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United StatesPermanent residenceLast checked October 17, 2026

EB-3 Employment-Based Third Preference

Skilled Workers, Professionals and Other Workers

EB-3 is an employer-sponsored green card for skilled workers, professionals and other (unskilled) workers with a permanent, full-time US job offer. In most cases the employer must first get a permanent labor certification (PERM) from the Department of Labor, showing there are not enough qualified US workers, and then file Form I-140 with USCIS. Once a visa number is available under the Visa Bulletin, the worker applies for a green card in the US or through a US consulate.

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3 entry rules for United States based on recent travel

These apply to people who were recently in certain countries. Sign in and add your trips to see whether any apply to you.

Entry restrictions apply to 40 passports for United States

The government has suspended some or all visas for holders of these passports. Exceptions exist; see the source.

  • Afghanistan
  • Angola
  • Antigua & Barbuda
  • Benin
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Chad
  • Côte d’Ivoire
  • Cuba
  • Dominica
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Haiti
  • Iran
  • Laos
  • Libya
  • Malawi
  • Mali
  • Mauritania
  • Myanmar (Burma)
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Palestinian Territories
  • Republic of the Congo
  • Senegal
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • South Sudan
  • Sudan
  • Syria
  • Tanzania
  • Togo
  • Tonga
  • Turkmenistan
  • Venezuela
  • Yemen
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Source: Proclamation 10949 - Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals To Protect the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats (Federal Register, 10 Jun 2025)Source: Proclamation 10998 - Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals To Protect the Security of the United States (Federal Register, 19 Dec 2025)Source: Proclamation 10998 full text (GovInfo)Source: U.S. Department of State - Suspension of Visa Issuance to Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United StatesSource: Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for FY2027 (Federal Register, 2 Oct 2026) - cites Proclamation 10998 as in force

Life in United States

Money

3

Currency

US Dollar

USD

US Dollar

Cost of living

100

Price level · US = 100

World Bank price levels, 2025

Tax

10–37%

Income tax (national)

social security 7.65%

Federal rates; most states and some cities add their own income tax. 37% starts above USD 626,350 (single, 2025).

Official rates, 2026 · headline only

Living

1

Happiness

6.8

#22 of 145 countries

World Happiness Report 2025

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Who it’s for

Workers with a permanent full-time US job offer whose job needs a bachelor's degree, at least 2 years of training or experience, or less than 2 years of training.

Eligibility

  • Permanent full-time job offer

    All EB-3 categories need a permanent, full-time job offer from a US employer. The job cannot be temporary or seasonal.

  • Skilled workersSkilled workers

    The job must need at least 2 years of training or experience, and relevant post-secondary education can count as training.

    • Applies to the skilled workers category
    Official wording

    The job must need at least 2 years of training or experience. Relevant post-secondary education can count as training.

  • ProfessionalsProfessionals

    The job must normally require at least a US bachelor's degree or a foreign equivalent.

    • Applies to the professionals category
    • Education plus experience cannot replace the degree
    Official wording

    The job must need at least a US bachelor's degree or a foreign equivalent as the normal entry requirement. Education plus experience cannot replace the degree.

A sneak peek at what's inside

  • Next requirementOther workers
  • Document checklistPrevailing wage determination (Form ETA-9141)
  • FeesForm I-140 filing fee (paper)

The full requirements are for members

Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.

  • 7 more requirements
  • 9 documents
  • 6 fees
  • 7 steps
  • Processing times and conditions
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