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Move to USA from Australia

Move to USA from Australia

The United States and Australia are two of the largest and most important economies in the world, however, these are not the only things they have in common. Their populations are also English speaking which makes relocation from one country to the other quite easily.

People who want to move to USA from Australia can apply for various visas and immigration permits under which they can live temporarily or permanently.

If you want to immigrate to the USA from Australia, our immigration lawyers in Miami are at your service no matter the type of visa you want to apply for.

 Quick Facts  
  Entry visa requirement 

No

Visas Available for Long-term Immigration (YES/NO)

Yes 

Types of visas available

 Short-term residence permits,  work permits, student visas, permanent resident cards
Time frame for obtaining a US residence permit (approx.) 

approx. 6 months

Validity of temporary residence permit 3 months to 10 years, based on the type of residence permit obtained
Time frame for obtaining permanent residence (approx.)

10 years

Investor Visa Availability (YES/NO)

Yes, (EB-5) visa

Special Immigration Program Availability (YES/NO) E-3 Specialty Occupation Workers
Family Reunification Visas Availability (YES/NO) YES, fiance and spouse visas 
Citizenship Requirements 5 years based on Green Card, 3 years based on marriage

Immigrant and non-immigrant visas for Australian citizens

There are two important categories under which people can move to USA from Australia. These are the non-immigrant and immigrant visas. While the first type allows for visits or temporary relocation, the second one enables foreign citizens to obtain a Green Card.

No matter the type of visa one decides for, our immigration lawyer in USA can explain all the details associated with the requirements for each of them. We will also support those interested in applying for immigrant or non-immigrant visas for USA

Immigrant visas when moving to USA from Australia

Considering most citizens seek to relocate to US from Australia for employment or for starting their own businesses, immigrant visas are the most requested with the US Consulate in Sydney.
The following types of immigrant visas can be solicited by Australian citizens immigrating to the United States:

  1. employment-related visas which come with the US Green Card,
  2. family reunification visas for Australian citizens married to US ones,
  3. fiancé visas are also available for those engaged to US citizens and who come to the US to get married,
  4. investor visa for Australian citizens who want to set up their own companies in the US,
  5. the Diversity Visa is another way through which Australian citizens can relocate to the United States.

If you want to immigrate to the United States from Australia and need information about a specific type of visa, do not hesitate to inquire with our lawyers in Miami.

How to relocate to USA from Australia and obtain a Green Card

The Green Card is the equivalent of the residence permit in other countries, however, the main advantage granted by the US to those who want to relocate here from other countries is that they can obtain it directly under certain circumstances, by comparison to other countries where the procedure is lengthier.

This is one of the main reasons that immigrating to the United States is very appealing for citizens all around the world. 

Australian citizens who want to immigrate to US from Australia should know that there are two ways of obtaining a US Green Card directly:

  • through employment,
  • through family reunification.

For each type of immigration procedure, the requirements are different. No matter the way you plan to move to USA from Australia, our law firm in Miami is at your service with complete support.

The H1B visa for Australian citizens

Relocating to USA from Australia based on employment is one of the best routes to employ. The H1B visa is one of the most important types of visas that can be used for this purpose as it was created for professionals and high-skilled workers who can make a good living here.

If you plan to immigrate to the United States from Australia based on this visa, you should know that the main requirement to obtain is to first secure a job with a US company that will become your sponsor. This means that the employer will apply for the visa on your behalf, thus simplifying the procedure and increasing your chances of relocation.

In order to qualify for the H1B visa, you must be a specialist in one of the following fields:

  • IT and computer science;
  • accounting, finance and/or banking;
  • marketing, PR, and advertising;
  • sales;
  • recruitment;
  • engineering;
  • healthcare;
  • telecommunications;
  • business management;
  • hospitality;
  • education.

There are plenty of sectors you can work in and the fact that Australian citizens are English speakers, it is quite easy to relocate to the USA based on this visa. However, it should be noted that there is an annual cap to the number of H1B visas issued every year. There are 85,000 visas issued every year and they are open to people from all over the world, which is why if you are interested in it, we advise you get in touch with us as soon as possible in order to find out if you can still apply.

The main advantage of the H1B visa is that it can be used to obtain a US Green Card through employment. However, if you want to relocate to USA from Australia with your entire family, separate visas must be obtained by each of the other members.

Our immigration lawyer in Miami can guide you through what it means to obtain such a visa. Also, we can verify the company you are about to enter work relations with.

The E3 work visa for Australian citizens

Given the good relations between the USA and Australia, the US Government has enabled the E3 work visa which is issued to Australian citizens only. This type of residence permit was created in 2005 and based on it, Australians can work in this country for a limited period of time while having the same benefits as permanent residents.

The E3 work visa is nearly the same as the H1B visa, as it requires first securing a job and sponsorship, however, the former also has a few advantages over the latter. Among these:

  • it can be renewed every two years without any limitation;
  • the spouse of an E3 visa is also entitled to work in the USA.

By comparison, the H1B visa has a 3-year validity and can be renewed once for another 3 years.

There are 10,500 visas issued to Australian citizens every year. However, if not all visas are issued, Irish citizens can apply for the remaining number.

If you want to immigrate to USA from Australia, we can help you prepare the application file for an E3 work visa.

Our US immigration law firm can also help Irish citizens who want to apply for this visa and move to the USA.

Family reunification for Australian citizens moving to the USA

The United States and Australia are good trading partners as they are both important economic powers at an international level, which is why over the years many Australian citizens have moved to the USA and the other way around.

For those who have family members living in the United States, relocating here from Australia can be quite easy, as they can use family reunification to come and live with the rest of their relatives. For this purpose, the spouse visa is one of the most employed ways of migrating to the States.

When it comes to family reunification for Australian citizens moving to the USA, there are two types of visas that can be obtained:

  • the Immediate Relative Visa;
  • the Family Preference Visa.

The Immediate Relative visas are issued to the following categories of immigrants:

  • the spouse of an American citizen;
  • the unmarried child under 21 years old of an American citizen;
  • the orphan child of an American citizen;
  • the parent of an American citizen. 

When it comes to the Family Preference Visa, it can be issued to other relatives of American citizens, and it covers a wider range of applicants. Also, it has other requirements, such as sponsorship for bringing Australian citizens to the USA.

No matter the part of the USA you want to move to, the requirements are nearly the same, apart from the sponsorship requirements which are applied on a state-to-state basis. Our immigration lawyers in Miami can offer support to those who want to immigrate to USA from Australia and decide on Florida.

Sponsorship requirements when moving to the USA from Australia

Australian citizens who want to immigrate to USA under the family preference visa need to be sponsored by their US-based relatives. The sponsor must be a US permanent resident or an American citizen at the time their family members decide to move with them.

One of the most important requirements to become a sponsor for an Australian citizen is to have a minimum income. The income is established based on several factors, among which some of the most important refer to the number of Australian citizens relocating to the USA and the number of family members living in the US-based household. However, these conditions will no longer apply once the Australian citizen who moves here has found employment.

This is also one of the major advantages of relocating to the US from Australia: there are no restrictions on working if you move with your American relatives.

If you plan to migrate to Florida or to any other US state, our lawyers in Miami can explain the sponsorship requisites applicable in this state.

The Immediate Relative Visa for Australian citizens

There are several requirements under which Australian citizens can obtain residency through the Immediate Relative Visa scheme. These are:

  • the immigration procedure must be initiated by the US citizen;
  • the relationship must be proved by specific documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate);
  • the Australian citizen must then apply for the Green Card provided that he/she is admissible.

Immigrating to the USA from Australia an immediate relative is not difficult.  Moreover, there are no restrictions to the number of immigrants deciding to move here as close family members of American citizens.

Our immigration lawyers in USA are at your service with tailored assistance if you want to move here from Australia, especially since you will give the same familiar feeling as in your home country thanks to the weather and sunny beaches.

Speaking about a home, there are plenty of houses or apartments you can rent in Miami or in suburban areas of one of the most beautiful cities in the US. Do not hesitate to ask us for tips on finding a place to stay.

Becoming a citizen of the USA when relocating from Australia

Naturalization is the main pathway for an Australian to obtain US citizenship. The following conditions need to be met in order to obtain a US passport:

  • one must be a Green Card holder for minimum  of 5 years, or;
  • one has become a permanent resident of the US for at least 3 years by marrying a US citizen.

Obtaining US citizenship implies having an interview with the US authorities.

There are numerous Australian citizens who have become US passport holders, so if you meet any of the requirements above, our immigration lawyers in Miami can help you draft the necessary papers for applying for citizenship.

Useful tips when moving to USA from Australia

If you have obtained your visa for the USA and are planning to move here soon, you should pay attention to several important aspects. Among these, housing – based on where you will live, you can rent a house or an apartment. Prices vary from city to city and even region to region.

Then, you must consider having health insurance and obtaining a Social Security Number. These are procedures that can be completed as soon as you move here.

Our law firm is based in Miami, so if you want to have the same feeling as back home in Australia, Florida may be a good option for you and your family. You can decide to move to Miami or in suburban areas like Kendall or Homestead which are cheaper but present interesting work and business opportunities.

No matter the reason you have to move to USA from Australia, our immigration lawyers are at your disposal with tailored services.

Documents to prepare for immigration from Australia to the USA

The list of documents that need to be filed with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services depends on the type of visa sought by an Australian citizen. A valid passport alongside the application form followed by the scheduling of the visa interview. It should be noted that where an employment, fiancé, or spouse visa is applied for, a part of the immigration process must be completed from the sponsor in the United States.

In case of family reunification, the sponsor must also meet certain requirements, among which having an income that enables him/her to support him/herself and the Australian citizen coming to the US.

If you want to move to USA from Australia based on employment, you should know that the sponsor will be the company hiring the foreign citizens, a case in which the procedure is less complicated.

No matter the way you plan to immigrate to USA from Australia, if you decide on Miami or on any other US city , our lawyers are at your service through the process before and after entering the country. We also invite you to watch our video:

Statistics on immigration from Australia to the USA

Compared to other nationalities that of Australians is not a large one, yet people from this country live all over the world. According to the Australian Community in the USA, most of them live in New York, however:

  • there are also communities of Australians living in California, South Florida, Denver, Seattle, and Houston,
  • in 2019, the number of Australians entering the United States based on 3-months visas dropped by 2.54%,
  • however, there was a surge of 1.7% in terms of business visa entries for Australians,
  • at the level of 2020, there were 114,820 American citizens of Australian descent living in the US.

FAQ on immigration to USA from Australia

1. What is the easiest way of moving to the United States from Australia?

There is no universal visa that applies to all immigrants, which is why when you decide to move here you must consider all the options available. However, for this purpose, you can rely on our immigration lawyers who can make personalized recommendations based on your situation.

2. After I apply for a visa, how long will it take to obtain it?

Each visa has its own requirements, thus each processing timeframe. Generally speaking, it can take up to one year or more to be issued the visa.

3. Can I get a job in the US while I am in Australia?

Yes, you can find employment, then apply for the E-3 visa which is available for Australian citizens only.

4. How much does it cost to move to the USA?

When moving to the USA you need to consider the visa fees and renting or buying a property, however, these depend on the type of visa solicited and the state you decide on.

If you want to move to USA from Australia and need support, please contact our immigration lawyers in USA.