7 Best Apps for E-3 Visa Holders Moving to the U.S.
From setting up a bank account without U.S. credit history to calling home for free, these seven apps cover everything an E-3 holder needs in the first weeks of living in the U.S.
Best apps for E-3 visa holders moving to the U.S. all share one thing: they work without the U.S. credit history, U.S. bank account, or U.S. phone number you won't have on arrival day.
The seven below cover financial setup, getting around an unfamiliar city, and staying in touch with family back in Australia, in the order you'll actually set them up.
1. Wise: fee-free transfers before your U.S. bank account exists
Wise is the one financial app you can set up from Australia before your flight, fund with AUD, and arrive in the U.S. with USD already in your account.
Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees. That's a meaningful difference from bank wire transfers, which add a hidden markup on top of the rate. The multi-currency debit card costs $9 USD as a one-time fee, and the first two ATM withdrawals per month up to $100 are free (as of May 2026, Wise's help center).
To use it, open the account from Australia with your existing bank details, transfer AUD before departure, convert to USD inside the app, and access funds immediately on arrival through the debit card.
Wise isn't a U.S. bank account, so employers can't direct-deposit a paycheck into it. Pair it with Chime for U.S. payroll once your SSN is on file. If you're keeping Australian financial obligations like rent or family support active while earning USD, the AUD-to-USD corridor handles the recurring transfer cleanly.
2. Chime: a U.S. bank account with no credit history required
Chime is the fastest path to a real U.S. bank account once your SSN arrives, which happens a few weeks after you start work on your E-3 visa.
The Chime checking account has no monthly fees, no minimum balance, and access to 47,000 fee-free ATMs (May 2026). SpotMe provides up to $200 in overdraft protection with a qualifying direct deposit.
Apply online after your SSN arrives, provide a U.S. address and phone number, and the debit card arrives by mail. Chime's Credit Builder card reports to all three bureaus with no credit check, no minimum deposit, and no interest, making it the earliest path to building a U.S. credit file.
Receiving your paycheck into a U.S. account is the practical prerequisite for functioning as an employee in the U.S. Chime is the primary vehicle for that from week two or three of your new role.
3. Petal 2: an unsecured U.S. credit card with no SSN required
Petal 2 is the most accessible unsecured U.S. credit card for a newly arrived E-3 visa holder because it accepts an ITIN instead of a Social Security Number and uses bank transaction history to assess income.
The card has no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and cash back starting at 1%. Applicants can use Australian bank statements as income evidence, and approval decisions are often instant.
You can apply before your SSN arrives, or run Petal 2 alongside a Capital One Secured card (next on the list) to build two credit lines simultaneously. Building a U.S. credit file early is the prerequisite for renting an apartment, financing a car, and accessing services U.S. employers assume employees can get into without friction.
4. Capital One: the two-card credit-building path for visa holders
Capital One accepts ITIN applications from non-citizens, and its Platinum Secured card offers a direct upgrade path to an unsecured card. That's the clearest structured credit-building route for a new arrival on the E-3 visa.
The Capital One Platinum Secured card requires a refundable security deposit (tier depends on creditworthiness) and starts with a $200 credit line. The account is reviewed automatically for a credit limit increase after six months of on-time payments, and the deposit is refunded when the account graduates to unsecured (May 2026).
Apply with your ITIN on capitalone.com, use the card for regular small purchases, and pay in full each month. Use Capital One as your first card on arrival, or as a second card after Petal 2 to run two simultaneous credit lines.
The secured-to-unsecured upgrade means you can have an unsecured line by month seven, right when most new arrivals are signing apartment leases or considering car financing.
5. Citymapper: real-time transit navigation across 25+ U.S. cities
Citymapper provides live bus tracking, real-time train arrivals, and delay alerts that Google Maps doesn't match in dense U.S. cities. It's the U.S. equivalent of TripView for Sydney or PTV for Melbourne.
The app covers 25+ major U.S. cities (May 2026), including New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, Boston, Seattle, Miami, and Atlanta. Citymapper's coverage page has the full list. Subway, bus, bike share, and rideshare options appear in a single route comparison.
Download Citymapper before arrival, enable location permissions, and search from the airport or your first U.S. address. The app returns a complete journey including transfers, walking segments, and real-time wait times.
If you're moving to one of the covered cities on your E-3 visa, public transit will probably be central to your daily commute. Australians are used to transit apps that show real-time arrivals, and Citymapper delivers that confidence in the U.S. cities it covers. For smaller cities and suburbs not on the coverage list, Google Maps remains the fallback.
6. Instacart: same-day grocery delivery before you know the neighbourhood
Instacart delivers groceries from partner stores in as fast as 30 minutes, which means you can stock your new apartment on arrival day before you know which bus goes to the nearest supermarket.
The app operates across most of the U.S. and accepts the Wise multi-currency Visa debit card, which provides a U.S. billing address. New arrivals can use it before a U.S. bank account is open.
Create an account with any email address, add the Wise Visa debit card as payment, and search by store (Whole Foods, Kroger, Costco, Aldi, Trader Joe's, CVS). Place an order for delivery within 30 minutes to two hours.
Arrival week is the peak use case, before you have a car, local knowledge, or familiar grocery chains nearby. Once you know the neighborhood and have transit access, in-store shopping becomes practical and cheaper.
7. WhatsApp: free calls and messages to Australia from day one
WhatsApp connects you to your Australian network the moment you connect to WiFi, before your U.S. phone plan is active, before your SIM card is set up, even from the arrivals hall at LAX or JFK.
Voice and video calls are free over WiFi to any contact in Australia who also has the app installed. Australia has near-universal WhatsApp adoption, so the personal and professional network you left behind is reachable without additional setup or cost.
Download WhatsApp on iOS or Android before departure and open it over WiFi as soon as you land. The app uses your existing phone number, so no U.S. number is required for calling Australian contacts.
Both parties need WhatsApp installed for calls to be free, and carrier data charges apply if WiFi is unavailable. Keeping your Australian professional network warm over WhatsApp also supports references and career relationships during the transition year, particularly if you might return to Australia after your E-3 visa ends or pursue a transfer back later.
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Book free consultationFrequently asked questions
Can I keep my Australian bank account active while living in the U.S. on an E-3 visa?
Yes. Your E-3 visa doesn't require you to close Australian financial accounts, and most Australians keep at least one open to handle ongoing AUD obligations like superannuation contributions, family transfers, or rental property income. Check with your Australian bank about non-resident requirements, since some accounts apply fees once you move overseas.
Do I need a U.S. phone number to set up these apps?
It depends on the app. Wise and WhatsApp work with your Australian number from day one. Chime, Petal 2, and Capital One require a U.S. phone number for account verification, so most E-3 visa holders set up a U.S. SIM in week one and add it to financial apps once their U.S. address is confirmed.
Will my Australian credit history help me get approved for U.S. credit cards?
No. The U.S. credit system doesn't connect to Australian credit reporting agencies, so your Australian credit file doesn't transfer. Petal 2 and Capital One both work around this by accepting ITIN applications and assessing income through bank transaction data instead.
How do I receive money from family in Australia using these apps?
Wise handles AUD-to-USD transfers at the mid-market rate, and the funds arrive in your Wise USD balance, which you can spend on the Wise debit card or transfer to Chime once your U.S. bank account is open. The total cost is meaningfully cheaper than a bank wire from Australia, and the transfer usually arrives within hours.
Can I use Apple Pay or Google Pay before my U.S. bank account is open?
Yes. Apple Pay and Google Pay both accept the Wise multi-currency Visa debit card. Add the card to your wallet inside the Wise app, and you can tap-to-pay at U.S. merchants from day one.
Does the Wise debit card work at U.S. gas pumps that ask for a ZIP code?
Wise customers can set a U.S. ZIP code in the app to pair with the card for pay-at-pump and similar verification prompts. Without a U.S. ZIP set, some pay-at-pump terminals reject the card and you'll need to pay inside the station instead.
About the Author
Founder & CEO @ Migrate Mate
I moved from Australia to the United States in 2023. I have had 3 jobs, and 3 different visas. I started Migrate Mate to help people like me find their dream job in the USA & help them get visa sponsorship.
