# Moving to the USA from Australia

> How to move to the United States from Australia — the E-3 visa, E-2/L-1/O-1 routes, Pacific shipping costs, transit times and U.S. customs. Get a moving quote.

Canonical: https://www.portunusai.com/moving-to-usa/australia
Direction: Australia → USA
Data last reviewed: 2026-06-15

## Typical moving costs

- Studio: $3,420–$5,400
- 1 bedroom: $5,220–$8,100
- 2 bedrooms: $7,020–$11,250
- 3 bedrooms: $10,350–$16,200
- 20ft container: $4,675–$7,150
- 40ft container: $8,075–$12,350

## Transit times

- Sydney → Los Angeles: 28–42 days
- Melbourne → New York: 40–55 days
- Brisbane → Los Angeles: 30–45 days

## Customs & import notes

- Goods clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on arrival.
- Used personal/household effects owned and used 1+ year are generally duty-free when relocating.
- File CBP Form 3299 (free entry of unaccompanied articles) with a detailed inventory.
- Restricted items (certain foods, plants, firearms) need separate clearance.

## U.S. visa options

- E-3 visa (Australia only): Fast, renewable specialty-occupation work visa unique to Australian citizens. (https://www.portunusai.com/blog/e3-visa-australia-guide)
- E-2 Treaty Investor visa: For Australians investing substantial capital in a U.S. business — we help you prepare the full application. (https://www.portunusai.com/e2-visa)
- L-1 intracompany transfer: Move with your current employer to a U.S. office. (https://www.portunusai.com/check-eligibility)
- O-1 extraordinary ability: For those with national/international acclaim in their field. (https://www.portunusai.com/o1-visa)
- EB-2 NIW green card: Self-petition permanent residence in the national interest. (https://www.portunusai.com/eb2-niw-visa)

## Moving companies serving this route

- Crown Relocations — Premium, Corporate relocation (https://www.crownrelo.com/)
- Allied International — Families, Storage options (https://www.allied.com/international-moving)
- Seven Seas Worldwide — Budget, Small moves & students (https://www.sevenseasworldwide.com/)
- International Van Lines — Best overall, Full-service moves (https://www.internationalvanlines.com/)
- John Mason International — Established carrier, Sole-use containers (https://www.johnmason.com/)
- Sirelo (compare multiple movers) — Compare several quotes at once (https://www.sirelo.com/)

## Related resources

- [Moving to the USA hub](https://www.portunusai.com/moving-to-usa)
- [Moving from the USA hub](https://www.portunusai.com/moving-from-usa)
- [Site-wide llms.txt](https://www.portunusai.com/llms.txt)