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Cornell University

International Services

Office of Global Learning

Sponsor E-3 Workers (Australians)

  • Sponsoring Faculty/Staff

This page is for Cornell administrators. E-3 faculty and staff: Please visit the E-3 section of our Visa Basics page for scholars to learn more about your visa type.

About the E-3 Worker Visa

E-3 visa status is available to Australian nationals in a "specialty occupation" or a position requiring "theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and attainment." Cornell will sponsor E-3 petitions for qualified individuals with academic appointments. E-3 visas may be renewed indefinitely in increments of two years. 

The majority of applicants obtain E-3 status through consular processing. The E-3 is a nonimmigrant visa. Applicants must satisfy a consular officer that they intend to leave the United States upon termination of their E-3 status. 

The department or hiring unit may file an E-3 petition on behalf of a worker to extend or change to E-3 status within the United States. Please contact us for guidance. We recommend initiating the request for E-3 within the U.S. at least six months before the requested E-3 start date.

How to Apply for E-3 (Consular Processing)

Here are the steps the department and employee must follow to apply through consular processing. All E-3 applications, including extensions and amendments, require the same steps. 

  1. Submit Request
  2. Establish Pay
  3. Obtain Visa

1 Submit an E-3 request (hiring unit).

The department or hiring unit assembles and submits the E-3 request in myStatus. The worker does not submit any information as part of the process. 

If this is an extension of E-3 status for someone currently in the U.S., please contact us for an E-2 extension application checklist.

2 Agree on the pay rate. 

International Services determines the E-3 wage by comparing a prevailing wage determination from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to actual wage data provided by the department or hiring unit. The department must agree to pay the applicant the higher of the two wages. International Services files the labor condition application (LCA) with DOL. When the LCA is approved, it is provided to the department or directly to the applicant, as desired.

3 Obtain E-3 visa (applicant).

The employee makes a visa appointment at a U.S. consulate or embassy to obtain the E-3 visa, as well as E-3D visas for dependents, if applicable. 

Dependents 

The spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age of E-3 employees may apply for E-3D status. E-3 spouses are considered employment authorized; they do not need to apply for authorization.

Employment Restrictions 

An E-3 visa is specific to the employer and position. E-3 employment authorized for Cornell does not allow employment by another department, at another location, or for a different employer. E-3 employees are not allowed to accept honoraria for lectures or consulting work. 

Next Up: Sponsor B-1/B-2 or WB/WT Visitors