EB-3 Skilled Worker / Professional

EB-3 Skilled Worker / Professional

The EB-3 category is one of the most widely used employment-based green card pathways, covering three distinct sub-categories for skilled workers, professionals, and other workers. It requires both employer sponsorship and PERM labor certification.

Three Sub-Categories

EB-3 Professionals: Workers with a US bachelor's degree (or foreign equivalent) who are performing work requiring at least a bachelor's degree.

EB-3 Skilled Workers: Workers performing jobs requiring at least 2 years of training or experience that are not of a temporary or seasonal nature.

EB-3 Other Workers (EW): Workers performing unskilled labor requiring less than 2 years of training — subject to a separate, smaller annual quota and longer wait times.

PERM Requirement

All EB-3 petitions require PERM labor certification from the Department of Labor. The employer must demonstrate that no qualified US worker is available for the position.

Priority Date Backlogs

EB-3 is in the third preference category and shares the same numerical limits (28.6% of EB visas). Wait times vary significantly: - Most countries: Often current or 1–3 year backlog - India: Severe backlog (decades for some applicants) - China: Significant backlog - Philippines: Historically had backlogs, varies

Typical Process

PERM filing → PERM certification (6–18 months) → I-140 filing → Priority date monitoring → I-485 or Consular Processing → Green Card