The most common way to move to America from Australia is the E-3 visa, a work visa Congress created exclusively for Australian nationals in specialty occupations. It is faster, cheaper, and more predictable than the H-1B, and no other nationality can use it. If you do not qualify for an E-3, the other realistic paths are an intracompany transfer, family sponsorship by a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, a student or exchange visa, the EB-5 investor program, or the annual Diversity Visa Lottery when Australia is on the eligible-country list. Each route has different costs, timelines, and eligibility rules, and picking the wrong one can cost years of waiting or thousands of dollars in non-refundable fees.
Start With the E-3 Visa
The E-3 is the single most important category for Australians planning a U.S. move. It covers roles that require at least a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in a specific field, and it has an annual cap of 10,500 that has never been reached. There is no lottery, no registration window, and no need for your employer to file Form I-129 with USCIS beforehand. You take your job offer letter and a certified Labor Condition Application to a U.S. consulate and apply directly, which saves weeks and eliminates the I-129 filing fee.1U.S. Department of Labor. E-3 Program
The visa is issued in two-year increments and can be renewed indefinitely with a fresh Labor Condition Application each time. Your spouse receives an E-3D visa and is authorized to work in the U.S. without applying for a separate Employment Authorization Document, which is a substantial practical advantage over H-1B spouses on H-4 status.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. E-3 Specialty Occupation Workers from Australia The application fee is $315.3Travel.State.Gov. Fees for Visa Services
One boundary to understand: the E-3 is a nonimmigrant visa. It does not itself lead to a green card. You can hold E-3 status for years while separately pursuing permanent residency through an employer-sponsored petition or another category, but the E-3 status alone will not get you there.
If the E-3 Doesn’t Fit: Other Work Visas
The H-1B covers specialty occupations for any nationality, with a $205 application fee. It requires an employer petition and entry into the annual lottery, which makes it far less predictable than the E-3. Initial stay is three years, extendable to six.4U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. H-1B Specialty Occupations
The L-1 visa is for employees transferring within the same company from an Australian office to a U.S. office. L-1A covers managers and executives, and L-1B covers employees with specialized knowledge of the company’s products or operations. If you already work for a multinational, this is often the fastest path because it has no annual cap.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. L-1B Intracompany Transferee Specialized Knowledge
Moving Through Family
If you have a close family member who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, family sponsorship may be your route. Timelines vary dramatically depending on the relationship.
Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens
Spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of adult U.S. citizens (where the citizen is at least 21) qualify as immediate relatives. This category has no annual numerical limit, so there is no visa queue. The U.S. citizen files Form I-130 to establish the relationship, and once approved the case moves to visa issuance.6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Green Card for Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizen
Family Preference Categories
Other relationships fall into four preference categories, each with annual limits that create backlogs:
- F1: unmarried sons and daughters (21 and older) of U.S. citizens
- F2A/F2B: spouses, minor children, and unmarried sons and daughters of lawful permanent residents
- F3: married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
- F4: siblings of U.S. citizens (where the citizen is at least 21)
Waits range from several years for F2A to over two decades for F4. Australia sits in the “rest of world” bucket for visa bulletin purposes, which generally moves faster than heavily backlogged countries, but the wait is still substantial.7U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Green Card for Family Preference Immigrants
The K-1 Fiancé Visa
If you are engaged to a U.S. citizen, the K-1 lets you enter the United States and marry within 90 days of arrival. After the marriage you apply to adjust status to permanent resident. The U.S. citizen files Form I-129F to start the process, and the visa application fee is $265. If you have been married for less than two years when you receive your green card, your permanent resident status is conditional, and you must petition to remove those conditions before the two-year mark.8U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Visas for Fiancé(e)s of U.S. Citizens
Student and Exchange Visas
The F-1 covers full-time enrollment in an academic program at a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. You must carry a full course load, and work is limited to on-campus employment or approved practical training. The application fee is $185.
The J-1 is for exchange visitors and includes a cultural exchange component alongside academic work. It covers research, teaching, and internships in addition to university study. Some J-1 categories carry a two-year home-country physical presence requirement, meaning you must return to Australia for two years before you can change to certain other visa statuses or apply for a green card.9BridgeUSA. Studying at U.S. Universities and Colleges: F-1 versus J-1 Visas
The EB-5 Investor Route
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program provides a direct path to a green card for investors and their immediate families (spouses and unmarried children under 21). The minimum investment is $1,050,000 for standard projects or $800,000 for projects in a Targeted Employment Area, which includes rural areas and zones with high unemployment. These thresholds were set by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act and remain in effect until the first inflation adjustment applies to petitions filed on or after January 1, 2027.10U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. About the EB-5 Visa Classification
The investment must go into a new commercial enterprise and create at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers. Most investors use USCIS-designated Regional Centers, which pool investments and use economic modeling to count indirect job creation. It is expensive and complex, but it is one of the few categories where you do not need an employer or family sponsor.11U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program
The Diversity Visa Lottery
The Diversity Visa Lottery makes 55,000 green cards available each year to nationals of countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States. The eligible country list changes annually, and Australia has appeared on it in recent years. Registration is free and runs during a short window, typically in October and November for visas issued two years later. You need at least a high school education or two years of qualifying work experience. Odds are long, but entering costs nothing, so it is worth checking each year’s instructions to confirm Australia remains eligible.12USAGov. Find Out if You Are Eligible for the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery
What the Application Process Looks Like
For nonimmigrant visas (E-3, H-1B, F-1, J-1, K-1), you complete Form DS-160 online, pay the application fee, and schedule an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. In Australia, most interviews happen at the U.S. Embassy in Canberra or the Consulate General in Sydney, Melbourne, or Perth.13Travel.State.Gov. DS-160: Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application
For immigrant visas (family-based or employment-based green cards), the process starts with a petition. Family-based cases begin with Form I-130 filed by the U.S. citizen or permanent resident sponsor. Employment-based cases begin with Form I-140 filed by the employer. Once approved, the case moves to the National Visa Center for further processing before a consular interview.14Travel.State.Gov. Step 1 Submit a Petition
Biometrics collection covers fingerprints, photograph, and signature. Most categories also require a medical exam by an approved panel physician, including a physical evaluation and vaccination review. The CDC requires vaccinations against hepatitis A and B, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus, varicella, and others for immigrant visas. Bring your Australian Immunisation Register records to avoid extra visits.15U.S. Department of State. Vaccinations Medical exam fees are set by the panel physician and vary; confirm the cost when booking.16U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record
Some applications get flagged for additional administrative processing under Section 221(g), which is more common when your field of study or work involves sensitive technology. The Department of State considers 90 days a normal timeline for this review, though most cases resolve in a few weeks and a small number take six months or longer. You can track your case through the Consular Electronic Application Center using your case number.17U.S. Department of State Electronic Application Center. CEAC Visa Status Check
The Sponsor’s Financial Obligation
For family-based immigration and some employment-based categories, the U.S.-based sponsor must file Form I-864, Affidavit of Support. This is a legally enforceable contract with the U.S. government in which the sponsor promises to maintain the immigrant at an income level of at least 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for their household size. For 2026, a sponsor bringing one immigrant into a two-person household needs to show annual income of at least $27,050. Active-duty military sponsors only need to meet 100% of the poverty line.18U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA
The obligation does not end when the immigrant gets a job or moves out. It terminates only when the immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, earns 40 qualifying quarters of work credit under Social Security (roughly 10 years of employment), permanently departs the United States, or dies. If the immigrant receives means-tested public benefits during that time, the government can sue the sponsor to recover the cost.19eCFR. 8 CFR Part 213a – Affidavits of Support on Behalf of Immigrants Supporting documents include the sponsor’s federal tax returns, W-2 forms, and proof of current employment. If the sponsor’s income falls short, a joint sponsor who meets the threshold can co-sign.
Health Coverage, Taxes, and Superannuation
Australia’s Medicare does not extend to the United States, and the U.S. has no equivalent universal coverage. You need private health insurance from the day you arrive. The average monthly premium for an individual Silver-tier marketplace plan in 2026 is around $687, and a family of four averages roughly $2,230 per month before any subsidies.
If you hold a valid nonimmigrant visa or lawful permanent resident status, you can buy coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplace at healthcare.gov. Moving to the U.S. qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period, so you are not limited to annual open enrollment. Depending on income, you may qualify for premium tax credits.20HealthCare.gov. Coverage for Lawfully Present Immigrants New lawful permanent residents face a five-year waiting period before Medicaid eligibility, so budget for private coverage for at least the first five years.
Once you become a U.S. tax resident, you owe federal income tax on your worldwide income, including income earned in Australia. If you enter on an immigrant visa, tax residency generally starts on the date you enter as a permanent resident.21Internal Revenue Service. U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad
Superannuation is where tax planning gets genuinely complicated. The U.S.-Australia tax treaty, last updated in 2001, does not specifically address superannuation. Without clear treaty guidance, the IRS may treat your super account as a foreign trust, which triggers burdensome reporting requirements and can result in double taxation. Contributions and earnings that are tax-advantaged in Australia may be fully taxable in the U.S., and even routine rollovers between super funds can be treated as taxable distributions. Expect to report your superannuation balance on your FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) if it exceeds $10,000 and potentially on Form 8938 under FATCA. A tax professional who specializes in U.S.-Australia cross-border issues is not optional here.
First Tasks After You Arrive
Social Security Number
Apply for a Social Security Number early. You need it to work, file taxes, and open most financial accounts. If you entered on an immigrant visa, you may have already applied as part of the visa process. Otherwise, visit a local Social Security Administration office with your passport, visa, and I-94 arrival record. Processing takes roughly two to four weeks.22Social Security Administration. Request Social Security Number for the First Time
Driver’s License
You can drive on your Australian license for a limited time after arrival, and an International Driving Permit is recognized in many states as a companion document for up to one year. Each state sets its own rules on when new residents must obtain a state-issued license, with deadlines ranging from 30 days to several months after establishing residency. Contact your state’s motor vehicle department early, because some states require a written test, a road test, or both, even for experienced drivers.23USAGov. Driving in the U.S. if You Are Not a Citizen
Reporting Your Address to USCIS
Every noncitizen in the United States must report a change of address to USCIS within 10 days of moving, either online or by mailing Form AR-11. This applies every time you move, not only when you first arrive. A willful failure to report is a misdemeanor carrying a fine up to $200, up to 30 days in jail, or both, and it can trigger removal proceedings. Set a reminder whenever you sign a new lease.24U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. How to Change Your Address
Banking and Credit
Your Australian credit history does not transfer. To U.S. lenders you arrive with no credit record, which the industry calls being “credit invisible,” and that shuts you out of most credit cards, auto loans, and apartment leases that run a credit check. Some lenders, including American Express, work with cross-border credit bureaus that let you share your Australian credit history when applying. Otherwise, secured credit cards and credit-builder loans are the standard way to establish a U.S. credit file. To open a bank account you will need a government-issued photo ID (your Australian passport works), proof of a U.S. address, and either a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.