E-3 Australian Treaty Workers

The University of Pennsylvania uses the E-3 Australian Treaty Worker in Specialty Occupation category for some faculty positions, and research associates, as well as certain staff positions such data analysts and research specialists.

E-3 Visa Overview: Current immigration law makes the E-3 category available to Australian nationals in a “specialty occupation,” that is, a position: “which requires theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and attainment of a baccalaureate or higher degree or its equivalent [in the specialty occupation] as a minimum requirement.”  

E-3 Employee Qualifications: The E-3 employee must have met the minimum qualifications for the position at the time of applying for an E-3 US Entry Visa.  The Australia-US Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) allows a maximum of 10,500 E-3s per fiscal year.

The hiring departments and the foreign nationals are not authorized to file their own E-3 cases.

Processing Overview & Application Information

ISSS Processing Times

E-3 Processing Steps

All E-3 applications, including extensions and amendments, require three steps:

Step 1: Wage Determination

Step 2: Labor Condition Application (LCA)

Step 3: LCA Certification and Visa Appointment

Filing Tips: Digital E-3 Application Process

Application: Required Items from the Hiring Department

After completing the E-3 Request eform now in iPenn, the hiring department must review and submit the supporting documentation and items from the employee listed below as one complete package to ISSS using eform 5. Please save a copy of materials and forms submitted to ISSS for your records.

Government Filing Fees: Credit Card Payments

To comply with the modernized payment requirement outlined in the March 25, 2025 Executive Order, effective July 1, ISSS will only accept credit card payment for government filing fees. No checks will be accepted. In order to use credit card payment, departments have to upload a completed Form G-1450 through iPenn. Below are detailed instructions for Form G-1450. Click here for a sample Form G-1450.

USCIS Filing Fees: 

  1. Place University of Pennsylvania in the first requested field labeled “Applicant’s/Petitioner’s/Requester’s Information (Full Legal Name)” in the Given Name or Family Name box. No need to add the beneficiary’s name.
  2. Two separate G-1450 forms are needed if premium processing is requested.
    Regular Processing: One Form G-1450: $510
    Premium Processing: Two Forms G-1450–a second Form G-1450 is required for Form I-907 for the $2,805 amount.
  3. Fees can be paid with your department’s Pro-card or individual credit card. The name on the credit card does not need to match the name of the petitioner or beneficiary. 
  4. It is advisable to avoid payments with credit or debit cards with a daily limit that is below the fee amount submitted.
  5. Avoid scanned signatures that are unclear or appear to be type-written. It is best practice to submit Form G-1450 with a wet signature to avoid a rejection, but a clear scan of a wet signature is also acceptable.

USCIS will reject the entire package if you submit:

  1. One Form G-1450 for multiple applications, petitions, or requests
  2. A check and credit card authorization to split the payment for the same application, petition, or request; or
  3. A mix of money orders, checks, and credit card authorizations together for multiple applications, petitions, or requests.

Application: Required Items from the E-3 Employee

There is a list of required documents that the department needs to obtain from the E-3 employee. Please read and print the Required Items Checklist

Conditions & Reminders

Conditions of Employment

Period of Employment (in relation to I-94 dates)

E-3 Employment Restrictions

Change of E-3 Employer

Completion of Employment

Unfortunately there is no grace period for the E-3 employees.  So, the individual is expected to leave the US on the last day of employment.

Penn Internal Processing Fees

E-3 Dependent Status