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Here’s everything you need to know about who can apply, and how you go about getting dual citizenship with the United States.
Moving to America from Australia.
Relaxing by the Pacific or Atlantic oceans, high altitude skiing across alpine country, trek through the desert or visit stunning national parks such as Yosemite, the USA has so many types of landscape all within its borders.
On top of this, you’ll find some of the world's most popular cities where people move to chase their dreams – aka Los Angeles or New York. If the thought of moving across the ditch has crossed your mind, this article will give you the ins and outs of moving to America from Australia.
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US key facts
| Language | English is the official language in most states. Spanish is the second most spoken language. |
|---|---|
| Currency | United States Dollar (USD) |
| Population* | 341,560,380 (2024)¹ |
| Number of expats | Approximately 46 million |
| Biggest cities | Los Angeles, California New York, New York Chicago, Illinois Phoenix, Arizona Houston, Texas |
| Capital | Washington D.C. |
| Weather | Varied across the country with hot desert regions, alpine regions, and humid regions |
| Average yearly salary* | $76,770 (2024)² |
*As seen on 10 May 2024
Life in the United States of America
As a resident of the USA, your lifestyle varies depending on where you choose to live. Unlike Australia, the USA has plenty of big city options to consider for those who enjoy a more fast-paced lifestyle. You’ll also find plenty or mid to smaller sized cities or towns that boast stunning surrounding landscapes. However, where you live will dictate the opportunities that can be available to you.
Moving to USA – pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
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USA entry requirements for Australian citizens
For the average Australian with a standard Australian passport, you can’t just up and move to the USA. You are going to need to apply for a visa. The visa you apply for will depend on what you are going to be doing in the USA.
USA visa types and requirements
The following visa types are based on an Australian citizen who does not have any familial ties or ancestry in the USA.
Working visas
There are a range of temporary, permanent or investor visas that an Australian can choose to apply for depending on their own personal circumstances. There are also visas exclusively dedicated to Australian nationals. We’ll briefly go through some of the options available to move and work in the USA.
Australian Professional Specialty Visas (E-3)
The E-3 visa is specifically for individuals who hold a university degree and have received a job offer in a speciality occupation that relates to the respective degree or degrees. Only Australian nationals are eligible to apply for this visa and it can be granted for a minimum of 2 years with unlimited extension possibility.³
Treaty Trader (E-1)
The E-1 Treaty Trader visa is an option for those who are engaged in International trade with the USA. This extends to employees of an eligible organisation within this sector.⁴ Australia is a signatory to be apart of this visa scheme, which also extends to the E-2 visa⁵
Treaty Investor (E-2)
The E-2 Visa is for eligible Australians who are involved in substantial trade and investments with the USA or work for an E-visa enterprise as an executive or skilled employee can apply for the E-2 visa. Those who have invested a substantial amount into an enterprise and are responsible for developing and directing the operations are eligible as well.⁶
Other work visas
Subsequently, there are several other temporary work visas available that can cover individuals with varied skills set or expertise such as for agriculture work, specialty work, athletes, media and entertainment. There are also seasonal work visas available and visas for those doing intra-company transfers within their current employment.⁴
Study or exchange visas
For Australians looking to start a new degree or attain a higher qualification, you could move over to the USA on a Student visa. There are two categories of Student visa available including a F student visa for formal education and an M student visa to study at other approved education institutes.⁷
USA residency and permits
For anyone that moves to the US on a temporary visa, then there are usually rules about whether you can extend your visa, transfer to another visa or apply for permanent residency. For example, if you move to the USA on a F-type student visa, you have to leave the USA within 60 days of your program end-date.⁷
Is the USA safe for Australians
Generally the USA is a safe country to live but there are higher rates of violent crime than you see in Australia. This is particularly in the larger cities or other built up urban areas.
Those who want to move to any city in the USA are recommended to research which suburbs to avoid. Some regions are also prone to experiencing severe weather or environmental hazards such as earthquakes, avalanches, tornados or wildfires.⁸
Local language
English is the most spoken language in the USA, with Spanish and Chinese not far behind. This makes for an easy transition for Australians moving to the USA.
Once you’re there, you’ll also quickly notice that it’s very multicultural with other 350 languages reported to be spoken, including different native american dialects.⁹
Healthcare in USA
The USA predominantly runs off an insurance based healthcare system. This means that there are no healthcare benefits provided by the US government for citizens, residents or visitors. Additionally, the healthcare costs can be very expensive.¹⁰ You can either organise expatriate insurance before you arrive in the US or get in contact with local providers about your options. Sometimes employers will include healthcare insurance as part of their employment benefit schemes.¹¹
Cost of living in USA
Like any large country, the cost of living can vary from city to city, and from town to town. To gauge what to expect, here’s a breakdown on the average cost of living in 8 popular cities to move to in the USA.
| City* | Average rent (AUD monthly, 1 bedroom in city centre) | Average costs (AUD without rent monthly) | Utilities (AUD monthly) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles¹² | $3,769.93 | $2,064.20 | $294.04 |
| New York¹³ | $6,362.87 | $2,566.30 | $284.34 |
| Houston¹⁴ | $2,458.45 | $1,739.80 | $316.74 |
| Chicago¹⁵ | $3,681.50 | $1,964.90 | $243.33 |
| Seattle¹⁶ | $3,762.64 | $2,089.90 | $352.74 |
| San Francisco¹⁷ | $4,921.79 | $2,273.40 | $384.49 |
| Denver¹⁸ | $3,220.52 | $1,956.00 | $290.46 |
| Miami¹⁹ | $4,201.38 | $1,934.40 | $252.41 |
*As seen on 10 May 2024
Finding a job in USA
The USA is often referred to as the land of endless opportunities. This attracts millions of foreigners, including Australians, to move there each year. To move over on a working visa, you will need to find a job prior to applying for the visa.
Fortunately, there are plenty of job marketplaces online to help get you started in your search, including:
You can also have a look on Linkedin for opportunities to connect with individuals working in an industry you want to move into. If online job boards aren’t for you, you could also try:
- Getting in touch with a recruitment firm
- Contacting employers directly
- Getting an intra-company transfer
- Attending job fairs and networking events
If you are a seasoned professional, it might be an idea to check out if any of your past colleagues have moved over to the USA or know someone who can be a contact for an opportunity.
Banks and accounts in USA
When you touch down in the USA and settle in, you’ll need to organise your own local bank account to be able to pay bills or receive your salary. Some of the biggest banks in the USA that you could consider include:
You may want something different and want to try an online alternative. You could have a look at an account with:
To open an account in the USA, you will generally need to meet some basic eligibility requirements. The can include providing documents for²⁰:
- Proof of residency
- Proof of identity
- Proof of address
In some cases, you will need to provide your foreign tax identity number.
What to keep in mind about moving to USA
While we’ve covered a lot of the key things that you need to know if you are seriously considering moving to the USA, here's some extra tidbits to best prepare your move.
Moving costs
On top of your mandatory visa application fees, the costs to move to the USA can get a little pricey, especially if you need to move furniture, cars or even pets. If you do need to move more than just yourself or your family, it’s important to research and plan well ahead of time to save costs and understand what you can and can't take with you.
Let the ATO know of your plans
Your tax obligations and any outstanding loans don’t dry up just because you move overseas. You should notify the Australian Tax Office (ATO) of your imminent move within 7 days of leaving Australia. It's important to understand any further obligations you may have back in Australia once you arrive in the USA.²¹
USA embassy addresses and contacts in Australia
To organise your move to the USA, you will likely have to get in contact with a US embassy or consulate in Australia. Here is where to find them.
| Embassy/Consulate | Address | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| US Embassy Canberra | Moonah Place Yarralumla, ACT 2600 | (02) 6214-5600 |
| US Consulate Melbourne | 553 St Kilda Road Melbourne, Victoria 3004 | (03) 9526-5900 |
| US Consulate Sydney | Suite 2, 50 Miller Street Sydney, NSW 2060 | (02) 8219-2100 |
| US Consulate Perth | 4th Floor, 16 St George’s Terrace Perth WA 6000 | (08) 6144-5100 |
In conclusion – Keep in mind
Moving to the USA can be a highly rewarding experience for both personal and professional growth. However, it can be a shock to the system once the move has finally happened, despite the cultural and social overlaps that the USA and Australia share. Nonetheless, it is sure to be an adventure of a lifetime.
The Wise Account and Debit Card
Opening a bank account overseas can be a bit of a process that’s made more difficult if you aren’t considered a resident yet.
The Wise Account from Wise — while not a bank account — enables you to store 40 international currencies and get local account details for a number of different countries, including AUD, CAD, GBP, NZD, EUR and USD. You can use these to easily transfer your money to Wise or get paid by others.
However, do note that features that are offered by traditional bank accounts such as interest, loans and in some countries, deposit protection, will not be available with the Wise Account.
You’ll also avoid high international transaction fees and get access to the mid-market rate on all conversions. The best part - you can open and manage your Wise account completely online.
To make everyday spending easier you can order a Wise Debit card for your Wise Account and generate virtual cards as needed. If you have the local currency in your Wise Account the Wise card will use it. If you don’t have local currency converted, it uses smart technology to auto-convert your money at the mid-market rate, for a transparent conversion fee.
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| Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information. |
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Sources:
- Worldometer US population
- World data Average income US
- US Immigration E3 Visa
- USCIS Treaty Trader visa
- US Immigration treaty countries
- US Immigration Treaty Investor
- US Immigration student visa
- Smart Traveller USA safety
- USA Gov languages
- MIT US Health system
- US Healthcare employer
- Numbeo Los Angeles
- Numbeo New York
- Numbeo Houston
- Numbeo Chicago
- Numbeo Seattle
- Numbeo San Francisco
- Numbeo Denver
- Numbeo Miami
- Bank of America eligibility
- ATO moving overseas
Sources checked on: 10 May 2024
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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