Brazilian applicants · United States of America
EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers for Brazilian citizens
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Third-preference employment-based green card requiring employer sponsorship and PERM labor certification.
This page covers the EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers specifically for Brazilian applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to Brazil. The route's general criteria are summarised below, but the current corridor-specific filing, visa-issuance, and entry position above can still determine whether the route is usable.
- Processing time
- No fixed national clock publishedUse the current USCIS — Case Processing Times service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.
- Government fees
- I-140 USD 715; I-485 USD 1,440; PERM filed electronically with DOL (no USCIS fee).
- Typical duration
- Permanent residence.
- Sponsorship required
- Yes
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Bilateral context
- US E-1/E-2 Treaty
Consular processing: São Paulo / Rio de Janeiro / Brasília
Tourist entry vs. this route
Brazilian nationals require a visa for any entry into United States of America. The EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
Key figures for Brazilian applicants
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
How long it takes
No fixed national clock published
USCIS — Case Processing Times does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
Use the current USCIS — Case Processing Times service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.
Verified 10 September 2026 · USCIS — Case Processing Times
Time to permanent residence
Arrival on H-1B (3 years) → PERM + I-140 (1-2 years) → I-485 / Green Card (current for most categories, 7-15+ years for India EB-2) → citizenship at PR+5 years.
Leads to Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card), then U.S. citizenship (naturalisation).
Visa overview
EB-3 covers three sub-categories: skilled workers (2+ years training/experience), professionals (US bachelor’s or equivalent), and other workers (unskilled). Virtually all EB-3 cases require PERM labor certification demonstrating no qualified US worker is available, followed by an I-140 petition.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Permanent, full-time job offer from a US employer.U.S. Department of Labor (Code of Federal Regulations, 20 CFR Part 656) ↗
- ✓Approved PERM labor certification from DOL (subject to recruitment and prevailing-wage steps).U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification ↗
- ✓Beneficiary meets minimum requirements of the certified role.U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security / USCIS (Code of Federal Regulations, 8 CFR 204.5) ↗
Common blockers
- !Unsuccessful PERM audit due to flawed recruitment steps.U.S. Department of Labor (Code of Federal Regulations, 20 CFR Part 656) ↗
- !Retrogression in the visa bulletin causing long waits for backlogged countries (particularly India and China).U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Certified ETA-9089 (PERM).U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification ↗
- ·Evidence of employer ability to pay (tax returns, audited financials).U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security / USCIS (Code of Federal Regulations, 8 CFR 204.5) ↗
- ·Education and experience letters matching PERM requirements.U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security / USCIS (Code of Federal Regulations, 8 CFR 204.5) ↗
Application pathway
PERM recruitment and labor certification
Employer runs prescribed recruitment and files ETA-9089 with DOL.
File I-140 immigrant petition
Filed by employer with USCIS once PERM is certified.
Wait for priority date
Once visa bulletin is current, proceed to I-485 or consular processing.
Adjust status or consular process
Obtain green card.
Plan the practical side of your stay
Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in United States. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- ApplyEmployerFile PERM application ↗
Employers use FLAG to request the permanent labor certification normally required before EB-3 filing.
U.S. Department of Labor · verified
- ApplyEmployerFile Form I-140 ↗
After labor certification, the employer uses Form I-140 to petition for EB-3 immigrant classification.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · verified
Recent policy changes affecting this route
What changed most recently on this route — each linked to its primary government source.
- 12 January 2026In force 1 March 2026
US: premium processing rises to $2,965 and H-1B moves to wage-weighted selection
Two USCIS changes land for the FY2027 H-1B season: the Form I-907 premium-processing fee rises with inflation, and cap-subject H-1B selection switches from a random lottery to a wage-weighted process.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services - 1 April 2024In force 1 April 2024
USCIS final fee rule takes effect
USCIS implemented its first major fee schedule adjustment in nearly a decade, including differentiated H-1B filing fees by employer type.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Other United States of America routes covered for Brazilian applicants
O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement
Visa for individuals with extraordinary ability in sciences, education, business, athletics (O-1A) or the arts/film/television (O-1B).
EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program
Permanent residence through investment in a new US commercial enterprise that creates at least 10 full-time jobs.
F-1 Student Visa (with OPT and STEM OPT)
Non-immigrant student visa for academic study at a SEVP-certified institution, with post-study OPT employment authorisation.
J-1 Exchange Visitor
Exchange visitor visa covering academic scholars, students, trainees, interns, researchers, au pairs, and other exchange programs.
K-1 Fiancé(e) of US Citizen
Non-immigrant visa allowing the fiancé(e) of a US citizen to enter the US to marry within 90 days and then apply for a green card.
Not sure United States of America is right for you? Compare similar routes
Other countries offer skilled migration routes that Brazilian nationals also apply to. See how they compare.
Frequently asked questions
Are Brazilian citizens eligible for the EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers?+
Eligibility for the EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers is set by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Brazilian applicants must meet the general route criteria plus any nationality- or location-specific intake requirements described in the current corridor guidance above.
Where do Brazilian applicants typically file the EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers?+
São Paulo / Rio de Janeiro / Brasília. Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.
Do Brazilian applicants need a tourist visa for United States of America as well?+
Brazilian nationals require a visa for any entry into United States of America. The EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
How long does the EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers take to process from Brazil?+
USCIS — Case Processing Times does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route. Use the current USCIS — Case Processing Times service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying. Brazilian applicants usually file via São Paulo / Rio de Janeiro / Brasília, and appointment or post-specific backlogs can add to the wait. Source: USCIS — Case Processing Times, verified 10 September 2026.
How long until permanent residence in United States of America?+
Arrival on H-1B (3 years) → PERM + I-140 (1-2 years) → I-485 / Green Card (current for most categories, 7-15+ years for India EB-2) → citizenship at PR+5 years. The route leads to Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card), then U.S. citizenship (naturalisation). See USCIS — Citizenship and Naturalization for the qualifying-residence rules.
How long is the EB-3 green-card wait for Indian nationals?+
Per-country limits create substantial backlogs in EB-3 for India and, to a lesser extent, China. Wait times are published monthly in the Department of State visa bulletin. Many Indian nationals also consider EB-2 and NIW strategies in parallel.
How we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Last checked: 8 July 2026