So you want to move to the US

I happened to be back in Australia in March 2005 when I first heard about a new E3 Visa from America just for Aussies. I was so excited! Since this would mean lonely Aussie me might have more Aussie friends to play with State side. But I also knew that even with the visa it wouldn't be an easy transition for most.

Here is the thing. Visa's in general had a stigma attached to them. Expensive and hard to get. I live and work in the San Francisco Bay Area a.k.a. Silicon Valley. The landscape has changed over the last few decades due to visas, but only in certain fields. Namely that of IT. The previous visas that were coveted were the HB1's, quite expensive and large demand to supply. They were coveted since the visa can be converted to a green card (permanent residency) with the sponsorship of your employer. And E3 cannot ever be converted to a green card but can be renewed indefinitely.

I've seen friends, friends of friends and even my own family try for the E3 visa with varying success. I would like to share my knowledge and in the coming posts will put up posts on different topics I think people should know. They will fall into two categories:
1. Those wanting to move here and
2. Those newly arrived and slightly lost.

Please let me know if there are topics of interest you would like me to cover. If I don't know it I can ask friends in the community here.