Immigrant Visas
EB-3
Skilled Workers · Professionals · Other Workers
Employer-sponsored green cards for skilled workers, professionals, and other workers.
The EB‑3 green card is an employment‑based third‑preference category for skilled workers, professionals, and “other workers” who have a permanent full‑time job offer from a U.S. employer. It allows U.S. businesses to sponsor foreign workers when they cannot find qualified, willing U.S. workers for the position, and it leads directly to lawful permanent residence for the employee and eligible family members. Because EB‑3 is often more accessible than EB‑1 or EB‑2, it is one of the most commonly used employment‑based green card paths.
The EB‑3 process usually begins with PERM labor certification through the U.S. Department of Labor, where the employer proves there are no qualified U.S. workers available at the prevailing wage for the offered role. After PERM approval, the employer files Form I‑140 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and once an immigrant visa number is available in the Visa Bulletin, the worker and eligible dependents can complete adjustment of status or consular processing to receive green cards. Because EB‑3 visas are numerically capped each year and can face long backlogs for certain countries, careful planning and accurate filings help avoid delays.
ByLaw helps employers and workers through every step of the EB‑3 green card process, from PERM strategy to I‑140 and green card filings. We focus on strict compliance with Department of Labor and USCIS rules, clear documentation of job requirements and worker qualifications, and proactive case planning tailored to your country of chargeability and priority date. With personalized guidance on timelines, backlogs, and options such as concurrent filing where available, we try to make the path to permanent residence as smooth as possible.
Eligibility Criteria
Skilled Workers: Skilled workers with at least two years of relevant training or experience in a permanent, full‑time role that U.S. workers are unavailable to fill.
Professionals: Professionals whose job requires at least a U.S. bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent and who have a permanent offer from a U.S. employer.
Other Workers (Unskilled): “Other workers” able to perform unskilled labor requiring less than two years of training or experience, in a job that is not temporary or seasonal.
PERM Labor Certification: Applicants whose U.S. employer can obtain PERM labor certification showing no qualified, willing, and available U.S. workers at the prevailing wage.
Full Sponsorship Path: Foreign nationals whose employer is prepared to sponsor them by filing an I‑140 immigrant petition and supporting them through the final green card stage.
“An EB-3 case depends on the employer's paperwork as much as on the worker's qualifications.”
How We Help
Our EB-3 Services
PERM Labor Certification Management
Full management of the PERM recruitment and application process for the sponsoring employer: job description review, recruitment design, DOL filing, and audit defense.
I-140 Immigrant Petition Filing
Preparing and filing the I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers on behalf of the sponsoring employer, including premium processing if you choose it.
Priority Date Monitoring & Strategy
Tracking the Visa Bulletin and advising on priority date cutoffs, including opportunities to use the Dates for Filing chart versus the Final Action Dates chart.
Concurrent Adjustment of Status
Once PERM is approved, we can file your I-485 together with the employer's I-140, if you are eligible to adjust status in the U.S. and the Visa Bulletin allows filing. While the I-485 is pending, you can also apply separately for work authorization and advance parole (travel permission). Filing these applications does not grant them automatically, and each needs its own approval.
Consular Processing
For applicants outside the US, managing the NVC and consular appointment process to complete the immigrant visa interview and entry to the United States.
Job Change Portability Advice
Changing jobs doesn't always mean starting your green card over. Under AC21, once your I-485 has been pending for at least 180 days, you may move to a same or similar job if the underlying I-140 meets the requirements. We assess whether you qualify and help with the job change, including Form I-485 Supplement J.
How We Work
Our Approach
PERM Recruitment & Filing
The employer runs the recruitment the Department of Labor requires, and we help structure and document it to meet the rules. After the PERM application is filed, DOL review currently takes about a year or longer, and more if the case is selected for an audit.
I-140 Petition
Upon PERM certification, we file the I-140 for the employer within the 180 days the certification is valid. Premium Processing guarantees USCIS action within 15 business days, which can be an approval, a denial, or a request for evidence. Regular processing times vary.
Waiting for a Visa Number
Depending on the applicant's country of birth and the current Visa Bulletin, there may be a wait before a visa number becomes available. We keep clients informed of their priority date status monthly.
Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing
When a visa number is current, we file for Adjustment of Status or proceed through the NVC and consular interview to receive the immigrant visa and, ultimately, the green card.
EB-3 FAQ
Roughly 40,000 EB‑3 immigrant visas are available worldwide per year, including a sub‑cap for “other workers,” and once that annual limit is reached the category stops moving until the next fiscal year.
Most EB‑3 green card cases take several years from the start of PERM to final approval, often around 2–5 years for many countries and longer for heavily backlogged countries such as India and China.
No. EB‑3 always requires a permanent, full‑time job offer from a U.S. employer that is willing to sponsor you through PERM and an I‑140 immigrant petition.
There is no fixed national minimum salary for EB‑3; the employer must at least pay the prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor for your occupation and location.
Wait times in EB-2 and EB-3 change over time and depend on your country of birth and the current Visa Bulletin, so neither category is always faster. Which category you can use also depends on your qualifications and the requirements of the job offered. We check the current Visa Bulletin for your case and help you understand your options and likely wait times.
Let's begin
Ready to start your EB-3 process?
We offer a confidential consultation to understand your situation and outline your options, in English or Türkçe.