Are you a USA citizen/passport holder looking for a new opportunity? Perhaps to travel, explore new horizons and experiences? Have you thought about visiting and/or working in Australia? Well, the good news is that there are a multitude of visa options available for you to consider, with each one designed for a specific purpose. And, as a USA citizen, you may be eligible for an Australia working holiday visa USA, which is available to passport holders from specific countries only, including the USA.

What Do You Need To Consider Before Applying For A USA Visa For Australia?

You might like to explore the unique sights of Australia as a tourist; visit a friend or family member; study; work; set up a business, invest funds, have a working holiday or join your de facto partner, spouse, child or parent in Australia. There is a visa for these, and many more reasons to travel to Australia (some temporary; some permanent).

With an Australia visa for US citizens/passport holders, you can achieve your goal. You might be looking to make a short-term visit. Or to stay for a longer period, say, for a few years. You might even be hoping to settle in Australia permanently. These are all important factors to consider when selecting the right visa option for you.

As you embark on this journey, you need to establish what your purpose in travelling to Australia is as a first step. Then, it is important to conduct careful research into each relevant visa option, so that you can understand the eligibility criteria, visa conditions and what each visa will allow you to do, before selecting the best option for you.

And another aspect to consider is that for some visa types, you may also have the option to bring eligible family members with you to Australia as dependent applicants.

And if you are considering applying for an Australia visa for US citizens, it is also important to be aware of the complex nature of Australia’s migration laws. Some people think it is as simple as accessing the information provided on the Department of Home Affairs’ (the Department’s) website. And when you take a look, it does appear to be quite straightforward.

But the reality is that the data provided there is brief and summarised. In fact, migration law is detailed and complicated in many cases. For example, you will find that each eligibility criterion requires its own explanation, with defined terms and concepts that need to be well understood and then applied to your own specific circumstances. Remember, no two cases are ever the same. We are all different, and in large part, being skilled in migration law means being able to both interpret and apply the law.

So, whilst you may get the ‘vanilla’ version when you conduct an online search for information, it is important to consider that as each case is different, it is vital to gain an understanding of how the requirements apply to your specific circumstances. And, what do the legislative terms actually mean? For example, what is the meaning of full-time work, or de facto partner for these purposes?

And the laws are fast-changing. You will find aspects of the legislation are updated often which is why keeping up-to-date with these changes is vital in getting it right.

Plus, the legislation itself is just one aspect of what makes up US immigration to Australia law in Australia. There is also policy and case law to consider too.

And finally, you need to be careful what you rely on when accessing information online, or even from a friend or colleague. How are you to know whether the information is current, and applicable to your circumstances? The information may be provided to you with the best of intentions, but is it specifically tailored to you?

As noted, a key function of a migration professional’s work is to interpret the law, to apply it to your specific circumstances and ultimately, to provide individual, tailored advice. Following general information that you find from other sources may be fine for a simple visa, but not so for most.

So, as you can see, on the face of it, it might seem relatively simple to apply for an Australia visa for US citizens. The problem is that you don’t know what you don’t know. Therefore, seeking expert advice is recommended, to give you the best chance of achieving a successful outcome on your application, and thus lessening the chance that it will be refused.

Keep in mind that a visa refusal can lead to a myriad of complications if you do seek to apply for a further visa to Australia, which may include exclusion periods or re-entry bans in serious cases. Avoid this risk by arming yourself with the right information from the start and avoid wasting time and money in the event that you do get it wrong. Start off on the right foot by contacting PAX Migration Australia to explore your options for immigration to Australia from USA.

Get More Information About Why To Choose PAX Migration For Your USA Visa For Australia

To find out more about why you should consider choosing PAX Migration Australia, what our clients have to say about us, and why obtaining expert advice and assistance from a migration agent can be beneficial in achieving a positive outcome on your migration matter, please see the following articles:

Selecting a migration agent in Australia

Should I use a migration agent or immigration lawyer for my application?

Migration Agent in Adelaide

Immigration Agent Adelaide

Migration Agent Australia

Best Migration Agent Adelaide

PAX Migration Adelaide

Migration Agent Elizabeth

Migration Agent Aberfoyle Park

Migration Agent Glen Osmond 

For more information on what you can expect from PAX Migration Australia when you engage our services, including the process involved, please see the following articles:

Migration Agent Hallett Cove 

Migration Agent Kensington Park 

Migration Agent Morphett Vale

Migration Agent Oaklands Park

Migration Agent Reynella

Migration Agent Glenelg

Migration Agent Henley Beach

Migration Agent Noarlunga

Migration Agent Semaphore

What USA Visa (For Australia) Options Are Available?

Now that we have covered the important factors to consider before applying for a USA visa to Australia, lets now delve into some of the visa options that are available.

Visitor Visa

To visit Australia for a short-term period, you may consider a Visitor Visa.

A Subclass 600 Visitor Visa is designed for people who are seeking to travel to Australia as a tourist, for business or to visit family. It is a temporary visa which may be granted for a period of up to 3, 6, or 12 months.

Or, you might opt for a Subclass 601 Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) Visa, which also lets you visit Australia for a shorter period. It is designed for people who are seeking to travel to Australia for a holiday, to visit family or friends, or as a business visitor. You can also study or train for up to a total of 3 months on this visa.

The subclass 601 visa is a temporary visa available to citizens of certain countries only, including the USA, and allows you to enter Australia on an unlimited basis for a 12-month period, with a maximum 3 month stay permitted each time you enter the country.

Work And Holiday Visa

If you would like to combine travel with work in Australia, you might like to consider a Subclass 462 Work and Holiday Visa.

This temporary visa is available only to passport holders from certain countries, including the USA. This visa can be a good option for people who would like to experience what Australia has to offer in a variety of ways, from travelling around the country to see and explore the unique and natural environment, world famous tourist sites, scenery, and culture, and at the same time, having the right to work means you can earn extra money as you travel around the nation.

As the holder of an Australia working holiday visa USA, you can remain in Australia for a period of 12 months from the date of your first entry. You can also study for up to 4 months and enter Australia as many times as you wish as a Subclass 462 visa holder.

To be eligible for an Australia working holiday visa USA, you must be aged 18 to 30 years old (inclusive) when you apply (the visa may still be granted if you turn 31 years of age before your application is decided).

As a USA passport holder, you must also have a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education or equivalent to qualify.

You may also be eligible to extend your stay in Australia by a further 12 to 24 months if you qualify for a second, and thereafter third year Work and Holiday visa, provided you meet prescribed requirements. This can mean an overall stay period of three years in Australia on a subclass 462 visa.

To qualify for a second Subclass 462 Work and Holiday visa, you must complete three months of ‘specified subclass 462 work’ in northern or regional Australia during your stay in Australia on your first subclass 462 visa. ‘Specified subclass 462 work’ includes work in the agriculture, tourism and hospitality industries. Specified regions are identified in a list of prescribed postcodes.

Performing an additional six months of ‘specified subclass 462 work’ whilst the holder of a second year Work and Holiday visa means you may qualify for a third-year visa. The six months specified work must all be carried out on or after 1 July 2019.

Note that certain work undertaken as the holder of another type of visa (such as a Bridging Visa) may also count towards meeting the ‘specified subclass 462 work’ requirement.

You can learn more about this option to extend the Work and Holiday visa term in our articles on the Major Working Holiday Visa Changes and Changes to the Working Holiday Maker Visa 2019.

Student Visa

If your purpose in visiting Australia is to complete a course of study, you may like to consider a Student Visa.

The Subclass 500 Student Visa is a temporary visa that can be granted for a maximum period of up to five years (the actual visa term will depend on the duration of the course/s selected).

You can choose from a wide variety of courses and subject areas from several course providers and education sectors including vocational, higher education and postgraduate research, as well as non-award and English courses. The programme is also open to school-age children.

You can also package two or more courses on a single student visa where there is a progression from one course to another.

We recommend that you refer to our Student Visa article to learn more about the eligibility requirements and how to apply for a Student Visa. To discover some of the benefits of studying in Australia in our article on Is Australia the best place to be an international student.

Temporary Graduate Visa

Designed for recent student graduates in Australia, a Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa enables you to live, work and study in Australia after you have completed your studies. It can be a good option for people who are seeking a pathway to a longer-term, or permanent visa in Australia, as it is not subject to limitations on what you can do (for example, you are free to work for any employer for as long as you like, study, or travel around the country).

It provides a valuable opportunity for the visa holder to remain in Australia whilst preparing for and completing the necessary requirements to qualify for a further visa, such as completing work experience, or a qualification.

To illustrate, some visas require you to reside in a certain state for a specified period to qualify for a state sponsored skilled visa, time which you can make up whilst the holder of a Temporary Graduate visa.

Or, if you are intending to apply for a Partner visa, you may be required to demonstrate that you have lived with your de facto partner for a certain period. You can therefore use the time on your subclass 485 visa to work towards meeting any such requirements.

The Subclass 485 visa is a temporary visa consisting of two streams, a Graduate Work stream and a Post-Study Work stream. The visa term can range from between 18 months and 4 years, depending on which stream you apply under, and your qualification.

And the good news is that recently introduced changes mean you may qualify for a second subclass 485 visa, thereby extending your stay in Australia by an additional 1-2 years (provided you meet specified requirements). See our article on the Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485 for more information.

Get More Information About The Temporary Graduate Visa

To learn more about the subclass 485 visa, we recommend that you refer to the articles below, which we have prepared to assist you in understanding how the Temporary Graduate visa application works, and the issues you need to be aware of when embarking on this type of application.

International Graduates Continue to Get Caught Out on Graduate Visa

What are different temporary graduate visa streams and how to qualify for these streams

Qualification criteria for Temporary Graduate subclass 485 visa

Occupation lists – what are they and how do they apply to graduates?

Australian Graduate Visa FAQs

Comprehensive Guide to Temporary Graduate Subclass 485 Visa

Top 5 Graduate Visa Tips AND How to spend your time on a graduate visa wisely

Most common refusal reasons for graduate visas

Skilled Visa

If you are seeking to work in Australia, you may like to consider a Skilled Visa (or Work visa as it is commonly known). This type of work visa Australia from USA is based on your skills, experience and/or qualifications, and whether your occupation is included in the relevant Skilled Occupation List (SOL) as prescribed for the visa subclass which you are applying for.

There are several work visa Australia from USA options which you may be able to consider, each with its own specific and distinct requirements, and impose different obligations on the relevant parties to the application. Some are temporary, whilst others are permanent. Another type of skilled visa is a provisional visa, which is a temporary visa that may lead to the grant of a permanent residence visa if certain requirements are met.

The range of skilled visa options include:

  • Subclass 189 Skilled (Independent) visa;
  • Subclass 190 Skilled (Nominated) visa;
  • Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa;
  • Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa;
  • Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa;
  • Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa.

Get More Information About The Skilled Visa

We recommend that you refer to our Australian Skilled Migration Visa List article to learn more about the different types of skilled visas available, the key points related to skilled migration and links to further information if you are considering applying for US citizen working in Australia visa.

You can also find more information about the South Australian state sponsored options in our South Australian State Nomination Program article.

Partner or Prospective Marriage Visa

The Partner visa stream is designed for applicants who are either intending to marry, or who are already in a married or de facto relationship with an Australian partner or eligible New Zealand citizen.

This type of visa provides a pathway to permanent residence for immigration to Australia from USA.

If you are married to, or are in a de facto relationship with an Australian partner, and you are located onshore, you may consider whether you are eligible to apply for a Subclass 820/801 Partner Visa.

If you are outside Australia, the equivalent offshore application is the Subclass 309/100 Partner Visa.

If you are intending to marry your Australian partner, you may consider applying for a Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa. This application must be lodged offshore.

We recommend that you refer to our Partner Visa Sponsor Approval article to learn more about the Partner and Prospective Marriage visas.

Other Family Visas

Apart from the Partner and Prospective Marriage Visa subclasses, there are also a range of other Family visas you may like to consider for immigration to Australia from USA. These include Parent and Child visas.

You can learn more about these visa classes in our article on Sponsoring a family member.

Business Visas

If you are looking to establish and manage, or invest in a business, or to innovate a product or service for commercialisation in Australia, you may be interested in a Business Visa. To qualify, you need to be sponsored by a State or Territory Government.

There are both temporary and permanent residence visa options available for US immigration to Australia under this programme.

Get More Information About The Business Visa

Learn more about Business Visas in our Comprehensive Guide to a Business Investment Visa article.

You can also find more information about the South Australian state sponsored Business visa options in our articles on the South Australian State Nomination Program and 188c Visa Eligibility.

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In conclusion, we note that the above discussion provides an overview of the types of USA visas for Australia. Australia’s migrations laws are complex, and each case is different. We recommend that you seek professional advice before you proceed with applying for a USA visa for Australia, as being fully informed about the process and requirements that apply will give you the best chance of achieving a successful outcome on your application, and thus lessen the chance that it will be refused. A migration professional can help you to do this. Start off on the right foot by contacting PAX Migration Australia today.

For up-to-date advice on a USA visa for Australia, book your confidential consultation with a migration agent in Adelaide. PAX Migration Australia is a leading immigration advice service based in Adelaide.

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