Working-Visa to US (Sponsorship)

Submitted by Aimee Innes
in
Career Management
I hear the US is pretty difficult to get a working visa, I'd be interested to hear from people that have been lucky enough to get into the US? Or any knowledge of the 'sponsorship' process. Both my partner and I are wanting to travel from AU to US in late 2007 for 1-2years. I figure a lot of listners are from the US, or perhaps have travelled to the US? He is a Snr Unix Sys Admin and I'm a Project Team Leader (aspiring PM) Is it possible to get sponsorship lined up whilst still in AU? Are there any significant roadblocks I should know about? Is it true that the company has to pay for you to come over? (I'd pay my own way in and out of the country) Are there many companies that would do this for 'outsiders', meaning hired freshly not existing employees? Im sure there is a website that has some of this info somewhere- however the MT community probably has more real-life answers. Aimee Sydney, Australia
Submitted by zu ne on Wednesday December 20th, 2006 9:59 pm

Hi Aimee

Australian nationals can take advantage of an E-3 visa category to temporarily work in the US under speciality occupations (max 2yrs).

Yes, you would need a job offer and the employer has to "sponsor" it ..in the sense they have to file a Labor Certification Application with Department of Labor

more info on the Canberra embassy website:
http://canberra.usembassy.gov/consular/visa-e3.html

-T

Submitted by Bruce. Banks on Monday December 9th, 2024 2:58 am

I am currently in the process of applying for a visa to Saudi Arabia and would like to gather insights from others who have gone through this experience. If anyone has tips on the application process, required documents, or any potential challenges to be aware of, please share your advice! Your input would be greatly appreciated as I navigate this journey. Thank you!

Submitted by Matilda French on Monday February 10th, 2025 8:18 am

Getting a working visa for the US can be a challenging process, but it’s definitely possible with the right approach. Yes, you can get sponsorship lined up while still in Australia, but it often requires a job offer from a US-based company willing to sponsor you for a visa (like an H-1B for skilled workers). The company usually covers visa application costs, though you’d need to pay for your travel expenses. Roadblocks can include the highly competitive nature of visa approvals and strict timelines for applications. It’s also tough for companies to sponsor someone new, as they often prefer to hire existing employees with a proven track record. However, it's not impossible—many companies do sponsor foreign talent, especially in specialized fields like IT and project management. The best step is to network with US companies in your field and explore job listings on global employment sites.