EB-3 Visa Processing Times for Employers
Right now, the full process takes 50+ months.
Last updated: November 2, 2026
Get a Free ConsultationSponsoring an EB-3 worker takes four steps
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Step 1
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Step 2
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Step 3
We update these times every week from Department of Labor, USCIS, and Visa Bulletin data.
In EB-3 terms, you, the employer, are the petitioner, and the foreign worker you sponsor is the beneficiary.
EB-3 processing times at a glance
| Step | What happens | Who | Current processing time | Current processing dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Prevailing Wage Filing | DOL sets the minimum wage for the job | Petitioner | About 4 to 5 months | June 2026 |
| 2. PERM labor certification | You recruit, then DOL reviews the application | Petitioner | 2 to 3 months of recruitment 10 months (303 days) of DOL review 13 months total for PERM processing | January 2026 |
| 3. I-140 petition | USCIS approves your petition for the beneficiary | Petitioner | 9 months (15 business days with premium processing) | February 2026 |
| 4. Adjustment of status / consular processing | The beneficiary waits for their priority date to become current, then files for the last stage of permanent residence. | Beneficiary | Based on the current Visa Bulletin | June 1st 2022 (Table A, final action dates) |
| Total | 50+ months |
Sources: DOL FLAG processing times, USCIS processing time and Visa Bulletin.
Step 1:
Prevailing Wage Filing
The Department of Labor’s National Prevailing Wage Center sets the minimum wage you must offer for the job, based on the job duties and work location.
You file Form ETA-9141 online through the FLAG system.
Most employers wait for this wage before recruiting, since the job offer must meet it. That makes it the first wait on the timeline.
Clear, complete job descriptions help avoid a request for more information, which adds time.
Step 2:
PERM labor certification
PERM shows the Department of Labor that no qualified, willing U.S. workers are available for the job. It has two parts:
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1
Recruitment. You place a 30-day job order with the state workforce agency, run two Sunday newspaper ads and complete any other required recruitment.
You then wait at least 30 days before filing. -
2
DOL review. You file Form ETA-9089 in FLAG, and a DOL analyst reviews it.
The date you file becomes the beneficiary’s priority date, which sets their place in line for a green card.
An audit adds months to the review. Accurate job requirements, wages and recruitment records are the best way to avoid one.
How long PERM takes in 2026
As of October 21, 2026, the Department of Labor is reviewing PERM applications filed in January 2026.
Analyst review currently takes an average of 303 days, or about 10 months, from the day you file Form ETA-9089.
That clock starts only after recruitment is finished, so plan for about 2 to 3 months of recruitment first.
Applications selected for audit take longer. DOL updates these times about every 2 to 4 weeks on its FLAG processing times page.
Step 3:
I-140 immigrant petition
After PERM is certified, you file Form I-140 with USCIS.
USCIS checks that the worker qualifies for the job and that your company can pay the offered wage.
You must file within 180 days of PERM approval, or the certification expires.
Premium processing gets you a decision within 15 business days for an extra fee.
It speeds up the I-140 only. It doesn’t change PERM timing or the worker’s green card wait.
How long the I-140 takes in 2026
As of November 09, 2026, USCIS reports that EB-3 Other Worker I-140 petitions take about 9 months with regular processing.
USCIS now handles all I-140 petitions through its Service Center Operations.
Premium processing cuts the wait to 15 business days.
You can check current times on the USCIS processing times page by selecting Form I-140 and Service Center Operations.
Step 4:
Adjustment of status / Consular processing
Once the I-140 is approved, the beneficiary waits for their priority date (your PERM filing date) to become current in the State Department’s Visa Bulletin.
Then they finish the process in one of two ways:
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Consular processing, for workers outside the U.S. The National Visa Center collects their documents, and they attend a visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
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Adjustment of status, for workers already in the U.S. in valid status. They file Form I-485 with USCIS, complete biometrics and a medical exam, and may have an interview.
Your role in this step is small: keep the job offer open and send an updated employment letter if USCIS or the consulate asks for one.
How long AOS/Consular processing takes in 2026
What is the Visa Bulletin cutoff date?
Only a limited number of EB-3 green cards are available each year, so beneficiaries wait in line.
Their place in line is their priority date, which is the date you filed PERM.
Each month, the State Department publishes a cutoff date for each category and country in the Visa Bulletin, officially called the “final action date.”
If the beneficiary’s priority date is before the cutoff date, a visa number is available and they can complete Step 4. If it’s on or after the cutoff date, they keep waiting.
For example, with a cutoff date of June 1, 2022, a beneficiary whose PERM was filed on May 15, 2022 can move forward.
A beneficiary whose PERM was filed on July 1, 2022 has to wait for the cutoff date to pass July 1, 2022.
Cutoff dates usually move forward over time, but they can stall or even move back when demand is high.
For most countries, that means a wait of about 34 months after I-140 approval.
The final step currently adds about 4 to 8 months for consular processing or 6 to 12 months for adjustment of status. However, this estimate is based on the ongoing Visa Bulletin
The Visa Bulletin can move faster or slower each month, so this wait is an estimate. Check the latest Visa Bulletin.
Total EB-3 timeline: from start to green card
Right now, the full EB-3 Other Worker process takes
50+ months,
from your Prevailing Wage filing to the beneficiary’s green card.
| Stage | Who | Current time |
|---|---|---|
| Prevailing Wage + recruitment | Employer | About 6 to 8 months |
| PERM DOL review | Employer | About 10 months |
| I-140 petition | Employer | About 9 months |
| Visa Bulletin wait after I-140 approval | Worker | Based on the current Visa Bulletin |
| Consular processing or adjustment of status | Worker | Based on the current Visa Bulletin |
| Total | 50+ months |
The Visa Bulletin wait is based on the November 2026 Visa Bulletin, which is processing EB-3 Other Worker cases with priority dates up to June 1, 2022 for most countries.
The Philippines is further back, at January 1, 2022.
The Visa Bulletin can move faster or slower from month to month, so this wait is an estimate.
Frequently asked questions
How long does EB-3 sponsorship take for employers?
The total at the top of this page covers all four steps. It’s updated every week.
Can we speed up the process?
Only the I-140 has a paid fast-track option: premium processing.
The Prevailing Wage and PERM steps can’t be expedited, but complete, accurate filings help you avoid delays.When can the worker start working for us?
Usually only after their green card is approved, which comes after the Visa Bulletin wait.
Workers already in the U.S. with valid status may be able to keep working while they wait.Why do processing times change?
DOL and USCIS update their published times as backlogs grow or shrink, and the State Department publishes a new Visa Bulletin every month.
We check all three and update this page.
Plan your EB-3 hiring timeline with us
With a 50+ month process, the sooner you start, the sooner your workers arrive.
EB3.Work connects you with motivated foreign workers who are ready to commit to long-term, full-time jobs.
We guide you through each step, from Prevailing Wage to Green Card.
