The EB-3 visa is a third-preference, employment-based immigrant category that leads to a U.S. green card. It is built for applicants who have a permanent full-time job offer from a U.S. employer and who qualify as a Skilled Worker, Professional, or Other (Unskilled) Worker.
What Is the EB-3 Green Card?
The EB-3 (Employment-Based Third Preference) green card is for skilled workers, professionals, and other workers being sponsored by a U.S. employer for permanent residence. It is one of the most accessible employment-based categories, requiring either 2 years of job experience or training (skilled workers), a U.S. bachelor's degree (professionals), or the ability to perform unskilled labor that is not temporary or seasonal (other workers).
EB-3 Subcategories
Skilled Workers: Positions requiring at least 2 years of training or work experience. Examples include electricians, plumbers, chefs, skilled technicians, and similar occupations. Professionals: Positions requiring a U.S. bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent (but not an advanced degree — that would be EB-2). Examples include accountants, engineers, teachers, and nurses. Other Workers (EW-3): Unskilled positions requiring less than 2 years of training or experience. Examples include food processing workers, housekeepers, and farm laborers. The "other workers" subcategory has a separate annual limit of approximately 10,000 visas.
EB-3 Requirements
To obtain an EB-3 green card, you need a U.S. employer willing to sponsor you, an approved PERM labor certification from the Department of Labor, an approved I-140 immigrant petition from USCIS, and a current priority date on the Visa Bulletin. The employer must demonstrate through PERM that no qualified U.S. worker is available for the position at the prevailing wage.
EB-3 vs EB-2: Key Differences
The main differences between EB-3 and EB-2 are the qualification requirements and Visa Bulletin priority dates. EB-2 requires an advanced degree (master's or higher) or bachelor's plus 5 years of progressive experience, while EB-3 requires only a bachelor's degree or 2 years of experience. However, EB-2 priority dates are generally more favorable (especially for Indian and Chinese nationals), meaning faster green card processing.
Many applicants who qualify for EB-2 choose it over EB-3 for the faster priority dates. Conversely, some EB-2 applicants "downgrade" to EB-3 if EB-3 dates are moving faster for their country in a given period. You can have petitions pending in both categories simultaneously. Use our Green Card Calculator to compare EB-2 vs EB-3 dates for your country.
The PERM Process for EB-3
PERM labor certification is the first and often longest step. The employer conducts recruitment to test the U.S. labor market — advertising the position, interviewing U.S. applicants, and documenting that no qualified U.S. worker was found. The DOL prevailing wage determination takes 6-8 months, recruitment takes 1-2 months, and PERM adjudication takes 4-8 months. Total PERM timeline: approximately 12-18 months. See our PERM labor certification guide for details.
I-140 Petition
After PERM approval, the employer files Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers) with USCIS. Regular processing takes 6-12 months. Premium processing ($2,805) gets a decision within 15 business days. The I-140 approval locks in your priority date — the date your PERM was filed.
Priority Dates and Visa Bulletin
After I-140 approval, your wait depends on your country of birth and the current Visa Bulletin. As of April 2026, EB-3 is current for most countries ("All Other Countries"), meaning immediate filing of I-485. For India, EB-3 has a multi-year backlog — currently dates are approximately 10-12 years behind. For China, EB-3 dates are approximately 3-4 years behind. Check your exact dates with our Green Card Calculator.
Filing I-485 (Adjustment of Status)
When your priority date becomes current, file Form I-485 to adjust to permanent resident status. File I-765 (EAD) and I-131 (Advance Parole) concurrently to gain work flexibility and travel authorization while waiting for the green card. I-485 processing currently takes 8-24 months.
Changing Employers During EB-3 Process
If your I-485 has been pending for 180+ days, you can change employers under AC21 portability as long as the new job is in the same or similar occupation. If you change employers before filing I-485, you may lose the PERM (which is employer-specific) but can retain your priority date if the I-140 was approved for 180+ days. See our changing employers guide for detailed strategies.
EB-3 for Nurses and Healthcare Workers
The EB-3 category is heavily used for international nurses, physical therapists, and healthcare workers. Schedule A occupations (nurses and physical therapists) have a streamlined PERM process — the employer can skip the standard recruitment and file directly. This makes the EB-3 process significantly faster for healthcare professionals. See our Filipino nurses immigration story for real-world context.
Strategy: If you qualify for both EB-2 and EB-3, consider filing both to hedge against Visa Bulletin fluctuations. You can "port" your earlier priority date from one category to the other. For Indian nationals, EB-3 dates occasionally advance faster than EB-2, making dual-filing a smart insurance policy.