Nonimmigrant Work Visa
E-3 VISA
How to Apply
The new E-3 visa classification applies only to nationals of Australia as well as their spouses and children. E-3 principal applicants must be going to the United States solely to work in a specialty occupation. The spouse and children need not be Australian citizens.
The E-3 visa requires that a Labor Condition Application (Employment and Training Administration Form 9035) be filed with, and approved by, the Secretary of Labor. The sponsoring employer must also attest by the applicant’s wages and working conditions on the LCA.
All E-3 visa applicants are required to be interviewed and fingerscanned. Applicants can schedule an appointment by Internet Visa Information Services at http://www.us-visaservices.com/.
An applicant must be physically present in Korea while his/her visa application is pending at the U.S. Embassy Seoul. Please do not send your application and supporting documents to us in advance. Please bring everything with you to your scheduled appointment.
Applicants for E-3 visa must submit the following items:
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A passport valid for travel to the United States with any plastic/leather cases removed. (Note: A passport with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the United States is required for certain countries, unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions. Korean and certain other country passports are exempt from this requirement.)
Please obtain a new passport prior to your interview if:- the biographic page of your passport is separating from the remainder of your passport, or
- your passport is otherwise torn, damaged or mutilated.
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A completed and signed Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-156) with photo (See "photo requirements" for the DS-156) for each applicant. All applicants are required to use the Electronic Visa Application DS-156 Form (EVAF)
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Form DS-157, Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application, is required to be submitted with Form DS-156 by all male nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applicants between the age of 16 and 45, regardless of nationality or place of application.
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A receipt from Shinhan Bank for the visa processing fee. The fee may be paid at any of the bank's branches in Korea. There is a branch only a short walk from the Embassy; here is a map. A receipt showing payment of the visa application fee for each applicant, including each child listed in a parent's passport who is also applying for a U.S. visa, is needed.
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Approved Form ETA-9035.
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A job offer letter from the prospective U.S.-based employer. The letter must be dated within one month of the application.
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Documents confirming your abilities or qualifications for the task in the U.S. The applicant must demonstrate that:
- the position he or she is coming to fill qualifies as specialty occupation employment;
- he or she has the necessary academic or other qualifying credentials - bachelor’s or higher degree in the specific specialty (or its equivalent) and
- he or she has the necessary license or other official permission to practice in the specialty occupation, if seeking employment in a specialty occupation. -
Marriage Certificate if applying with a spouse
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Birth Certificate if applying with children
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Notice of Appearance (G-28/G-28I) if represented by a lawyer.
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A courier receipt from an Embassy-approved courier company (Ilyang: 1588-0002; Hanjin:1588-0011) within Korea. Courier service receipt will be needed to return your passport to you after the visa issuance. Each passport has a separate courier service form attached.
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All non-English documents must be translated into English.
Processing Time
Processing time will vary with the complexity of the case and our overall workload. Passports are delivered back to applicants via selected courier (Ilyang or Hanjin). Generally, it takes 7 working days. Please make flexible travel plans.