happens (happen to us) you also need to apply for another EAD.

[tully]

Originally Posted by hutais

Oh forgot to say you are free to work in any industry. I have my own business and I just started also doing some work for an AU Pair company here in the US too.

Thanks hutais - your posts are super helpful - you're an Aussie lifesaver! It looks like I will have to start my own business too to consult to my clients in Australia from my base in the US. How convoluted is that! Can you recommend any websites you found helpful to get your business started? Any tips would be appreciated. If possible and appropriate, please PM me!! Thanks again for all your help.

[homerJay]

My wife applied for WA 3 months ago and as per attorney's suggestion we filled out a premium processing form (I think we paid around 50 bucks) and she got her work authorization within 2-3 weeks.

The only problem with the SSN is that it may take upto 2-3 weeks for the systems to get updated after you land in the US, although you can find work without a SSN but you cant apply for a driver's license

PS: dont forget to get international driver's license from Aus

[hutais]

Originally Posted by homerJay

My wife applied for WA 3 months ago and as per attorney's suggestion we filled out a premium processing form (I think we paid around 50 bucks) and she got her work authorization within 2-3 weeks.

The only problem with the SSN is that it may take upto 2-3 weeks for the systems to get updated after you land in the US, although you can find work without a SSN but you cant apply for a driver's license

PS: dont forget to get international driver's license from Aus

Wow I didnt know you could pay $50 and have it processed faster? What state are you in?

Here in NY State you HAVE to have a NY State Licence after 3 months. You have to go through the whole process of driving tests etc. I have done it all. I know different states work differently however.

Can you tell me the form your wife used as I cannot find anything on the USCIS website. I need to do this for my next one if possible!!

[homerJay]

Originally Posted by hutais

Wow I didnt know you could pay $50 and have it processed faster? What state are you in?

Here in NY State you HAVE to have a NY State Licence after 3 months. You have to go through the whole process of driving tests etc. I have done it all. I know different states work differently however.

Can you tell me the form your wife used as I cannot find anything on the USCIS website. I need to do this for my next one if possible!!

1. I was wrong, you cant have premium processing for the Work Authorization but you can fill out form G-1145 so you get notifications via email. Sorry about the misinformation. She received her work authorization in 2-3 weeks anyway.

2. As for the Driver's license: I am in California and I was able to get a friend to mail me my international driver license from Melbourne so I wasnt in a rush else below is the process but I think one can get it quite quickly.

• Get Work Auth - else you cant get SSN - took us 3 weeks max. - 3 weeks
• Get SSN - took my wife less than a week to get one in mail after the interview. - 1 week
• Apply for learner and you can book for the perm license the same day, I got my perm license within 7 days of getting learner permit. - 10 days including learner + perm

Overall you can be done in 5 weeks , the only problem is that sometimes one needs to wait for SSN as the systems arent updated in real time so they wait for your arrival record from the immigration.

sorry for the confusion, I am applying for the change of employer these days and too many forms/sections/processes are in my head

[hutais]

Originally Posted by homerJay

1. I was wrong, you cant have premium processing for the Work Authorization but you can fill out form G-1145 so you get notifications via email. Sorry about the misinformation. She received her work authorization in 2-3 weeks anyway.

2. As for the Driver's license: I am in California and I was able to get a friend to mail me my international driver license from Melbourne so I wasnt in a rush else below is the process but I think one can get it quite quickly.

• Get Work Auth - else you cant get SSN - took us 3 weeks max
• Get SSN - took my wife less than a week to get one in mail after the interview - took us 1 week
  
  
  
• Apply for learner and you can book for the perm license the same day, I got my perm license within 7 days of getting learner permit.

sorry for the confusion, I am applying for the change of employer these days and too many forms/sections/processes are in my head

Ok she is super lucky and check the waiting times as they state 3 months. I also had a friend who had hers in 4 weeks however next time around it was 3 months.She started working for Google here and it became a huge issue so its something I cannot afford to risk.

Each state is different NY state does not recognize International Licences. Even Californian's have to eventually re sit a different drivers test here. You have to do a drivers Ed class so I met many out of state people all NOT impressed about doing it.