EB-3 visa: how it works, requirements and the green card step-by-step
Updated on 7/15/2026
EB-3 is the most used employment-based green card category for people who want to live legally in the U.S. with their family. The outcome is not a temporary visa: it is permanent residency — for you, your spouse and children under 21.
It works like this: a U.S. company offers a real job, proves to the government it could not find an available U.S. worker for it, and sponsors your green card. This guide breaks down every stage.
Live numbers from official records364,447 jobs with verified sponsorship in the portal · 120,863 employers with government-approved history (DOL) · refreshed daily
Requirements (Skilled × Other Workers)
EB-3 has two doors. Skilled: requires 2 years of experience or technical training for the role. Other Workers (the famous 'EB-3 unskilled'): requires no degree and no experience — it covers roles like production, cleaning, kitchen, agriculture and hospitality. The practical difference is the queue: the unskilled category has a smaller annual quota, so the wait is longer.
In both cases, the requirement that really matters is the JOB OFFER from an employer willing to sponsor. Without it, there is no process.
The 3 stages
1) PERM (labor certification): the employer advertises the job in the U.S. market and proves to DOL that no qualified, available local worker was found. It is the longest stage, and its costs belong to the employer by rule.
2) I-140 petition at USCIS: with PERM approved, the company files your green card petition. This creates your 'priority date' — your ticket in the queue.
3) Visa Bulletin queue + consulate: when your date becomes 'current' for your country of birth, you complete the consular stage (forms, fees, medical exam, interview) and enter the U.S. as a permanent resident.
Honest timelines and costs
The full process is measured in years, not months — the total depends on PERM speed and, above all, your country's queue in the Visa Bulletin (which changes monthly). Distrust any promise of a 'guaranteed green card in X months': nobody controls the queue — no lawyer, no agency.
Costs: PERM belongs to the employer (DOL rule). On your side are the final stages — consular fees, medical exam, translations and travel. If someone charges thousands of dollars 'for the job', it is a scam: real jobs are not for sale.
Getting the offer (the step that depends on you)
Aim at companies that have ALREADY approved green cards: they know the process, have counsel retained and keep sponsoring. Public DOL records show exactly who they are — and that is the cross-check our portal runs daily, badging openings from employers with a proven record.
Free account — real openings with sponsorship proven by public records.
Frequently asked questions
How does the EB-3 visa work?
A U.S. company offers a real job, proves to the government (PERM stage) that no U.S. worker was available, and sponsors your green card through an I-140 petition. You wait for your country's queue and finish at the consulate — entering the U.S. as a permanent resident.
What are the EB-3 requirements?
Skilled: 2 years of experience or technical training. Other Workers (unskilled): just the job offer — no degree, no experience. In both cases, the essential piece is an employer willing to sponsor.
How does EB-3 unskilled work?
Same process, but for roles with no qualification requirement (production, cleaning, kitchen, agriculture, hospitality). The annual quota is smaller, so the queue is longer — in exchange, it is the only green card accessible without a degree.
Does EB-3 cover my family?
Yes. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 receive green cards along with you.
How long does EB-3 take?
Years — the real total depends on PERM and your country-of-birth queue in the monthly Visa Bulletin. A guaranteed-timeline promise is a scam signal.