EB-3 Visa Attorney in Chicago — Skilled Workers & Professionals
The EB-3 preference category provides a path to permanent residence for skilled workers, professionals with bachelor’s degrees, and other workers. At Liberum Law, our EB-3 visa attorneys in Chicago represent employers and employees throughout the PERM labor certification and green card petition process.
EB-3 subcategories include skilled workers in positions requiring at least two years of training or experience, professionals in positions requiring a U.S. bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent, and other workers in positions requiring less than two years of training or experience. All EB-3 categories require PERM labor certification and an approved I-140 immigrant petition.
Our EB-3 services include prevailing wage determination, recruitment campaign design and execution, PERM application preparation and filing, I-140 petition preparation, adjustment of status or consular processing, and EB-3 to EB-2 upgrade strategies when possible.
Contact our EB-3 attorneys at Liberum Law for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for EB-3?
EB-3 has three subcategories: skilled workers (jobs requiring 2+ years of experience), professionals (bachelor's degree required for the role), and other workers (less than 2 years training/experience). All require a permanent job offer and PERM labor certification.
Is EB-3 easier than EB-2?
EB-3 generally has a lower educational/experience bar than EB-2, but it has worse priority dates — backlogs are typically longer in EB-3 than EB-2 for most countries. We help clients evaluate whether to pursue EB-2 or EB-3 based on credentials, backlog projections, and timing.
How long does EB-3 take?
Total timeline including PERM, I-140, and I-485: typically 2–4 years for most countries; 5–15+ years for India and China. EB-3 backlogs fluctuate — check the latest Visa Bulletin and FAD chart for current projections.
Can I switch from EB-3 to EB-2 if I qualify?
Yes — many applicants upgrade to EB-2 after gaining the required degree or experience, often retaining their original priority date. Conversely, some applicants downgrade to EB-3 to take advantage of more favorable priority dates when EB-3 moves faster than EB-2 (it does happen).
Does EB-3 work for unskilled labor?
Yes — EB-3 "other workers" covers jobs requiring less than 2 years of training. The annual cap is small (10,000), and backlogs are long. Practical use is limited; we evaluate alternative paths for unskilled workers, including family-based options.
