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
In short
As of 8 July 2026, the EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers for United States of America is a sponsor-led United States immigration route. Sources: official United States of America government pages, reviewed 10 September 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/us/eb-3#answer
What is the EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers in United States of America?
EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers is a sponsor-led United States route. Indicative government fees are I-140 USD 715; I-485 USD 1,440; PERM filed electronically with DOL (no USCIS fee); indicative processing time is PERM + I-140 + I-485 typically 18–36 months end-to-end, longer for backlogged countries; typical duration is Permanent residence. This route can lead to permanent residence.
Verified against U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on 1 June 2026.
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.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.
After approval: prepare for your next step
For EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.
- 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
- 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
- 3. Confirm what you may do. Agree the lawful start date and onboarding with the employer or sponsor. Check whether the permission names an employer, role or activity before changing the arrangement.
- 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
- 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
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
Fees and processing time
Indicative government fees: I-140 USD 715; I-485 USD 1,440; PERM filed electronically with DOL (no USCIS fee).. The issuing authority does not publish a central processing time for this route, so plan against comparable cases. 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.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in United StatesHow 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: 1 June 2026