If you have ever searched for “jobs that lead to a green card without a degree,” you have likely found a confusing mix of H-2B listings, H-1B explainers, and law firm pages that hint at a pathway but never name it clearly. The pathway exists. It is called the EB-3 Other Workers category, sometimes shortened to EW3, and it is the only employment-based green card that does not require a college degree or two years of skilled experience.
This guide explains exactly which entry-level jobs qualify, what the work actually pays in the United States, how long the wait is for applicants from your country in 2026, and what the realistic timeline and cost look like. It is written for applicants, not employers, and the data comes directly from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US Department of Labor, the Department of State Visa Bulletin, and USCIS.
What counts as an entry-level green card job
An “entry-level green card job” is shorthand for a permanent, full-time position in the United States that:
- Requires less than two years of training, education, or work experience
- Is classified by the Department of Labor as “unskilled” for immigration purposes
- Pays at least the DOL prevailing wage for the occupation and location
- Is offered by an employer willing to sponsor the worker for a green card
The visa category that covers these jobs is the EB-3 Other Workers subcategory of the third-preference employment-based green card. It is the legal mechanism that allows a person with no college degree and no specialized training to obtain US permanent residence through a job offer.
The EB-3 Other Workers category, explained
What “Other Workers” (EW3) means under US immigration law
EB-3 is the third-preference employment-based green card. It has three subcategories, and “Other Workers” (often labeled EW3) is the one that covers unskilled positions. According to the USCIS EB-3 employment-based immigration page, the Other Workers subcategory is for people performing unskilled labor requiring less than two years of training or experience. This is the only employment-based green card category in US law that does not require either a degree or skilled experience.
To learn more about how the category functions end to end, you can read our explainer on the EB-3 Other Workers visa category.
How EW3 differs from EB-3 Skilled and EB-3 Professional
The three EB-3 subcategories share the same priority date in the Visa Bulletin in most months, but they have different requirements:
- EB-3 Professional: requires a US bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent
- EB-3 Skilled Worker: requires at least two years of training or experience
- EB-3 Other Worker (EW3): requires less than two years of training or experience
For most applicants without a degree, EW3 is the relevant category.
Annual visa cap and why the 10,000 limit matters
EW3 is the most limited employment-based category by raw numbers. Under section 203(b)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, no more than 10,000 visas per fiscal year may go to Other Workers across the entire world. The May 2026 Visa Bulletin confirms that for fiscal year 2026, this 10,000 cap is further reduced by approximately 150 due to a long-standing offset under the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act.
A small annual cap combined with strong global demand is why this category has a multi-year wait, and why the pathway only makes sense for applicants who are serious about permanent residence and understand the timeline.
The complete list of entry-level jobs that qualify for a green card
The jobs that qualify for EW3 are defined by the Department of Labor based on the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system and the SVP (Specific Vocational Preparation) level. Most positions at SVP 3 or below, which require less than two years to learn, fall into this category.
[Chart: BLS projected annual job openings 2024-2034 for top EW3-eligible occupations]
Table 1. Common entry-level occupations that qualify for EB-3 Other Workers
| Occupation | SOC code | Median wage (May 2024) | Projected annual openings 2024-2034 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast food and counter workers | 35-3023 | See BLS OEWS | About 904,300 openings per year |
| Cooks (all detailed cook occupations) | 35-2010 | $17.19 per hour | About 432,200 openings per year |
| Food and beverage serving workers | 35-3000 | $14.92 per hour | About 1,159,600 openings per year |
| Food preparation workers | 35-2021 | $16.45 per hour | About 148,000 openings per year |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024) and Employment Projections (2024-2034).
Food service roles
Food service is the single largest source of EW3-eligible jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that fast food and counter workers will have more annual openings than any other occupation in the US economy between 2024 and 2034, at about 904,300 per year. Cooks, food prep workers, dishwashers, and food and beverage serving workers all fall in the same family of qualifying roles.
Hospitality roles
Housekeepers, room attendants, laundry workers, and other hotel support staff also qualify. According to BLS data on maids and housekeeping cleaners, this single occupation employed about 855,000 people nationally in May 2024 with a median annual wage of $36,180.
Other qualifying roles
Other occupations that commonly qualify for EW3 include meat and poultry processing workers, janitors, building cleaners, and some agricultural workers outside the H-2A program. The unifying test is not the industry but the Department of Labor classification: less than two years to learn the job, full-time, permanent.
Jobs that do not qualify under EW3
Several jobs that people sometimes assume qualify do not. Skilled trades that require apprenticeships, registered nursing, truck driving requiring a CDL with experience, and most office or administrative roles do not fall under Other Workers. They may qualify under EB-3 Skilled, but that is a different subcategory with different requirements.
How much do entry-level green card jobs pay
DOL prevailing wage requirement explained
Under US immigration law, any employer sponsoring a green card must pay at least the prevailing wage for the occupation and the specific work location. This is the average wage paid to workers in the same job in the same metropolitan area, calculated by the Department of Labor from BLS data. The employer cannot legally underpay a sponsored worker, and the wage must be promised in the green card paperwork before the case can move forward. Employers request the figure through the DOL Foreign Labor Application Gateway as the first step of the PERM process.
2026 wage ranges by occupation
National median wages from the most recent BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release (May 2024) give a realistic sense of what these jobs pay nationwide:
- Cooks: $17.19 per hour median, with the top 10 percent earning more than $22.45 per hour, according to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for cooks.
- Food preparation workers: $16.45 per hour median, per the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for food preparation workers.
- Food and beverage serving workers: $14.92 per hour median, per the BLS food and beverage serving and related workers page.
- Maids and housekeeping cleaners: $36,180 per year median, per the May 2024 OEWS national wage data.
- Janitors and cleaners (except maids): $35,930 per year median, per the BLS release.
Actual wages depend on the metropolitan area. Cities like New York, San Francisco, Boston and Honolulu pay significantly above these national medians, while rural areas may pay closer to the local prevailing minimum.
Why employers must pay the prevailing wage, not less
Paying below the prevailing wage is a violation of the labor certification and can result in PERM denial, revocation of the underlying I-140 petition, or loss of work authorization for the employee. The system is designed to prevent any downward pressure on US wages, which is also why the wage is published and verifiable before the case is filed.
Current wait times by country in 2026
The most important number in any EB-3 timeline is the Final Action Date on the monthly Visa Bulletin. Your priority date (the date PERM is filed) must be earlier than that cutoff before your green card can actually be issued.
Why wait time depends on your country of birth, not citizenship
US immigration law allocates green cards by country of chargeability, which is almost always your country of birth, not your current citizenship or residence. A Filipino citizen working in Saudi Arabia is still charged to the Philippines. A Pakistani citizen working in the United Arab Emirates is still charged to Pakistan. There are narrow exceptions for cross-chargeability through a spouse, but for most applicants, your country of birth determines your wait.
Table 2. EB-3 Other Workers Final Action Dates, May 2026 Visa Bulletin
| Country of chargeability | Final Action Date (May 2026) | Approximate wait from a priority date today |
|---|---|---|
| All chargeability areas except those listed (includes Vietnam, Brazil, Bangladesh, Pakistan, most of the world) | February 1, 2022 | About 4 years |
| Mexico | February 1, 2022 | About 4 years |
| Philippines | November 1, 2021 | About 4.5 years |
| China | February 1, 2019 | About 7 years |
| India | November 15, 2013 | About 12+ years |
Source: US Department of State, May 2026 Visa Bulletin, Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference Cases.
These numbers reflect the current cutoff date for cases being issued visas this month. Your actual wait depends on when your PERM is filed, which becomes your priority date.
Vietnam, Philippines, Brazil, Bangladesh, Pakistan
For Vietnamese, Brazilian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and most other applicants, EW3 falls into the “All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed” line, which sits at February 1, 2022 as of the May 2026 Visa Bulletin. The Philippines is currently a few months behind, at November 1, 2021. Country-specific guidance is available on our pages for EB-3 applicants in Vietnam, EB-3 applicants in the Philippines, and EB-3 applicants in Brazil.
Why India and China face the longest backlogs
India is currently on November 15, 2013 for EW3, and China is on February 1, 2019. These backlogs exist because the per-country cap of 7 percent of the total annual employment-based limit combines with very high historical demand from these two countries. The math does not work in favor of new EW3 applicants from India or China, which is why the pathway is generally not a realistic option for them.
Job market outlook: why these roles are in demand through 2034
This is the part of the picture that makes the EW3 pathway structurally durable, even as overall US immigration policy tightens.
[Chart: BLS projected annual openings 2024-2034 for top entry-level occupations]
BLS projections for food prep and hospitality openings
According to BLS Career Outlook analysis of 2024-2034 employment projections, fast food and counter workers are projected to have more annual openings than any other occupation in the entire US economy, at about 904,300 each year on average. Cooks add another 432,200 annual openings. Food and beverage serving workers add about 1,159,600. The food preparation and serving family as a whole is projected to have about 2.6 million openings each year through 2034.
These openings come from two sources: actual job growth and the need to replace workers who leave the occupation. Both pressures are expected to continue through the next decade.
The structural labor shortage driving sponsorship demand
The labor shortage in hospitality is not a temporary post-pandemic story. According to the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s late-2024 staffing survey, 65 percent of surveyed hotels reported active staffing shortages, with housekeeping cited as the top hiring need by 38 percent of properties. A more recent AHLA Front Desk Feedback survey from March 2026 confirmed that more than half of hotel owners still report being understaffed heading into 2026.
The National Restaurant Association’s 2026 State of the Restaurant Industry report projects total industry employment of about 15.8 million jobs in 2026, with nearly three-quarters of operators planning to hire and citing difficulty filling roles. The NRA specifically points to the shrinking 16-to-24-year-old US population as a long-term workforce challenge.
What this means for new applicants in 2026
For an applicant evaluating whether to invest in the EW3 pathway, the structural labor shortage matters more than any single month’s news. Employers in hospitality and food service have real, ongoing demand for permanent workers and are increasingly willing to sponsor green cards to get them.
How to get an entry-level green card job: a step-by-step guide
This is the realistic sequence. Each step takes real time, and the entire process commonly takes between three and four years from start to finish.
Step 1. Confirm you meet basic eligibility
You need no criminal bars to admission, basic English proficiency, and the physical ability to perform the work. Most applicants are between 20 and 50 years old; jobs in hospitality are physically demanding.
Step 2. Identify a qualifying US employer willing to sponsor
The employer must be a real US business that can demonstrate “ability to pay” the prevailing wage, which means their tax returns or audited financials show enough net income or net current assets to cover the offered salary. This is verified by USCIS at the I-140 stage.
Step 3. Receive and sign a job offer letter for a full-time, permanent position
The offer must be for a permanent, year-round position, not seasonal or temporary work. This distinction is what separates EW3 from H-2B, which is for temporary positions only.
Step 4. Employer files PERM labor certification with DOL
The employer first requests a Prevailing Wage Determination through DOL FLAG, then conducts a federally specified recruitment campaign to test the US labor market, and only then files Form ETA-9089. Per the DOL FLAG processing times dashboard, PERM analyst review has been averaging roughly 17 months as of early 2026, with prevailing wage determinations adding another 3 to 4 months on the front end.
Step 5. Employer files Form I-140 within 6 months of PERM approval
Once the PERM labor certification is approved, the employer must file Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, within 180 days or the PERM certification will expire. The employer is also required to pay the I-140 filing fee along with the Asylum Program The Asylum Program Fee is reduced for small employers and waived entirely for nonprofit organizations.
Step 6. Wait for your priority date to become current
Your priority date is the date PERM was filed. You must wait until the State Department Visa Bulletin Final Action Date for your country passes your priority date. For most countries in EW3 today, this is roughly a four-year wait.
Step 7. File Form I-485 if in the US, or attend consular processing if abroad
If you are inside the United States with valid status, you file Form I-485 for adjustment of status. If you are abroad, the National Visa Center will schedule you for an immigrant visa interview at the US embassy or consulate in your country.
Step 8. Receive your green card and begin work
After approval, you receive your physical green card by mail and can begin permanent work in the United States. You can read a full breakdown of EB-3 timeline and costs on our cost and timeline page.
Realistic timeline and costs
The three filing stages
The EW3 process has three sequential government stages, each handled by a different agency:
- PERM labor certification at the US Department of Labor
- I-140 immigrant petition at USCIS
- I-485 adjustment of status at USCIS (if in the US) or consular processing at the Department of State (if abroad)
Current processing times at each stage
- PWD (prevailing wage): 3 to 4 months
- PERM recruitment: 60 to 90 days
- PERM analyst review at DOL: about 17 months (as of early 2026, per the DOL FLAG processing times page)
- I-140 standard processing at USCIS: typically several months
- Visa Bulletin wait: about 4 years for most countries
- I-485 adjustment or consular processing: typically 6 to 18 months after priority date is current
End to end, plan for roughly 48 months from PERM filing to green card in hand.
What applicants pay versus what employers pay
This is one of the most misunderstood parts of the process. Under US law, the employer pays for the PERM stage, including recruitment ads, attorney fees for PERM, and the labor certification process itself. The employer cannot legally pass these costs to you.
The applicant pays for everything from I-140 onward, including:
- The I-140 USCIS filing fee and the Asylum Program Fee (which the employer technically owes but applicants commonly cover by agreement)
- Their own immigration attorney fees for representation after PERM
- The I-485 filing fee or consular processing fee
- Medical examination, document translation, and travel costs
Who is the best fit for an entry-level green card pathway
EW3 is not the right answer for everyone. It is best suited to specific applicant profiles.
H-2B workers already in the US
If you are already in the United States on an H-2B seasonal hospitality visa, you already work in the kinds of roles that qualify, you already earn US wages, and you already understand US work culture. Our guide to the transition from H-2B to EB-3 walks through how this pathway works in practice.
F-1 students approaching the end of OPT
F-1 students nearing the end of Optional Practical Training, especially those without an H-1B option, can sometimes use EW3 to remain in the United States permanently. Our EB-3 pathway for F-1 students explains the specific considerations.
Overseas applicants with international work experience
The strongest overseas applicants are usually people who have already relocated internationally for work. A Filipino working in Saudi Arabia or Qatar, a Bangladeshi or Pakistani worker in the UAE, or a Vietnamese worker in another country has already shown the persistence and adaptability that the multi-year EW3 process requires.
When this pathway is not the right fit
EW3 is generally not a good fit if:
- You were born in India or China, where backlogs run 7 to 12+ years
- You are not financially able to pay the immigration filing fees and attorney costs over a multi-year process
- You want temporary work in the US rather than permanent residence
- You are looking for a fast immigration option (there is no fast option in this category)
- You are not physically able to perform demanding hospitality, food service, or housekeeping work
Being honest about fit early saves years of wasted effort and money.
How to avoid scams when applying for green card jobs
The combination of a long timeline and significant fees makes EW3 a target for fraud. A few rules will protect you.
Red flags in job offers and recruiter pitches
Be cautious of any recruiter who:
- Guarantees a specific outcome or timeline for your green card
- Asks you to pay the employer for the job, the sponsorship, or the PERM
- Promises you can work in the US immediately after signing the job offer
- Asks for payment in cryptocurrency, gift cards, or to a personal account
- Refuses to identify the sponsoring employer or the immigration attorney
No legitimate process guarantees approval. USCIS and the Department of State retain full discretion to deny any case.
How to verify an employer is real
Ask for the employer’s full legal name, address, and EIN. Look them up on state business registration websites, on Google Maps, and on independent review platforms. A real employer has a verifiable physical location, real reviews from real customers, and a public phone number.
Why no legitimate process guarantees approval
Even a perfectly prepared case can be denied if USCIS finds the employer cannot demonstrate ability to pay, if the applicant has an inadmissibility issue, or if visa availability changes. Anyone who tells you the outcome is guaranteed is misleading you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest green card to get without a college degree?
The EB-3 Other Workers (EW3) category is the only employment-based green card that does not require a college degree or two years of skilled experience. It is the most accessible employment-based pathway for applicants without a degree, but it still requires a sponsoring US employer, a full-time permanent job offer, an approved PERM labor certification, and a wait for visa availability that currently runs about four years for most countries.
Can I get a green card by working at a fast food restaurant?
Yes, in principle. Fast food and counter worker positions qualify under the EW3 category, and the BLS projects more annual openings in this occupation than any other in the US economy through 2034. The key requirement is a full-time, permanent job offer from an employer willing to sponsor PERM and able to pay the prevailing wage.
How long does the EB-3 Other Workers green card take in 2026?
Plan for approximately 48 months from the date PERM is filed to receiving the green card. The breakdown is roughly: 3 to 4 months for the prevailing wage determination, 60 to 90 days of recruitment, about 17 months for PERM analyst review at DOL, several months for I-140 adjudication at USCIS, and a wait of roughly four years from priority date to visa availability for most countries.
Do I have to pay the employer to sponsor my green card?
No. Under US law, the employer is required to pay for the PERM stage of the process. Applicants pay their own immigration attorney fees and government filing fees for the I-140, I-485 or consular processing stages, but applicants do not legally owe the employer money for sponsorship itself. Any recruiter or employer asking you to pay them for the job or for PERM is operating outside the law.
Can I bring my family on an EB-3 Other Workers green card?
Yes. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can receive derivative green cards based on your approved EW3 case. They file Form I-485 or attend consular processing at the same time you do, and they receive their own green cards as your dependents. Each derivative applicant pays their own filing fees.
What happens if I lose my job during the EB-3 process?
If you lose the sponsoring job before your I-140 is approved, the case generally ends. If the I-140 has been approved and is more than 180 days old, you can sometimes “port” your priority date to a new employer’s I-140 in the same or higher category. If you have an adjustment of status application (I-485) pending for more than 180 days, you may also have job portability rights under INA 204(j). The rules are technical, so this is one of the situations where speaking with an immigration attorney is essential.
A realistic closing thought
The EB-3 Other Workers pathway is real, it is legal, and it is currently the only employment-based green card route that does not require a college degree or skilled experience. It is also slow, expensive over time, and unforgiving of applicants who underestimate the commitment. The strongest candidates are people who already understand what it means to relocate for work, who can plan financially over a three-to-four-year timeline, and who are honest with themselves about whether they want to do entry-level hospitality or food service work in the United States.
If you want to see whether your background fits the EB-3 Other Workers pathway, you can read more about how the EB-3 process works and what it costs on our cost and timeline page.
