EW-3 — Employment Third Preference - Other Worker (Unskilled)

United States•North America

Open

EW-3 — Employment Third Preference - Other Worker (Unskilled)

Skilled Migration PR PathwayThis visa can lead to permanent residency, the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa. Dependents Allowed

At a Glance

Processing Time

0 days – 100 years

Varies by processing route

Estimated Cost

$4,425–$7,390 USD

Varies by filing options

Stay Duration

Indefinite

Not renewable

Renewal

Not renewable

Family

Dependents allowed

PR Pathway

Yes

Sponsor

Job offer required

Work

Remote not required

Apply Now Official Information

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$51,000

Quality of Life

186/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

Other workers performing unskilled labor requiring less than 2 years training or experience.

785-char rewrite across 3 paragraphs (P1=290, P2=307, P3=184)

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Cost Breakdown

PERM labor certification (DOL, employer-filed)$0 USD

Form I-140 filing fee$715 USD

Asylum Program Fee (Form I-140, paid by employer)$600 USD

Premium processing (Form I-907)$2,965 USD

optional

Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status, age 14–78)$1,440 USD

Form I-765 (EAD, filed concurrently with I-485)$260 USD

Form I-131 (Advance Parole, filed concurrently with I-485)$630 USD

Form I-693 (Medical Examination, civil surgeon fee)$200 USD

Form DS-260 (Immigrant Visa Application)$345 USD

USCIS Immigrant Fee$235 USD

Total$4,425–$7,390 USD

Processing Time

PERM labor certification (DOL)	6 months – 1.5 years
I-140 Standard Processing	4 months – 1 year
I-140 Premium Processing	2 weeks
Visa number wait (no backlog nationalities)	0 days – 1 year
Visa number wait (backlogged nationalities)	10–100 years
I-485 Adjustment of Status	8 months – 2 years

Stay & Extensions

Status type

Permanent / indefinite

Annual Cap & Quota

~10,000 visas per year worldwide for the 'Other Workers' subcategory (EW-3), subject to per-country annual limits

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Valid, permanent, full-time job offer from a U.S. employer

Position must require less than 2 years of training or experience (unskilled or semi-skilled labor)

Employer must obtain approved PERM labor certification from the Department of Labor

Employer must file Form I-140 on behalf of the worker

Worker must meet any minimum qualifications listed in the PERM job description

Worker must be admissible to the United States under immigration law

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Approved PERM labor certification (ETA Form 9089)

Form I-140 with supporting evidence

Employment offer letter from sponsoring employer

Evidence of worker's qualifications meeting job requirements

Valid passport and immigration history documents

Birth certificate

Marriage certificate (if applicable)

Form I-485 and supporting documents (for AOS applicants)

Medical examination results (Form I-693, for AOS applicants)

Police certificates or criminal history records

Two passport-style photos

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Leads directly to permanent residence (green card) — no temporary status required
Open to workers in unskilled or semi-skilled positions requiring less than 2 years of experience
No educational degree required
Qualifying spouse and unmarried children under 21 may immigrate as derivative beneficiaries
Work authorization (EAD) available while I-485 is pending, allowing immediate employment
Advance Parole travel document available while I-485 is pending
Premium processing available for I-140 to accelerate petition adjudication
Priority date established at I-140 approval protects place in queue even if employment changes

Worth Knowing

Extremely long backlogs — 'Other Workers' subcategory has a worldwide annual cap of ~10,000 visas, one of the lowest of any EB category
Nationals of India, Philippines, China, and Mexico may face wait times of 10–35+ years due to per-country limits
Employer must initiate and bear costs; worker cannot self-petition
PERM recruitment is a lengthy, documentation-intensive process for the employer
Job offer must remain bona fide throughout the process; layoffs or employer closure can jeopardize the petition
If employment ends before I-485 is approved (or before 180 days after filing), the petition may be withdrawn
Annual allocation (~10,000) is shared globally, creating severe oversubscription
Not suitable for workers needing near-term permanent residence unless from countries without a backlog
Very long backlog
Annual cap of 10,000 (subject to minor statutory reductions)

Application Process

1. Employer conducts PERM recruitment process and files ETA Form 9089 with the Department of Labor

2. DOL approves PERM labor certification, confirming no qualified U.S. workers are available

3. Employer files Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers) with USCIS; optional premium processing available

4. USCIS approves I-140 and establishes the worker's priority date

5. Monitor USCIS Visa Bulletin monthly and wait for priority date to become current

6. Once priority date is current: file I-485 (Adjustment of Status) if in the U.S., or proceed with consular processing at a U.S. embassy/consulate abroad

7. Attend biometrics appointment and interview (if required)

8. Receive green card (LPR status)

Application Forms

Go to application portal

ETA Form 9089 Application for Permanent Employment Certification	Fill online
I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers	Fill online
I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status	Fill online
DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application	Fill online
I-765 Application for Employment Authorization	Fill online
I-131 Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records	Fill online
I-693 Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record	Fill online

Verified Claims (30)

Last verified May 30, 2026

Application Steps

1. Employer conducts PERM recruitment process and files ETA Form 9089 with the Department of Labor; …

uscis.gov

Blockers

Very long backlog; Annual cap of 10,000 (subject to minor statutory reductions)

travel.state.gov

Dependent Visa

Dependents allowed, spouse can work

uscis.gov

Fee Breakdown

PERM labor certification (DOL, employer-filed): 0 USD; Form I-140 filing fee: 715 USD; Asylum Progra…

uscis.gov

Fees

PERM labor certification (DOL): no fee; Form I-140: $715 (plus $300 or $600 Asylum Program Fee for s…

uscis.gov

Forms

ETA Form 9089 (PERM Labor Certification — filed by employer with DOL); Form I-140 (Immigrant Petitio…

uscis.gov

Forms · DS-260 · description

Immigrant Visa Electronic Application

travel.state.gov

Forms · ETA Form 9089 · description

Application for Permanent Employment Certification

dol.gov

Apply Now Official Information

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$51,000

Quality of Life

186/200

Full Country Guide

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Cost Breakdown

PERM labor certification (DOL, employer-filed)$0 USD

Form I-140 filing fee$715 USD

Asylum Program Fee (Form I-140, paid by employer)$600 USD

Premium processing (Form I-907)$2,965 USD

optional

Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status, age 14–78)$1,440 USD

Form I-765 (EAD, filed concurrently with I-485)$260 USD

Form I-131 (Advance Parole, filed concurrently with I-485)$630 USD

Form I-693 (Medical Examination, civil surgeon fee)$200 USD

Form DS-260 (Immigrant Visa Application)$345 USD

USCIS Immigrant Fee$235 USD

Total$4,425–$7,390 USD

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Valid, permanent, full-time job offer from a U.S. employer

Position must require less than 2 years of training or experience (unskilled or semi-skilled labor)

Employer must obtain approved PERM labor certification from the Department of Labor

Employer must file Form I-140 on behalf of the worker

Worker must meet any minimum qualifications listed in the PERM job description

Worker must be admissible to the United States under immigration law

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Approved PERM labor certification (ETA Form 9089)

Form I-140 with supporting evidence

Employment offer letter from sponsoring employer

Evidence of worker's qualifications meeting job requirements

Valid passport and immigration history documents

Birth certificate

Marriage certificate (if applicable)

Form I-485 and supporting documents (for AOS applicants)

Medical examination results (Form I-693, for AOS applicants)

Police certificates or criminal history records

Two passport-style photos

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Leads directly to permanent residence (green card) — no temporary status required
Open to workers in unskilled or semi-skilled positions requiring less than 2 years of experience
No educational degree required
Qualifying spouse and unmarried children under 21 may immigrate as derivative beneficiaries
Work authorization (EAD) available while I-485 is pending, allowing immediate employment
Advance Parole travel document available while I-485 is pending
Premium processing available for I-140 to accelerate petition adjudication
Priority date established at I-140 approval protects place in queue even if employment changes

Worth Knowing

Extremely long backlogs — 'Other Workers' subcategory has a worldwide annual cap of ~10,000 visas, one of the lowest of any EB category
Nationals of India, Philippines, China, and Mexico may face wait times of 10–35+ years due to per-country limits
Employer must initiate and bear costs; worker cannot self-petition
PERM recruitment is a lengthy, documentation-intensive process for the employer
Job offer must remain bona fide throughout the process; layoffs or employer closure can jeopardize the petition
If employment ends before I-485 is approved (or before 180 days after filing), the petition may be withdrawn
Annual allocation (~10,000) is shared globally, creating severe oversubscription
Not suitable for workers needing near-term permanent residence unless from countries without a backlog
Very long backlog
Annual cap of 10,000 (subject to minor statutory reductions)

Application Process

1. Employer conducts PERM recruitment process and files ETA Form 9089 with the Department of Labor

2. DOL approves PERM labor certification, confirming no qualified U.S. workers are available

3. Employer files Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers) with USCIS; optional premium processing available

4. USCIS approves I-140 and establishes the worker's priority date

5. Monitor USCIS Visa Bulletin monthly and wait for priority date to become current

6. Once priority date is current: file I-485 (Adjustment of Status) if in the U.S., or proceed with consular processing at a U.S. embassy/consulate abroad

7. Attend biometrics appointment and interview (if required)

8. Receive green card (LPR status)

Application Forms

Go to application portal

ETA Form 9089

Application for Permanent Employment Certification

Fill online

I-140

Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers

Fill online

I-485

Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

Fill online

DS-260

Immigrant Visa Electronic Application

Fill online

I-765

Application for Employment Authorization

Fill online

I-131

Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records

Fill online

I-693

Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record

Fill online