Do Australian need a visa for the USA?
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If an Australian citizen wants to visit the US, they need to apply for the relevant type of visa for their travel purposes. If the visit to the US is for business, tourism, medical or transit purposes and the stay is less than 90 days in total, they can apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation).
If the purpose of the visit for the Australian citizen to the USA is different to these reasons, for example, they want tolive, work and/or study in the US, they would be required to apply for the relevant type of visa.
US visa to America from Australia
If eligible, Australian citizens can apply for a US visa by:
- Applying for a DS-160.
- Applying through the US Embassy by attending an interview.
- Providing the required documents for the visa type.
- Paying the visa application fee.
The first step is for the Australian to submit the application for the relevant US visa type and then book an appointment at the US Embassy in Australia.
US Visa Requirements for an Australian citizen
To be eligible for getting a US visa from Australia, the applicant must meet the criteria for one of the available visa types. For a tourist visa, for example, the applicant would need to complete the non-immigrant visa form and provide travel details. They may be required to show proof of finances to cover accommodation while in the US.
When applying for any of the US visas, the applicant would need to be able to pay the application fee (the amount varies depending on the type of visa). They would also need a valid passport and may be required to present additional legal documents and other evidence to support their application.
How long does it take to get a US visa from Australia?
The impact of the Coronavirus has impacted visa applications but usually, the full process of applying for a US visa as an Australian citizen would take several weeks from start to finish. However, if the applicant is told that a waiver of ineligibility is required before the visa can be processed, the application is likely to take up to 8 months.
What type of application form do you need?
The application form you require will depend on your purposes for visiting the US but for most cases, the Form DS-160 (online Non-immigration Visa Application form) is the first step to applying for a US visa. The fee for submitting the DS-160 is $160 and this covers all of the non-petition based visa categories which includes visitor visas, student visas and visas for media and journalists.
How long can an Australian stay in the USA?
This depends on the terms under the visa type. A US tourist visa allows an Australian citizen a maximum of one year, while a student visa will usually be for the length of time the visa holder will be studying in the US.
Working visa lengths vary depending on the type of work, as workers with specialty occupations will usually be given three years and are able to apply for an extension when it runs out.
The E3 visa is available specifically for Australians with professional specialty. For this visa, you would complete a Form I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker and must present the evidence that you are eligible, including evidence of the employment offer. The E3 visa will usually allow the holder to stay in the US for two years before they would need to apply for an extension.
How long can an Australian stay in the USA?
Different types of US visas for Australians include:
- B1/B2 - Tourist, medical patient, domestic employee or athlete competing for prize money
- E3 - Australian professional specialty
- D - Crew member
- L – Intra-company transferee
- P – Performing athlete, artist or entertainer
- J – Professor, scholar or teacher
- H-1B Specialty occupation
- F/M – Student
- H-2A – Temporary agricultural worker
- H-2B – Temporary worker (other)
ESTA is available for short visits to the US and the processing time is much faster, with the majority of ESTA applications getting approved within a day, if not faster.
