Employment-Based Green Cards
Employment-based green cards provide a path to permanent residence for qualified workers, professionals, and investors. At Liberum Law, our Chicago immigration attorneys handle all five EB preference categories and guide clients through the PERM labor certification process, I-140 petition filing, and adjustment of status.
EB Preference Categories
EB-1 is for priority workers with extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers, and multinational executives. EB-2 covers advanced degree professionals and those with exceptional ability, including National Interest Waivers. EB-3 is for skilled workers and professionals. EB-4 covers special immigrants. EB-5 is the immigrant investor category.
PERM Labor Certification
Most EB-2 and EB-3 cases require PERM labor certification from the Department of Labor. This process involves prevailing wage determination, recruitment efforts, and filing ETA Form 9089. Our attorneys manage the entire PERM process to ensure compliance and maximize approval chances.
Schedule a Free Consultation
Contact Liberum Law today. Schedule a free consultation or call (872) 710-4065.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are employment-based green card categories?
EB-1 (priority workers — extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers, multinational executives), EB-2 (advanced degree professionals and exceptional ability, including National Interest Waiver), EB-3 (skilled workers, professionals, other workers), EB-4 (special immigrants — religious workers, certain government employees), and EB-5 (investors). Each has different eligibility, processing, and backlogs.
Which EB category is fastest?
EB-1A and EB-1B (no labor certification required) are typically the fastest. EB-2 NIW skips PERM but waits in line. EB-2/EB-3 through PERM require labor certification (6–12 months) plus I-140 (months) plus visa availability (variable by country). Country of birth matters — China and India face long waits in EB-2/EB-3.
What is PERM labor certification?
PERM is the Department of Labor process where the U.S. employer must show no qualified U.S. workers are available for the position. Required for EB-2 (non-NIW) and EB-3. Involves recruitment, prevailing wage determination, and PERM application. Typically takes 6–12 months total.
Do I need a job offer for an employment-based green card?
Most categories require a job offer: EB-1B, EB-1C, EB-2 (non-NIW), EB-3. Exceptions: EB-1A (extraordinary ability), EB-2 NIW (national interest waiver), and EB-5 (investor) allow self-petition without employer sponsorship.
Can I change jobs while my EB green card is pending?
Yes, under AC21 portability: after I-140 approval and 180 days with a pending I-485, you can change to a same-or-similar job without losing your green card progress. Job changes before this point usually require restarting the process. We routinely advise on portability strategy.
