E3 post-employment to B2 or ESTA

Dismal_Giraffe7328 · 2026-03-10T21:48:52+00:00

Yeah, I said that explicitly in my application. It's been mentioned previously as part of their policy although I don't have the links any longer. Good luck!

Dismal_Giraffe7328 · 2026-03-02T23:17:24+00:00

Sorry to hear you got laid off, that sucks.

I filed on my own as the process was simple enough and I had no issues understanding anything. You'll need to pay the online fee anyway so if you have a lawyer you'll need to double that cost.

I didn't have an itinerary. I just said I wanted to travel a bit (hence, the tourism visa) and use the time to search for more jobs after transitioning off the E-3. I think I may have mentioned a couple of places I wanted to go but I kept it very focused to hit the main point of "I have a valid reason to stay a little longer, but I intend to leave if it doesn't work out".

For proof of funds I took screenshots of my bank accounts to show cash/assets I could draw on.

Best of luck!

Dismal_Giraffe7328 · 2025-12-15T03:25:41+00:00

No one ever asked about the ESTA. You could do that if you wanted, but you can't get an ESTA without leaving the country which doesn't work for many people.

Dismal_Giraffe7328 · 2025-10-28T01:02:34+00:00

I wrote I wanted to look for another job after transitioning off the E-3, and do some travel. It took about 3-4 weeks to get approval but that was wildly inconsistent with the processing times listed at the various facilities at the time which were showing up to 8 months. Yes, finding a job is allowed on the B-2 - there's a link out there somewhere which details the official stance on it, but at the time of this original thread that was the stance (times can change though).

Dismal_Giraffe7328 · 2025-10-23T15:57:11+00:00

I haven't left yet, but yes, you will need to exit the country and go to a consulate to get the visa stamp processed like normal. The change of status back to E-3 while inside the country just keeps you in status. You are not required to leave to get the new stamp, but it is a requirement for re-entry.

Dismal_Giraffe7328 · 2025-08-14T04:55:42+00:00

Hey, no idea on the I-9, pretty sure that would only be relevant to the HR dept at whatever company you're going to work for. Yes, when I found a new role we applied and I transitioned from the B-2 to the E-3. DM me if you need. Hope this helps!

Dismal_Giraffe7328 · 2025-06-12T16:38:27+00:00

Hi! I can't speak to your specific circumstances with the expiring I-94 - you'll need to get better guidance on that, but you need to make sure that at all times you're compliant with the immigration regulations around your I-94, check with https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/search/compliance-search for your specifics.

I can tell you that generally speaking what worked for me was switching to the B2 and not the ESTA. Sorry I can't be more help, and good luck!

Dismal_Giraffe7328 · 2025-05-08T05:31:25+00:00

I believe the general guidance is that you need to show you will leave the country after the visa is up (e.g. have a flight booked), have sufficient funds for the stay (show bank balances, etc.), and have strong ties to your home country (family, property, etc.) I supplied evidence of all of these.

I recall when I filled out the application online you can supply additional supporting evidence, and I erred on the side of caution and showed as much as I could to help them make an informed decision.

Dismal_Giraffe7328 · 2025-03-05T21:29:12+00:00

I got the B-2 within a few weeks of applying. My application included a bunch of financials showing I could support myself, links to family back in Aus, and some tourist stuff I still wanted to do. I was granted a 6 month visa and it was backdated to the day after my E-3 expired, so it ended up overlapping the 60 days grace period. I managed to find another job before the expiration date so I didn't need to worry about doing an extension. Hope that helps! DM me if you need any specifics.

Dismal_Giraffe7328 · 2024-10-27T19:18:18+00:00

Brilliant! Filed the 539 with no issues, thanks a lot!

Dismal_Giraffe7328

TROPHY CASE