United States of America · skilled migration · Leads to settlement
EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Source check: all 8 official citations reconfirmed 11 July 2026
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 has typical processing of 12 months – 3.3 years. Sources: official United States of America government pages, reviewed 8 July 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.
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.
Matches these professions
Also explored by
Compare United States of America with
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