Indian applicants · United States of America
EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers for Indian citizens
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 Indian applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to India. The general eligibility criteria apply to everyone.
- Processing time
- 12 months – 3.3 years
- 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
No nationality-specific treaty frameworks apply to this combination.
Consular processing: Mumbai / New Delhi / Chennai / Hyderabad / Kolkata
Tourist entry vs. this route
Indian 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 Indian applicants
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
How long it takes
12 months – 3.3 years
PERM labor certification + I-140 stages typically 12–36 months combined; visa-bulletin backlogs for India add substantial further waits.
Verified 1 June 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.
- ✓Approved PERM labor certification from DOL (subject to recruitment and prevailing-wage steps).
- ✓Beneficiary meets minimum requirements of the certified role.
Common blockers
- !Unsuccessful PERM audit due to flawed recruitment steps.
- !Retrogression in the visa bulletin causing long waits for backlogged countries (particularly India and China).
Typical evidence
- ·Certified ETA-9089 (PERM).
- ·Evidence of employer ability to pay (tax returns, audited financials).
- ·Education and experience letters matching PERM requirements.
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.
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. Citizenship and Immigration Services →
Other United States of America routes covered for Indian applicants
H-1B Specialty Occupation
Employer-sponsored non-immigrant visa for specialty occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher.
L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager)
Intracompany transfer for executives or managers moving to a US office of a related multinational employer.
L-1B Intracompany Transferee (Specialised Knowledge)
Intracompany transfer for employees with specialised knowledge of the employer’s products, services, or processes.
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-1A Extraordinary Ability (Immigrant)
Employment-based first-preference green card for individuals with extraordinary ability — self-petitionable.
EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW)
Second-preference green card with a waiver of the job offer and PERM labor certification, where the beneficiary’s work is in the US national interest.
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.
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.
Spouse of US Citizen or Green Card Holder (IR1/CR1 & F2A)
Permanent residence for the spouse of a US citizen (IR1/CR1) or lawful permanent resident (F2A preference).
Not sure United States of America is right for you? Compare similar routes
Other countries offer skilled migration routes that Indian nationals also apply to. See how they compare.
Frequently asked questions
Are Indian 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 and is not nationality-restricted. See the criteria below for the published requirements.
Where do Indian applicants typically file the EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers?+
Mumbai / New Delhi / Chennai / Hyderabad / Kolkata. 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 Indian applicants need a tourist visa for United States of America as well?+
Indian 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 India?+
The typical published decision window is 12 months – 3.3 years. Indian applicants usually file via Mumbai / New Delhi / Chennai / Hyderabad / Kolkata, and consular-post backlogs can add to the wait. Source: USCIS — Case Processing Times, verified 1 June 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.