EB-2 (advanced degree / exceptional ability) and EB-3 (professional, skilled, unskilled workers) are the most common employer-sponsored employment green cards. The full process takes several years through four phases: PERM Labor Certification, I-140 petition, priority date wait, and final adjustment of status.
EB-2 vs EB-3:
EB-2 requires a U.S. master's degree or higher, OR a
bachelor's plus 5+ years of progressive experience, OR exceptional ability.
EB-3 requires a bachelor's degree (Professional),
2+ years of training or experience (Skilled), or unskilled labor.
EB-2 priority dates generally move faster than EB-3, but the threshold is higher.
For other categories: EB-1A / EB-1B / EB-1C / EB-2 NIW
skip the PERM phase and start directly at I-140.
The U.S. employer demonstrates to the Department of Labor (DOL) that no qualified U.S. worker is available to fill the role. PERM has four sub-phases:
| Form | Purpose | Fee | Official Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETA-9089 | PERM Labor Certification (filed by employer) | No fee | DOL PERM System → |
| ETA-9141 | Prevailing Wage Request | No fee | FLAG Prevailing Wage → |
Critical timing: the day PERM is filed becomes your Priority Date—your place in the visa queue.
Once PERM is certified, the employer files Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, with USCIS to formally establish the visa category.
| Form | Purpose | Fee | USCIS Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-140 | Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker | $715 | File I-140 → |
| I-907 | Premium Processing Service | $2,805 | File I-907 → |
Processing options:
Once your I-140 is approved, your priority date is locked. Even if you change employers or categories later, you generally retain that priority date (unless the I-140 is revoked, or it was approved less than 180 days ago).
The Department of State publishes the monthly Visa Bulletin based on per-country, per-category green card quotas. Your priority date must be earlier than the listed cutoff (or marked "Current") before you can move to the final phase.
Typical waiting times by country of birth:
⚠️ The Visa Bulletin changes monthly and may also retrogress (move backward). Track each month closely and consult counsel about the optimal filing strategy.
Monthly Visa Bulletin → Priority dates explained →When your priority date is current, you choose between two paths based on your location:
Option A: Adjustment of Status (Form I-485)
Option B: Consular Processing
| Form | Purpose | Fee | USCIS Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-485 | Adjustment of Status (in-U.S. path) | $1,440 | File I-485 → |
| I-693 | Medical Examination | Paid to physician | View I-693 → |
| I-765 | Employment Authorization (EAD) | $260 | File I-765 → |
| I-131 | Advance Parole Travel Document | $630 | File I-131 → |
| DS-260 | Immigrant Visa Application (consular path) | $325 | CEAC DS-260 → |
The reality of timing: Most ROW applicants complete the full EB-2 / EB-3 process in 3–5 years. China- and India-born applicants face priority date waits that can stretch the timeline to 10+ years. If you have outstanding achievements, consider EB-1A / EB-2 NIW instead—they skip PERM and typically complete in 1–3 years. Strategic early planning can save you years on your green card timeline.
Direct links to USCIS and Department of Labor official pages.