
Are you eligible for an Eb3 visa?
You may be eligible for an EB3 visa if you a skilled workers, unskilled worker, or professional. Approximately 40,000 EB3 visas are available each year. The EB3 visa is a third preference employment visa. Thus, the requirements are less strict than EB1 and EB2 green card visas.
How long does it take to get an Eb3 visa?
The EB3 total processing time depends on a variety of factors. These factors include which USCIS Center you use, what country you are from, and your individual application. This time period can be as short as around a year, but it can also take up to several years. In particular, nationals of India and China should expect longer wait times.
How many EB-4 visas are there?
EB-4 Visas (special immigrants). About 10,000 visas are available for people such as religious workers, broadcasters, members of the armed services, and Afghani and Iraqi translators. EB-5 Visas (immigrant investors). There are around 10,000 green cards available for immigrants who invest at least $500,000 in certain U.S. businesses.
How often does the Department of State give out EB visa numbers?
The Department of State can technically give all the available EB Visa on the First Day of Fiscal Year (Oct 1) or Release the visa numbers as requested by USCIS every month or every quarter. The Department of State doesn’t know, how many Visa numbers would be requested by USCIS.

How many green card visas are issued each year?
In recent years, the United States has granted about 1 million green cards annually; while the share varies a bit from year to year, roughly half are given to immigrants already in the United States who are adjusting from another status (for example temporary worker or student).
What are the chances of getting EB3 visa?
The EB3 visa makes up 28.6 percent of the employment-based green cards available for overseas workers. Around 40,000 of these visas are available every year. Furthermore, no more than 7% of all EB3 visas can be granted to citizens of any one country.
Is EB3 visa easy to get?
The EB3 visa has less strict requirements than either the EB1 or the EB2 visas. This means that some people who may not qualify for these other visas may be eligible for the EB3 visa.
How many EB2 visas are issued each year?
40,000 EB2 visasApproximately 40,000 EB2 visas will be given each year. Additionally, no more than 7% of EB2 visas can go to applicants from one country. This means that if you are a national of a country with many applicants, the wait to receive a visa will be longer.
Can EB3 visa be denied?
There are many stories about people getting their US EB-3 Visa or Employment Based Immigrant Visa denied. It is quite common. It can happen to a friend, a mutual friend, a family member or a colleague. Someone received a job offer as a registered nurse from a US employer.
How long does EB3 process take?
between 1 and 3 yearsThere are several steps in receiving an EB3 visa application. Therefore, the EB3 processing time should take between 1 and 3 years for most EB3 visa applications to be processed. Yet, it can be longer for people of some countries.
How much does EB3 sponsorship cost?
In California, common occupations for immigrants with EB-3 visas are teachers, graphic designers, and housekeepers. EB-3 visas cost $345 and take about six (6) months to get. EB-3 visa holders get automatic legal permanent residence (green card) and may eventually be able to naturalize.
Can I stay in US while waiting for EB3?
Any immigrant who entered the U.S. on some sort of temporary visa and then submitted a green card application (for U.S. lawful permanent or conditional residence) is allowed to remain in the United States while the application is "pending." In other words, they can wait until their application has been decided upon by ...
How many green cards are denied?
Denial Statistics In fact, USCIS denied more than 16 percent of applications. This doesn't include the 11 percent that USCIS routinely rejects. Family-based applications for a green card are based on a family relationship with a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
Will USCIS speed up 2022?
USCIS Extends Premium-Processing to Certain Pending Immigrant Petitions. On May 24, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an expansion of premium processing service to two additional categories of Form I-140 immigrant petitions.
Is there a cap for EB3?
Employment-based: Employment Based Third (EB3): Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers, 28.6% of the worldwide level, plus any numbers not required by EB1 and EB2, not more than 10,000 of which to "Other Workers".
How many green cards issued 2022?
280,000 greens cardsUnder immense pressure USCIS has to issue 280,000 greens cards before the end of their FY 2022.
Who qualifies for EB3 visa?
EB-3: Employment-Based Immigration – Skilled Workers - Professionals and Other Unskilled Workers. You may be eligible to be classified as a skilled worker, professional, or other worker depending upon your education, skills and work experience.
Who gets EB3 visa?
Skilled workers. Those who have completed at least 2 years of job experience or training. Professionals. Those who can prove that they have a higher educational degree or its equivalent such as a Bachelor's Degree.
How many green cards are denied?
Denial Statistics In fact, USCIS denied more than 16 percent of applications. This doesn't include the 11 percent that USCIS routinely rejects. Family-based applications for a green card are based on a family relationship with a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
How much does EB3 sponsorship cost?
In California, common occupations for immigrants with EB-3 visas are teachers, graphic designers, and housekeepers. EB-3 visas cost $345 and take about six (6) months to get. EB-3 visa holders get automatic legal permanent residence (green card) and may eventually be able to naturalize.
Introduction to EB3 Visas
Each year, the United States of America gives out thousands of employment-based immigration visas to eligible candidates. One way to get a green card is through a U.S. company. This is referred to as EB or “employment-based” green cards. There are five different categories of EB green cards.
What is an EB3 Visa?
EB3 Visa stands for “Employment-Based Third Preference Category.” Eligibility turns on having a certain type of job offer from a U.S. company. In EB3 cases, a U.S. company has to ask the U.S. government to give you a green card so you can work with them. So, the first thing you need is a job offer from an American sponsor.
What is the difference between EB2 and EB3 visas?
EB2 stands for “Employment-Based Second Preference Category.” The EB2 visa category is designed for individuals who advanced degrees and are exceptional or advanced in their fields. Like EB1 and EB3, EB2 is divided into three subcategories:
EB3 Visa Requirements
The EB3 visa process can be confusing. Here, we try to help you understand the process, form and timelines. First, we’ll discuss the categories of EB3 visa in more detail.
Application Process for EB3 Visa
It is your employer’s job to file a petition requesting an EB3 Visa for you. There are four major steps in the process.
Timeline for an EB3 Visa
The EB3 Visa timeline depends on how many visas are available. The visa bulletin tells you when you can apply for a green card in each category.
EB3 Visa Lawyer: Online Search Tool
Your EB3 visa case is complicated. There are two agencies and four to five different parts to each case. For that reason, it’s important to find an experience EB3 visa attorney to help you.
Visa Bulletin Final Action Dates
The lists below are updated annually. Please refer to the Visa Bulletin page for final action dates established during the current fiscal year or the archive section on that same page for past Visa Bulletins.
Multi-Year Reports
For more multi-year reports, please select a Report of the Visa Office.
How many visas were issued in 2017 for EB4?
So, EB4 had a maximum of 9,940 for FY 2017. But, only 8,997 was issued. S0, unused 943 visas from EB4 would spill over to EB1.
What is EB4 in immigration?
EB4 is for Religious Workers and EB5 is for Immigration through Investment (1 Million Dollars or $500,000 in certain areas).
How much is the total spill over from EB2 ROW to EB2 India?
Total Spill Over from EB2 ROW to EB2 India = 2,879 – 2,803 = 76
What is the total available with spill over from EB1?
Total Available with Spill Over from EB1 = 40,040 + 0 = 40,040
Does USCIS know how many visas are released?
USCIS doesn’t know how many visas would be released by DOS. To better control the demand, DOS introduced Final action Dates and Filing Dates for I-485 to figure out the Visa Demand. So, USCIS would know in advance how many applicants would file for I-485.
What is total issued?
Total Issued = Based on Annual Report published by Department of State
Which countries are affected by the I-485?
If you look at I-485 Inventory data, there are four countries (India, China, Mexico and Philippines) that are typically impacted by backlogs (more applicants than available Green Cards Cap per country). Since, there’s not enough applicants from other counties, we have another Category of Country – Rest of the World (ROW).
What is an EB-1 visa?
These are green cards for people with “extraordinary” abilities that have “been demonstrated by sustained national or international acclaim,” “outstanding” professors and researchers who are “recognized internationally as outstanding in a specific academic area,” and multinational executives. About 40,000 EB-1 visas are available each year. People with extraordinary abilities may petition for themselves, while professors, researchers, and multinational executives must be sponsored by their employer.
How many times as many people were awarded temporary employment-based visas that expire after a period of time?
About five times as many people were awarded temporary employment-based visas that expire after a period of time.
How many green cards were issued in 2016?
In 2016, the U.S. issued almost 1.2 million green cards, granting immigrants legal permanent residence and the opportunity to apply for citizenship in the future. Around 800,000 green cards – close to 70 percent of the total – went to people immigrating to the U.S. based on having relatives here. In contrast, about 140,000 green cards – less than 12 percent – were issued to immigrants for employment reasons, based on their skills, experience, and education and on the needs of U.S. employers. Of these 140,000 employment-based green cards, more than half went to the spouses and children of the primary applicants. So the number of green cards issued to people directly based on skills, experience, and education and on the needs of U.S. employers is closer to 6 percent of the overall total. More than 80 percent of all employment-based green cards were issued to people already in the country who were changing from a temporary visa to permanent residence – a process call “adjustment of status.”
How many people got a temporary visa in 2016?
Far more people receive temporary visas for employment every year than receive green cards. In 2016, about 530,000 people got H-1B, H-2A, and H-2B visas, including spouses and children. There were more than 750,000 temporary employee-based visas issued across all categories.
What are the green cards for immigrants?
The Immigration and Nationality Act provides five major categories – known as “preferences” – of green cards for people to immigrate to the U.S. for employment reasons. U.S. immigration law has provided for the admission of immigrants with special skills at least since the Immigration Act of 1924, which gave a preference to immigrants “skilled in agriculture.” The current preferences were created in 1990, when Congress also significantly increased the number of green cards available to employment-based immigrants. These preferences are:
When is a visa available?
A visa is available to you when your priority date is earlier than the cut-off date shown for your preference category and country of chargeability in the applicable chart in the Visa Bulletin, as described above in the Acceptance of Adjustment of Status Applications section.
What is the DOS visa bulletin?
DOS, working with the Department of Homeland Security, revises the Visa Bulletin each month to estimate immigrant visa availability for prospective adjustment of status applicants. If DOS makes any changes to either chart in the Visa Bulletin after publishing it, we will review those changes and determine if any further action is necessary. Check the latest dates for filing adjustment of status applications .
What does U visa mean?
If the Visa Bulletin shows “U” in a category, this means that immigrant visas are temporarily unavailable to all applicants in that particular preference category and/or country of chargeability.
What is visa retrogression?
Sometimes, a priority date that is current one month will not be current the next month, or the cut-off date will move backward to an earlier date. This is called visa retrogression, which occurs when more people apply for a visa in a particular category than there are visas available for that month. Visa retrogression generally occurs when the annual limit for a category or country has been exhausted or is expected to run out soon. When the new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1, a new supply of visa numbers becomes available. Usually, but not always, the new supply returns the cut-off dates to where they were before retrogression.
What is priority date for I-130?
For family-sponsored immigrants, the priority date is the date that the Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, or in certain instances the Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow (er), or Special Immigrant, is properly filed with USCIS.
Can I file an I-485 with an I-130?
In certain instances, you can file your Form I-485 together, or “concurrently,” with the underlying Form I-130 or Form I-140 immigrant petition. You may concurrently file your Form I-485 only when approval of the underlying immigrant petition would make a visa immediately available to you. If you are an immediate relative, you can always concurrently file your Form I-485 application with the underlying Form I-130.
Do you need a visa to become a permanent resident?
A visa must be available before you can take one of the final steps in the process of becoming a lawful permanent resident. Because more prospective immigrants want lawful permanent residency than the limited numbers of immigrant visas allow, not everyone can immediately get an immigrant visa.
What is EB3 Visa?
EB3 visa is a Third Priority Worker visa that allows three types of workers to go to the U.S permanently and work there. These groups of workers are:
Who is Eligible for the EB3 visa?
In order to qualify for the EB3 visa, a foreign worker must prove the following:
What are the Benefits of the EB3 Visa?
With an EB3 visa, the foreign workers can go to the U.S, live there permanently and work without having to obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). After a few years at the same job, they can also switch employers and job positions. They get the Green Card and are required to pay all taxes applicable to them. They are also allowed to travel within and outside the U.S, as well as live in a different state in the U.S than the one they first moved to.
How to Apply for the EB3 Visa?
Applications for the EB3 visas have multiple steps which involve both the employer and the foreign employee. The application process for an EB3 visa has two parts:
How Long is the EB3 Green Card Processing Time?
The EB3 Green Card processing time can most times be from a low of 1 to 3 years to very long wait times of 6 or more years. Since the EB3 visa has an annual visa cap, the EB3 processing time can be quite long. If you are within the yearly limit, then your visa may be processed within a few months.
How to get approval to hire a foreign employee?
In order to get final approval to hire the foreign employee, the U.S employer must petition to the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services. This is done by filing Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker to the USCIS. USCIS will require the employer to attach supporting financial documents such as statements, audits, tax returns and others to evaluate whether they are able to pay the foreign worker and afford additional employees.
Can an employer sponsor a foreign worker on an EB3 visa?
On the other hand, the U.S employer must also prove the following to quali fy for sponsoring a foreign worker for an EB3 visa: That the employer could not find an available, qualified, or willing U.S worker for the job position. That the employer is financially stable to pay the foreign worker and can afford to sponsor the worker.
