- Who it's for
- Australian citizens in specialty occupations
- Initial validity
- Up to 2 years; renewable indefinitely
- Annual cap
- 10,500 (historically never reached)
- Government Processing Time
- LCA about 7 business days, then consular appointment
- Dependents
- E-3D spouses are work-authorized; spouses need not be Australian
- Gale fee
- $2,000
Who qualifies for the E-3
- Australian citizenship.
- A U.S. job offer in a specialty occupation.
- A relevant bachelor's degree or equivalent.
- A certified LCA showing the employer pays the prevailing or actual wage.
E-3 timeline
| Stage | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| Role and degree review | 2–3 days |
| LCA certification | About 7 business days |
| Consular interview scheduling | Varies by consulate |
| Visa issuance | Often within days of the interview |
E-3 cost: Gale and government fees
Gale charges a flat fee (platform fee plus attorney legal fee) for the initial E-3 filing, and RFE responses are usually included. Government fees are paid directly to the agency at cost. See the full fee schedule or estimate your total with the visa cost calculator.
| Filing | Gale price (platform + legal fee) |
|---|---|
| New petition | $2,000 |
| Extension | $2,000 |
| Change of employer | $2,000 |
| Amendment | $2,000 |
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Consular visa (MRV) fee | $315 | E-category visa application fee |
| Form I-129 (E & TN), if changing status in the U.S. | $1,015 | $510 for 25 or fewer FTEs; plus Asylum Program Fee |
Documents you'll need
- Australian passport
- Degree certificates and transcripts, with a U.S. equivalency evaluation
- Employer offer letter and E-3 support letter
- Certified LCA
- DS-160 confirmation
How Gale handles the E-3
Gale's software handles intake, document collection, drafting and tracking. An experienced network attorney owns strategy, legal judgment and final sign-off on every petition.
- Intake on the Gale platformHR starts the case in minutes; the employee completes a guided questionnaire and uploads documents to a checklist built for the visa type.
- Attorney strategy reviewA network attorney confirms the role qualifies as a specialty occupation and recommends consular processing vs. a change of status in the U.S.
- Petition preparationGale prepares the LCA inputs and support letter, and assembles the consular interview packet.
- Attorney sign-off and filingThe attorney files the LCA, finalizes the packet and preps the employee for the interview.
- Tracking and responseGale tracks the USCIS receipt and status in one dashboard. If USCIS issues a Request for Evidence, the attorney prepares the response, usually included in the flat fee.
Related visa information pages
The H-1B lets U.S.
Read more TNUSMCA Professional (Canada/Mexico)TN status lets Canadian and Mexican citizens work in the U.S.
Read more O-1AExtraordinary AbilityThe O-1A is a U.S.
Read moreReady to start a E-3 case?
Talk with our team about timing, strategy and cost.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an E-3 lottery?
No. The E-3 has its own 10,500 annual quota, separate from the H-1B cap, which has never been reached.
Can my E-3 spouse work?
Yes. E-3D spouses are work-authorized incident to status and don't need to be Australian citizens.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules, fees and processing times change frequently. Confirm current details with USCIS or a licensed immigration attorney.