United States of America · skilled migration · Leads to settlement
EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Third-preference employment-based green card requiring employer sponsorship and PERM labor certification.
- Processing time
- PERM + I-140 + I-485 typically 18–36 months end-to-end, longer for backlogged countries.
- 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
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.
Recent changes to this route
- US: premium processing rises to $2,965 and H-1B moves to wage-weighted selection12 January 2026
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.
- USCIS final fee rule takes effect1 April 2024
USCIS implemented its first major fee schedule adjustment in nearly a decade, including differentiated H-1B filing fees by employer type.
Guidance by nationality
Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.
Filipino applicants
Filipino nurses and physical therapists dominate EB-3 Schedule A filings — Schedule A occupations bypass the PERM labor-…
Indian applicants
Indian EB-3 priority dates are the most severely retrogressed of any nationality — Department of State visa-bulletin wai…
Brazilian applicants
Brazilian EB-3 applicants are most commonly skilled trades, healthcare, and hospitality workers. EB-3 Brazil has histori…
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.
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
Fees and processing time
Indicative government fees: I-140 USD 715; I-485 USD 1,440; PERM filed electronically with DOL (no USCIS fee).. A decision then typically takes 12 months – 3.3 years. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.
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Related routes
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.
H-1B Specialty Occupation
Employer-sponsored non-immigrant visa for specialty occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Frequently asked questions
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.
Can I get an EB-3 green card without a US employer if I have no job offer?+
No. EB-3 requires a permanent, full-time job offer from a US employer plus an approved PERM labor certification, so it is employer-sponsored and cannot be self-petitioned. Virtually all EB-3 cases run through the PERM recruitment process before the I-140 is filed.
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