Australia vs USA Immigration 2026 — Points System vs Employer Sponsorship

For applicants from countries facing the US green card backlog, Australia's points-based system is one of the most commonly considered alternatives — here's how they actually compare.

The Core Structural Difference

Factor	🇦🇺 Australia SkillSelect	🇺🇸 USA (H-1B → Green Card)
Job offer required?	No for Subclass 189 (independent) — optional	Yes, mandatory for H-1B
Selection mechanism	Points-based EOI, invited by score	H-1B lottery, then employer-sponsored green card process
Time to permanent status	189: 5-11 months after invitation	40-80+ years for India/China-born on EB-2/EB-3 (per-country backlog)

Australia's independent Subclass 189 route has no per-country backlog the way the US employment-based system does — every applicant competes on the same points scale regardless of birth country, which is a major practical advantage for Indian and Chinese applicants specifically.

Cost Comparison

Cost Item	🇦🇺 Australia	🇺🇸 USA
Government/visa fees	AUD 7,000-10,000+ (single applicant, incl. skills assessment)	$100,000 new H-1B fee (employer-paid) + PERM/I-140 legal costs
Points/backlog dependency	65+ points needed, no per-country cap	No points system, but severe per-country green card backlogs

Which Should You Pursue?

• You're from a backlogged country (India, China) and want predictability → Australia's points system has no per-country cap.
• You have a strong US job offer and aren't from a backlogged country → the US path can still work well.
• You want to apply without needing an employer first → Australia's Subclass 189 lets you apply independently; the US H-1B route requires employer sponsorship from the start.

Frequently Asked Questions