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Many of Australia's best and brightest workers are considering a move to the US after the introduction of 10,500 US visas for skilled Australian workers.Headhunters from major American companies are also expected to seek out Australia's top university students, inviting them as soon as they finish their studies.
As part of the Free Trade Agreement, Australian professionals will soon have access to 10,500 E3 work visas each year, a huge rise on the 900 standard visas secured by Australians last year in the global green card lottery.
Training designer Kevin Wong can picture himself working in America's famous high-tech Silicon Valley. Wong, 23, says he is happy in his job at Hills Industries, but he sees the boost in availability of US work visas to Australians as "amazing" and an exciting opportunity.
"I'm looking to get international experience and see how other countries conduct business," Mr Wong said.
"America is at the top of the business ladder. The chance to earn more is also attractive. Here I earn a $70,000 package that includes a car. My base wage is $45,000. Over there I could be getting $US60,000 ($80,000)."
Applicants for the E-3 visas must have tertiary qualifications and have already secured a job placement at a US company.
Another change to the visas is the dropping of the age and time limit. The partner of the visa holder is also allowed to work.
Chief executive of the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists, and Managers John Vines said scientists and engineers were expected to be among the most eager applicants for the new visas because the pay difference between the two countries was the greatest.
"Overseas experience for young Australian professionals is a good thing and we encourage it," Mr Vines said. "But we can't afford to lose them permanently."
Miki Adderley, 28, a mechanical engineer at Alstom Power, said the less stringent visa requirements were appealing because, if she were to move to the US, her husband would also be allowed to work.
Nathan Cochrane, 22, is in his final years of aeronautical engineering at university.
He said some of the best opportunities for engineers existed in the US and England and he would move to the US to work "in a second" if the chance arose.
His ideal job would be working at Boeing's plant near Seattle.
