EB-3 Processing Time: Explained Step-by-Step

In this guide, I’m going to discuss the EB3 processing time. If you have any questions, feel free to email me directly at contact@ashoorilaw.com.

How long does it take to get EB-3 visa approval? The EB3 processing time is generally between 1 to 3 years, but nationals of some countries may wait up to 10+ years due to country-specific visa backlogs.

1. EB3 Visa Overview

The EB3 visa is a powerful option for professionals, skilled workers, and unskilled workers hoping to get permanent residency in the United States. Through the EB3 visa, a U.S. company can sponsor a foreign worker for a green card through a full-time job offer.

In order to sponsor a foreign worker, the U.S. company must try to first hire a qualified U.S. worker. Only after the U.S. company has attempted and failed to recruit a qualified U.S. worker can they sponsor a foreign worker. To learn more about the EB3 visa process, you may see our employer-sponsored green card post.

Of the total green cards available for foreign workers, approximately 28.6% are allocated toward the EB3 visa (about 40,000 visas annually, subject to spillover from EB1/EB2). Additionally, no more than 7% of the total EB3 visas can go to nationals of any one country.

This means that there are usually more EB3 visa applicants than available spots, which can lead to a backlog and significantly affect the green card waiting time by country, particularly for India-born applicants. As you will see below, this may impact the total EB3 processing time for you, largely due to green card waiting time by country limits under U.S. immigration law.

Is the EB-3 visa easy to get? The EB-3 visa can be a strong option for many applicants, but meeting the EB3 visa requirements is not necessarily “easy.” It requires employer sponsorship, a certified labor market test through PERM, and USCIS approval. The ease of getting an EB-3 visa depends on your qualifications, the employer’s ability to sponsor you, and your country of origin (due to visa backlogs).

2. EB3 Visa Process

There are 4 main parts to the eb 3 visa process, each of which directly affects EB3 processing time:

• Step 1: PERM Labor Certification
• Step 2: I-140 Petition
• Step 3: Wait for Priority Date
• Step 4: Consular Processing or Adjustment of Status

I will explain each of these steps and the processing time of each step below. If you have any questions, my team and I would be happy to help you.

Step 1: PERM Labor Certification (About 10 Months Total Processing Time)

The first step in the eb 3 visa process is for the U.S. employer to get an approved PERM labor certification, which significantly impacts EB3 processing time. As I mentioned above, before a U.S. employer may sponsor a foreign worker, they must attempt to hire a qualified U.S. worker. It is only after they try and fail to hire a U.S. worker that the U.S. employer can sponsor a foreign worker for a green card. Once the U.S. employer successfully goes through the PERM process, they receive a labor certification from the U.S. Department of Labor. Obtaining an approved labor certification is one of the core EB3 visa requirements for employer sponsorship. This process usually takes about 10 months, but audits by the Department of Labor can extend this to 12–18 months, increasing overall EB3 processing time.

Step 2: Form I-140 Immigrant Petition (6 to 9 Months Standard Processing Time, 15 Days Premium Processing Available)

Once the PERM labor certification is approved by the Department of Labor, the next step is for the employer to submit a Form I-140 to USCIS. The Form  I-140is the immigrant petition, and it is filed by the U.S. employer on behalf of the foreign worker. Once the Form I-140 is filed, it usually takes 6–9 months to get a response from USCIS, directly impacting EB3 processing time. The U.S. employer can also elect to pay an additional $2,805 for premium processing to receive a response in 15 days. If USCIS has any concerns about the petition, they may issue a Request for Evidence (RFE), potentially delaying EB3 processing time.

How much does the EB-3 visa cost? The EB-3 visa process includes several costs: the PERM process (employer-paid), Form I-140 filing fee ($715), optional premium processing fee ($2,805), and Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status) fee ($1,540, including biometrics) or consular processing fees (about $325 for Form DS-260). Additional legal fees may apply depending on your immigration attorney.

Step 3: Wait for Your Priority Date to Become Current (0 to 10+ Years)

When you submit your Form I-140 immigrant petition, you will also receive your EB3 priority date, which is one of the biggest variables in EB3 processing time and a critical component of the overall EB3 timing process, particularly due to green card waiting time by country. Your EB3 priority date will tell you when you can schedule your immigrant visa interview or apply for adjustment of status (next step). For some countries, there is little to no backlog and applicants may proceed quickly, while applicants from high-demand countries face longer delays because of green card waiting time by country limitations. For other countries, particularly those born in China and India, this wait time can be much longer, which is why eb3 wait time India is often significantly longer than for many other countries, especially when contrasted with eb1a processing time 2024, which generally does not involve the same level of backlog. You can look at the State Department’s visa bulletin website for more information about wait times. My team and I would also be happy to provide you with more information about your estimated wait time.

Step 4: Consular Processing or Adjustment of Status (About 9 Months)

Once the Form I-140 is approved and your EB3 priority date is current, the next step in the EB3 timing process is for the foreign worker to apply for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status, moving the case closer to completion.

Apply for Immigrant Visa

If you are outside of the United States, you will likely apply for an immigrant visa. This is done by filing a Form DS-260. A number of months after filing the DS-260, you will be required to attend a visa interview at the consulate or embassy of your home country. Following successful completion of the interview, you should receive your immigrant visa stamped into your passport. This whole process takes about 9 months and represents the final stage of EB3 processing time.

Apply for Adjustment of Status

If you are lawfully present in the United States in a valid non-immigrant status, you may be eligible to apply for an adjustment of status. An adjustment of status is the process of going from a non-immigrant status to permanent resident status while in the United States. To apply for an adjustment of status, the EB3 visa beneficiary (the foreign worker) must file a Form I-485 with USCIS. The adjustment of status process takes about 9 months to complete and forms part of overall EB3 processing time. One benefit of the adjustment of status is that the work authorization (EAD) and advance parole (travel permission) usually arrive within 6 months.

Concurrent Filing

One of the benefits of an adjustment of status is that, if your priority date is current at the time of I-140 filing, you can concurrently file your Form I-485 (adjustment of status) along with your Form I-140 (immigrant petition). Doing this can save you time on the overall EB3 processing time. If you’d like to know whether you’re eligible to do this, please email me directly at contact@ashoorilaw.com.

3. Conclusion

The eb 3 visa is a great option for professionals, skilled workers, and unskilled workers hoping to get permanent residency in the United States, but applicants should carefully evaluate EB3 processing time before beginning the process. There are several steps in receiving an EB3 visa application:

• PERM labor certification: approximately 10 months (12–18 months with audits)
• Form I-140 Petition: approximately 6–9 months (or 15 days with premium processing)
• Priority Date wait: approximately 0 to 10+ years, often the longest portion of EB3 processing time.
• Adjustment of Status or Visa Processing: about 9 months

Therefore, the EB3 processing time should take between 1 and 3 years for most EB3 visa applications, although the full timing process may extend significantly longer depending on priority date backlogs and country-specific limits. Yet, it can be significantly longer for applicants from countries with extended green card waiting time by country limitations, such as India or China.

What is the approval rate for an EB-3 visa? Approval rates for EB-3 visas are generally high when all requirements are met. According to USCIS data, the approval rate for I-140 petitions in the EB3 category typically ranges from 85–90%, depending on the fiscal year and case specifics. Approval typically depends on satisfying all EB3 visa requirements, including employer compliance, the foreign worker’s qualifications, proper documentation, and realistic expectations regarding processing time.

FAQs Recap

• How long does it take to get EB-3 visa approval? Generally 1–3 years, but up to 10+ years for some countries.
• Is an EB-3 visa easy to get? It’s not necessarily easy, requiring employer sponsorship and PERM certification.
• How much does the EB-3 visa cost? Includes fees for I-140 ($715), I-485 ($1,540), or DS-260 (~$325), plus optional premium processing ($2,805).
• What is the approval rate for an EB-3 visa? Typically 85–90%, depending on case specifics.

If you have any questions about the EB3 processing time or about the EB3 visa in general, you may consider consulting an experienced immigration law firm for guidance. You are also welcome to email me directly at contact@ashoorilaw.com. I am very responsive via email and would be happy to assist.