Employment-based visas: skilled workers and professionals
The EB-3 employment-based visa category covers skilled workers, professionals, and other workers seeking to stay in the U.S. permanently.
- Skilled workers need at least two years of experience or training in permanent, year-round work.
- Professionals need a U.S. bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent) in the field the job requires — work experience can’t substitute for the degree.
- Other workers fill jobs that don’t require two years of experience or training, though this category typically has a longer wait for a visa.
You don’t file an EB-3 petition yourself — your prospective employer files it on your behalf, along with a permanent job offer and a labor certification from the Department of Labor.