EB-3: Skilled Workers & Professionals

Who EB-3 is for

EB-3 covers three distinct groups of workers, each with a genuine full-time, permanent US job offer:

• Skilled workers — roles requiring at least two years of relevant training or experience
• Professionals — roles requiring a US bachelor's degree or its foreign equivalent
• Other workers — roles requiring less than two years of training, sometimes called the "unskilled" category

Each sub-category has its own share of the annual visa allocation, so wait times can differ significantly between them — "other workers" in particular tends to move more slowly.

PERM labor certification

Unlike EB-1A or EB-2 NIW, EB-3 generally requires your employer to complete PERM labor certification with the Department of Labor first. This means the employer must genuinely test the US job market — advertising the role through specific required channels and documenting that no qualified, willing US worker applied — before the petition can move forward.

How the process works

1. Job offer — a genuine, permanent, full-time offer from a US employer willing to sponsor.
2. PERM labor certification — the employer tests the job market and files with the Department of Labor.
3. Form I-140 — the employer files the immigrant petition once PERM is certified.
4. Priority date and visa bulletin — your place in line depends on your sub-category and country of birth.
5. Adjustment of status or consular processing — the final step once your priority date is current.

Why EB-3 matters more in 2026

Since the new H-1B supplemental fee took effect in September 2025, EB-3 has picked up interest as a direct, employer-sponsored path to permanent residence that doesn't carry that added cost — it's become a genuine alternative rather than a fallback for many applicants and employers.