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IT will now be easier for professional Australians to live and work in the US after the Congress passed new visa laws as part of the free trade deal. In a move designed to boost the numbers of Australian workers sponsored by American companies, the US yesterday approved the special visa category. It was one of the missing elements from last year's free trade agreement and is estimated to affect more than 20,000 Australian professionals and their families. The new rules mean the spouses and children of people hired by US companies will also be able to work in the US for the first time. Advertisement: The visa breakthrough follows months of negotiations by officials who have pushed to give degree-qualified Australian workers, like accountants and lawyers, easier access to the tightly regulated North American labour market. Under the present regulations, Australians have to compete within a pool of 65,000 business-sponsored visas, known as the H1-B, which last year saw only 986 getting in. The new E-3 visa category will apply specifically to 10,500 Australians. Those Australians will still have to have an employer in the US to sponsor their visa application. But the rules governing spouses will be relaxed, allowing wives and husbands to apply for work once in America without having to be sponsored before leaving Australia. The new visa will be valid for two years, but may be renewed. [ Last edited by 蜻蜓 on 2005-5-12 at 02:36 PM ] |
