All-Visas
EB-3 Skilled Worker / Professional / Other Worker
work · United States
EB-3 has three sub-classes: professionals (US bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent), skilled workers (≥ 2 years training/experience), and other workers (< 2 years; sub-cap of 10,000/yr). All require an approved DOL PERM labor certification (Form ETA-9089) and a permanent full-time job offer. Visa-Bulletin backlogs are long, especially for India and China.
- Minimum stay / validity
- Permanent residence
- Processing time
- PERM months; I-140 premium 15 days; AOS/CP per Visa Bulletin
- Official source
- https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/permanent-workers/employment-based-immigration-third-preference-eb-3
- Last verified
- May 2026
Requirements & criteria
- [Mandatory] Sponsoring employer in the country
- [Mandatory] Concrete job offer / employment contract
- [Mandatory] No criminal record
- [Mandatory] Professional: US bachelor's or foreign equivalent
- [Mandatory] Skilled worker: ≥ 2 yrs training/experience
- [Mandatory] Other worker: < 2 yrs (sub-cap 10,000/yr)