EB-3 Visa Sponsor A Comprehensive Guide

Legal Feb 3, 2025 15 Add to Reading List

Processing Time & Costs for EB-3 Visa Sponsorship

Processing Time

The EB-3 visa process typically takes 12 to 36 months, depending on:

PERM Labor Certification: 6-12 months
I-140 Processing: 6-12 months (or 15 days with premium processing)
Visa Availability: Varies based on country (some countries experience long backlogs)
Consular Processing/Adjustment of Status: 6-12 months

Costs Involved

Expense	Estimated Cost
PERM Labor Certification	No government fee (legal fees apply)
I-140 Filing Fee	$700
I-485 (Adjustment of Status)	$1,140 + $85 (biometrics)
Consular Processing Fee	$345
Attorney Fees (if applicable)	$5,000 – $15,000

Note: Employers

EB-3 Visa Sponsor

must pay for the labor certification process, but other fees may be split between the employer and the worker.

Challenges & Considerations

For Employers:

Must comply with DOL recruitment requirements.
Processing times can be lengthy, depending on visa demand.
Must prove financial capability to pay the worker’s wage.

For Foreign Workers:

Finding a legitimate sponsor can be challenging.
Long wait times for applicants from certain countries (India, China, the Philippines).
Beware of fraudulent job offers that charge high fees for fake sponsorships.

The EB-3 visa provides a valuable opportunity for skilled and unskilled foreign workers to gain permanent residency in the U.S. through employer sponsorship. However, the process involves multiple steps, including labor certification, employer petitioning, and visa processing.

For employers, sponsoring foreign workers can help fill essential job roles and address labor shortages. For workers, finding an EB-3 visa sponsor requires research, networking, and persistence.

If you are seeking EB-3 sponsorship, start by identifying industries that frequently hire foreign workers, exploring job portals, and reaching out to recruitment agencies specializing in employment-based visas.