Secure Your Future: Choose the Immigrant Visa Route
For many foreign workers, the H-1B visa has been the traditional gateway to the U.S. job market. However, with its annual lottery, maximum six-year limit, and recent proposals imposing a substantial one-time fee of up to $100,000 for new applicants, the temporary H-1B route has become more restrictive and prohibitively expensive for many employers.
The Employment-Based Third Preference (EB-3) visa offers a powerful alternative: a direct, permanent path to a Green Card without the burden of the H-1B lottery or the newly proposed, astronomical government fee.
What is the EB-3 Immigrant Visa?
The EB-3 is an employment-based immigrant visa, which means its goal is to grant the foreign national Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status (a Green Card) from the start. It is open to a wide range of professionals and workers in three main sub-categories:
- Professionals: Individuals whose job requires a U.S. baccalaureate degree or its foreign equivalent.
- Skilled Workers: Individuals whose job requires at least two years of training or work experience.
- Other Workers (“Unskilled”): Individuals performing unskilled labor that is not seasonal or temporary, and for which qualified U.S. workers are unavailable.
EB-3 vs. The New H-1B Landscape: Why Permanent is Better
| Feature | EB-3 Immigrant Visa | H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa |
| Immigration Status | Permanent Residency (Green Card) | Temporary (Max 6 years) |
| Government Fee | Standard filing fees (Employer-paid Form I-140 fee is $715) | Subject to an annual lottery and the new, one-time $100,000 fee for new petitions |
| Visa Availability | Subject to annual caps and priority date wait times | Subject to an annual lottery |
| Ultimate Goal | Green Card is granted upon approval | Green Card requires a separate later application (e.g., EB-2 or EB-3) |
Export to Sheets
Crucially, the EB-3 visa category does not include the proposed $100,000 payment that the government is requiring for the H-1B program. While the EB-3 process has its own costs and timelines, it represents a far more financially predictable and stable path to a permanent life in the U.S.
The Path to an EB-3 Green Card: Key Steps
The EB-3 process is employer-driven and requires three main steps:
- Labor Certification (PERM): The U.S. employer must first obtain a Labor Certification from the Department of Labor (DOL). This step involves demonstrating through recruitment efforts that there are no qualified, willing, and available U.S. workers for the position.
- I-140 Petition: Once the PERM is approved, the employer files Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, with USCIS on the worker’s behalf.
- Adjustment of Status (I-485) or Consular Processing (DS-260): Once the worker’s priority date is current (as shown on the Visa Bulletin), the worker and their family can apply for the Green Card either from within the U.S. (Adjustment of Status) or from outside the U.S. (Consular Processing).
Your Long-Term Stability Starts Now
The EB-3 visa is ideal for individuals and families seeking true, long-term stability in the United States. It eliminates the anxiety of the H-1B lottery and the instability of a temporary visa status while allowing a broader range of skilled individuals to achieve their dream of permanent residency.
Are you or your employees seeking a reliable, permanent alternative to the H-1B visa? Our firm has extensive experience navigating the PERM process and securing EB-3 Green Cards for professionals, skilled workers, and other workers. Contact us today to discuss your qualifications and begin your journey to permanent residency.
