Where to Get an E-3 Visa Appointment
The first question asked by any Australian with their signature barely dry on their job offer is “Where in the World do I get an E3 visa appointment?”
When COVID shut down U.S. Consulates in early 2020, it was a struggle for Australians to get an E3 visa appointment. Subsequently, when a U.S. Consulate opened up, a surge of appointment applications flooded in. Suddenly the wait for a visa at the newly opened Consulate would be up to six months!
It’s a bit like your GPS telling you how to avoid an accident up ahead on the highway by taking a service road. Unfortunately, everyone with a GPS gets the same message and the service road is suddenly congested!
More U.S. Consulates Approving E3 Visas
Fortunately, over this past year, we have seen U.S. Consulates reopening. Therefore, more E3 visa appointment times have become available. In August of 2022, 583 E3 visas were approved which was the highest number since mid-2019.
The Australian Community has access to the latest consular data that shows where in the world E3 visas are being processed and gives you an understanding of which U.S. Consulate to look to for booking your next E3 visa appointment.
Knowing where E3 visas are being processed is at least an indication of where your best chances are of securing an appointment.
April’s E3 Visa consular approvals.
| April 2023 | E-3 | E-3D | E-3R |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIT Taipei | 1 | ||
| Auckland | 2 | ||
| Beijing | 2 | ||
| Bogota | 1 | 2 | |
| Bridgetown | 8 | 6 | 1 |
| Brussels | 1 | ||
| Buenos Aires | 1 | ||
| Cape Town | 2 | ||
| Dhaka | 1 | 1 | |
| Dublin | 1 | ||
| Frankfurt | 5 | 1 | |
| Guadalajara | 1 | 4 | |
| Ho Chi Minh City | 1 | 1 | |
| Hong Kong | 2 | 2 | |
| Hyderabad | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Jakarta | 1 | ||
| Kuala Lumpur | 1 | ||
| London | 26 | 33 | 35 |
| Melbourne | 57 | 47 | 50 |
| Mexico City | 1 | ||
| Mumbai | 1 | 6 | |
| Nassau | 2 | 6 | |
| New Delhi | 3 | 1 | |
| Ottawa | 2 | ||
| Paris | 1 | ||
| Perth | 13 | 14 | 7 |
| Port Moresby | 1 | ||
| Rio De Janeiro | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Rome | 2 | ||
| Sao Paulo | 2 | ||
| Seoul | 1 | ||
| Shanghai | 1 | ||
| Singapore | 7 | 5 | |
| Stockholm | 1 | ||
| Sydney | 119 | 88 | 62 |
| Tel Aviv | 3 | ||
| Tijuana | 1 | ||
| Tokyo | 2 | 1 | |
| Toronto | 5 | 5 | |
| Valletta | 1 | 5 | |
| Vancouver | 1 | 1 | |
As you scroll through the April 2023 data, there are some standouts:
- Sydney has consistently been the leading U.S. Consulate for processing E3s since it reopened. April saw 119 E3, 88 E3D, and 52 E3R visas which are historically the mean.
- Melbourne was second with 57 E3, 47 E3D, and 50 E3 Renewal visas.
- London was third with 26 E3, 33 E3D, and 35 E3R visas.
- Perth continues to consistently process visas with 13 E3, 14 E3D, and 7 E3R visas.
- Singapore was a standout to the low with only 7 E3 and 5 E3D visas.
- Special mention for Bridgetown who processed 8 E3, 6 E3D, and 1 E3R visas.
- Rio surprised with 6 E3, 4, E3D, and 2 E3R visas.
- Frankfurt processed 5 E3 and 1 E3D visas.
- Paris processed only 1 E3R.
- Toronto processed 5 E3 and 5 E3D visas – Go Canada!
- Port Moresby again receives a special mention with 1 E3 processed.
In all, only 280 new E3 visas were approved in April. This is down from 390 in March, and 120 down from April 2022.
E3 Visa Appointment Wait Times at a Glance
A quick check of visa appointment wait times (at the time of publication) at popular U.S. Consulates.
- Sydney: 45 Days
- Melbourne: 25 Days
- London: 10 days
- Perth: 55 Days
- Bridgetown: 1 Day
- Singapore: 9 Days
- Rio De Janeiro: 1 Day
- Athens: 2 Days
- Mexico City: 17 Days
- Zagreb: 8 days
As they say in Financial Service, “past performance is not indicative of future returns”. For a full list of current U.S. Consulate visa appointment wait times visit the Visa Appointment Wait Times (US Dept of State) website.
Further, as it appears that more U.S. Consulates are able to process E-3 visas in shorter periods of time, demand was historically down in April. Hopefully, the trend line will reverse to the positive.
About The Australian Community
Founded in 2011, we connect more Australians in America.
If you are a professional Australian taking your career to the next level, or the U.S. is the next step in your company’s global expansion, we can connect you to all of the resources you need for success in America.
Did you find this article helpful? Make a Donation!
The Australian Community is a 501(c)(3) organization and all donations are fully tax-deductible under the IRS Code.
Join The Australian Community.
Learn more about the benefits of joining The Australian Community in America.