EB-3

Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (Professionals and Other Workers)

For professionals with a bachelor's degree, skilled workers with at least two years of experience, and other workers for positions requiring less than two years of training.

86 petitions · 8 approved / sustained · 48 denied / dismissed · 30 remanded

View Dashboard

The EB-3 visa is an employment-based third-preference immigrant visa for skilled workers, professionals, and other workers seeking permanent residency. It requires employer sponsorship, a permanent job offer, and PERM labor certification. EB-3 has lower eligibility requirements than EB-1/EB-2 but often experiences longer processing times due to high demand.

Benefits & Limitations

Accessible path to a green card for workers who don't qualify under EB-1 or EB-2. Lower eligibility threshold than higher preference categories. However, employer sponsorship and PERM are required, and visa backlogs can mean years-long waits — especially for 'Other Workers' (capped at 10,000/year).

Filing Guide

PERM Labor Certification

Employer proves no qualified U.S. workers are available for the position.

Employer Files I-140

Employer files Form I-140 with evidence of qualifications and job offer.

Wait for Priority Date

May wait years for visa number availability, especially from backlogged countries.

Adjust Status

File I-485 when priority date is current, or consular processing.

Required Documents

Approved PERM labor certification

Evidence of qualifications (diplomas, certifications)

Work experience letters from previous employers

Job offer letter from sponsoring employer

Proof of employer's ability to pay prevailing wage

Civil documents for consular processing (birth certificate, police clearance)

Timeline

PERM Certification 6 – 12 mo

I-140 Petition 6 – 12 mo

Priority Date Wait 1 – 10+ yrs

I-485 Adjustment 6 – 12 mo

Standard

6 – 12 mo

Premium

15 days

Costs & Fees

I-140 Filing

$715

Premium Processing optional

$2,805

I-485 Filing optional

$1,440

Biometrics

$85

Medical Exam

$200 – $500

Attorney (est.) optional

$3k – $8k+

Est. Total (required) $1,000 – $1,300

Recent Petitions

View all

Recent Policy Updates

Increased scrutiny and audits on PERM labor certification applications

Extended visa bulletin backlogs for India, China, and the Philippines

Changes in prevailing wage determinations impacting employer job offers

'Other Workers' subcategory continuing to face the most significant delays