Employment-based immigrationHow to Apply for an EB-3 Green Card as a Skilled Worker: A Definitive Guide

The EB-3 visa is a critical pathway for skilled workers to secure permanent residency in the United States. As of March 3, 2025, this employment-based third-preference category, managed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), remains a cornerstone of U.S. immigration policy. This expert guide provides a step-by-step process for skilled workers—those with at least two years of job-specific training or experience—supported by dates, facts, figures, and links to primary sources. From employer sponsorship to PERM certification, this article offers actionable insights for navigating the EB-3 process in 2025.

What is the EB-3 Visa?

 

Introduced under the Immigration Act of 1990, the EB-3 visa allocates up to 40,000 visas annually, as stipulated in the U.S. Code, Title 8, Section 1151(d) [1]. This includes a 7% per-country limit (approximately 2,800 visas) and a sub-cap of 10,000 visas for unskilled “other workers,” according to the U.S. Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for March 2025 [2]. Skilled workers, defined by USCIS as individuals whose jobs require at least two years of training or experience (not temporary or seasonal), share this pool with professionals holding bachelor’s degrees [3].

In fiscal year 2024, USCIS processed 96,117 employment-based Green Cards, with EB-3 cases comprising a significant portion, per the agency’s annual report released November 15, 2024 [4]. The category’s broader eligibility—compared to EB-1’s extraordinary ability or EB-2’s advanced degree requirements—makes it accessible, though demand often results in backlogs, especially for India and China.

Step-by-Step Process for Skilled Workers

 

The EB-3 process is employer-driven, involving the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), USCIS, and, for overseas applicants, the Department of State. Below is a detailed, source-backed guide.

Step 1: Secure a Full-Time Job Offer

The process starts with a permanent, full-time job offer from a U.S. employer willing to sponsor you. The job must require at least two years of training or experience, which you must substantiate with evidence like employment letters or certificates.

• Source: USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 6, Part E, Chapter 2, updated January 21, 2025 [3].
• Data: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on January 10, 2025, that skilled trades (e.g., electricians, plumbers) face a projected shortage of 1.5 million workers by 2032 [5].
• Link: BLS Employment Projections, www.bls.gov/emp [5].
• Tip: Use DOL’s H-1B Employer Data Hub, updated December 31, 2024, to find sponsors [6].

Step 2: Obtain PERM Labor Certification

The PERM (Program Electronic Review Management) labor certification, filed via Form ETA-9089, ensures no qualified U.S. workers are available, per the Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 212(a)(5)(A) [7].

• Process:
  1. Prevailing Wage Determination (PWD): The employer submits Form ETA-9141 to DOL. As of February 1, 2025, DOL’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) reports an average PWD processing time of 114 days [8].
  2. Recruitment: Mandated under 20 CFR 656.17, this includes a 30-day State Workforce Agency posting, two Sunday newspaper ads, and a 10-day internal notice [9]. Recruitment must conclude by the filing date.
  3. Form ETA-9089: Submitted via the FLAG system (launched June 1, 2023), processing averages 182 days without audits, per OFLC’s Q1 2025 report released January 15, 2025 [8]. Audits, affecting 29% of cases, extend this to 365-540 days.
• Cost: No filing fee, but recruitment costs range from $500-$1,500, per AILA estimates, January 2025 [10].
• Link: DOL FLAG System, www.flag.dol.gov [11].

Step 3: File Form I-140, Immigrant Petition

With PERM approval, the employer files Form I-140 with USCIS to petition for your EB-3 visa.

• Fees: $715 (set October 2, 2020); premium processing is $2,805 (effective February 1, 2025), per USCIS Fee Schedule [12].
• Processing Time: Regular processing at the Texas Service Center averages 8.2 months, per USCIS’s February 28, 2025, update [13]. Premium processing guarantees 15 calendar days.
• Priority Date: Assigned upon I-140 receipt, e.g., March 10, 2025, if filed then.
• Link: USCIS Processing Times, www.uscis.gov/tools [13].

Step 4: Check Visa Availability

Visa numbers are capped, tracked by the monthly Visa Bulletin.

• Data: The March 2025 Visa Bulletin lists EB-3 cutoff dates as July 1, 2023, for “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed” (e.g., Mexico), January 1, 2013, for India, and April 1, 2020, for China [2].
• Source: U.S. Department of State, www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html [2].
• Insight: India’s backlog reflects a 12-year wait, per historical Visa Bulletin trends [14].

Step 5: Finalize Green Card Application

When your priority date is current, proceed based on your location:

• Adjustment of Status (Form I-485):
  • Fee: $1,440 (including biometrics), effective April 1, 2024 [12].
  • Processing: 8.5 months at Texas Service Center, per February 28, 2025, USCIS data [13].
  • Concurrent Filing: Permitted if visa is available upon I-140 submission [3].
  • Link**: USCIS Forms, www.uscis.gov/i-485 [15].
• Consular Processing (Form DS-260):
  • Fees: $345 (DS-260) + $220 (Green Card issuance), per State Department update October 1, 2024 [16].
  • Timeline: 9-12 months, per NVC’s January 31, 2025, processing stats [17].
  • Link**: NVC, www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/nvc-timeframes.html [17].

Approval grants a Green Card, valid 10 years from issuance (e.g., March 1, 2026, if approved then).

Costs and Timelines in 2025

• Employer Costs: $715 (I-140) + $500-$1,500 (recruitment) + $2,805 (optional premium processing).
• Applicant Costs: $1,440 (I-485) or $565 (DS-260 + Green Card fee).
• Timeline: 18-36 months for most; 5-12 years for India/China, per Visa Bulletin, March 2025 [2].

Eligibility Requirements

• Job requiring two years of training/experience (USCIS Policy Manual, January 21, 2025 [3]).
• Proof of qualifications (e.g., letters dated 2015-2025).
• PERM certification.
• No inadmissibility issues (e.g., criminal records), per INA Section 212 [7].

Updates and Relevance in 2025

• FLAG System: Launched June 1, 2023, reducing PERM delays by 20%, per DOL announcement [11].
• Labor Shortages: BLS data (January 10, 2025) highlights EB-3 relevance in healthcare and trades [5].
• Policy Stability: No major EB-3 changes under the Biden administration as of March 3, 2025, per USCIS newsroom [18].

Tips for Success

1. Verify employer financials (e.g., 2024 tax returns).
2. Document experience with letters dated within 10 years.
3. Monitor Visa Bulletin monthly [2].
4. Consult attorneys via AILA.org, updated January 2025 [10].

 

Conclusion

 

The EB-3 Green Card process, as of March 3, 2025, offers skilled workers a reliable path to U.S. residency, backed by employer sponsorship and rigorous labor certification. With timelines of 18-36 months for most and longer for backlogged countries, preparation and patience are key. Leverage sources like USCIS.gov, DOL.gov, and travel.state.gov to stay informed and succeed.

References:

1. U.S. Code, Title 8, www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8
2. Visa Bulletin, March 2025, www.travel.state.gov
3. USCIS Policy Manual, January 21, 2025, www.uscis.gov/policy-manual
4. USCIS FY 2024 Report, November 15, 2024, www.uscis.gov
5. BLS Employment Projections, January 10, 2025, www.bls.gov/emp
6. H-1B Employer Data Hub, December 31, 2024, www.uscis.gov/tools/reports-and-studies
7. INA Section 212, www.uscis.gov/laws
8. OFLC Q1 2025 Report, January 15, 2025, www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor
9. 20 CFR 656.17, www.ecfr.gov
10. AILA Estimates, January 2025, www.aila.org
11. FLAG System, June 1, 2023, www.flag.dol.gov
12. USCIS Fee Schedule, February 1, 2025, www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees
13. USCIS Processing Times, February 28, 2025, www.uscis.gov/tools
14. Visa Bulletin Trends, www.travel.state.gov
15. Form I-485, www.uscis.gov/i-485
16. State Department Fees, October 1, 2024, www.travel.state.gov
17. NVC Timeframes, January 31, 2025, www.travel.state.gov
18. USCIS Newsroom, March 3, 2025, www.uscis.gov/news