Explore this programme
A reading guide to the full material below.
Introduction
“Employer-sponsored immigration” refers to the process under US immigration law through which qualified workers in occupations experiencing shortages in the US labour market can establish an employment relationship with an employer, apply for labour certification, enter the US to work and thereby apply for lawful permanent residence. US immigration law divides employment-based immigration into five categories; EB-2 and EB-3 are the categories requiring employers.
The EB-3 employment-based third preference category includes skilled workers, bachelor's degree holders and other workers
The third preference category also has approximately 40,000 places annually (28.6% of all employment-based immigration places), plus any unused places from the first and second preference categories that year. However, the number of places for unskilled workers must not exceed 10,000.
EB-3 comprises three specific subcategories:
Professionals EB-3A (meaning your job requires at least a US bachelor's degree or a foreign equivalent, and you are a member of the profession)
Skilled Workers EB-3B (meaning your job requires at least 2 years of training or work experience)
Unskilled Workers EB-3C, also known as EW3 (meaning you will perform unskilled work requiring less than 2 years of training or experience)
Unskilled work cannot be temporary or seasonal, and the contracted position must be one that cannot be filled by a worker in the US. A permanent contract is not required; the employer applies for labour certification. Also known as EW3, applicants must be capable of performing work requiring less than two years of training or work experience, with no education or skills requirements, such as manual labour. Because EB-3C labour migration does not require skills, the current wait to obtain a work permit and green card is 12 years. Common roles for Chinese applicants include cleaners, food processing workers, crop workers, livestock workers and slaughterhouse workers.
US EB-3B (Skilled Worker) Applicant Requirements:
Skilled worker roles include Human Resources, IT, Marketing Specialist, Cloud Specialist, Personal Trainer, Accountant, Chef, Food Service Manager, Mechanical Engineer, Software Engineer, Performer, Welder, Painter, Electrical Engineer, Photonics Engineer, Nursery Worker and Nurse. A bachelor's degree is not required, but some higher vocational training or experience in the relevant field is necessary. The specific amount of work experience and relevant training required depends on the requirements of the local labour authorities.
Aged 21–55
You must demonstrate at least 2 years of work experience, education or training that meets the job requirements specified in the labour certification.
Relevant post-secondary education may count as training.
- In good health
- No history of criminal convictions
- Applicants with some relevant experience have a better chance of applying successfully
- US Employer Requirements
- The US employer must apply for PERM labour certification
The US employer must commit to paying the foreign employee the prevailing wage;
During the green card application process, the employer must demonstrate the ability to pay the promised salary
US EB-3 Programme Benefits:
Suitable for applicants with a bachelor's degree or below; no language test score required; genuine employment provided; a shorter timeline than EB-5, at a fraction of the cost.
Short processing time and high priority; after working for the employer for just one year, you can live anywhere in the US
- Simple documentation requirements, with no restrictions on assets or business background
- Obtain a green card directly
- A transparent application process that can be tracked through the official website
Stable policy, no risk, and a traditional US pathway for attracting skilled immigrants
US EB-3 Skilled Worker Application Process: 1. Applicant assessment and signing the service agreement 2. Prepare application documents and match with an employer 3. Submit the Department of Labor application and establish the priority date 4. Submit the immigration application 5. Visa centre processing 6. Interview at the US embassy 7. Obtain a US permanent green card
