Legitimate EB-3 sponsorship jobs come from real U.S. employers who sponsor a worker for one specific, permanent, full-time job by filing a PERM labor certification with the Department of Labor and then an I-140 petition with USCIS. You can confirm the details of the offer, check who is helping you with your case, and treat any offer that guarantees a green card or asks you to pay to receive a job offer as a warning sign.
The EB-3 visa is one of the few ways a worker without a college degree can get a U.S. green card through a job. That makes it valuable, and it also makes it a target for people who sell fake offers.
This guide explains where real EB-3 offers come from and how to check them before you share documents or money. It also covers the most common scam warning signs and what to do if something feels wrong.
What Makes an EB-3 Job Legitimate
An EB-3 job is a permanent, full-time job with a U.S. employer who agrees to sponsor you for a green card. The employer is called the petitioner, and the employer is the one who starts the case, not you.
Before the employer can file anything with immigration, it has to go through PERM labor certification with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). PERM is the process where the employer proves it tried to hire U.S. workers for the job and could not find enough of them.
After PERM is approved, the employer files Form I-140, the Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Only after the I-140 is approved and your place in line is reached can you apply for the green card itself.
Because of this process, every real EB-3 offer has a few things in common:
- A real, named U.S. employer. You should know the company’s legal name and where it operates.
- A specific job. The offer should name the job title, the duties, and the work location.
- A wage that meets the prevailing wage. DOL sets a minimum wage level for the job and location, and the employer must offer at least that amount.
- A permanent, full-time position. EB-3 does not cover seasonal, part-time, or temporary work.
Here is a simple test. If there is no specific U.S. employer and no specific job, it is not an EB-3 offer, no matter what it is called.
The Three EB-3 Categories
EB-3 has three groups of workers. Skilled workers fill jobs that need at least two years of training or experience, and professionals fill jobs that need a U.S. bachelor’s degree or a foreign equivalent.
Other workers, sometimes called EB-3 unskilled workers, fill jobs that need less than two years of training or experience. Many hospitality, restaurant, manufacturing, and cleaning jobs fall into this group, and it is the group most often targeted by fake offers.
Where Real EB-3 Sponsorship Jobs Come From
Legitimate EB-3 jobs come through a small number of channels. Knowing these channels helps you spot an offer that came from somewhere else, and the step-by-step guide on how to find an EB-3 sponsor covers the search itself in more detail.
Directly From Employers
Some U.S. employers post their own openings and say clearly that they sponsor for EB-3. These are often larger companies in industries with ongoing labor shortages.
An employer that sponsors directly will usually have its own immigration attorney. That attorney represents the employer and handles the PERM and I-140 filings.
Through Recruiting Platforms That Work With Sponsoring Employers
Some recruiting platforms work directly with U.S. employers who have committed to sponsoring workers. These platforms list the jobs and connect applicants with the employer, and you can browse current EB-3 sponsorship jobs to see what this looks like.
A real platform should be able to tell you which employer you are applying to, what the job is, and where it is located. If a platform cannot name the employer at any point in the process, treat that as a warning sign.
Through Immigration Attorneys Who Represent Employers
Immigration law firms often handle EB-3 cases for many employers at once. In some cases, the firm or the employer’s hiring team may contact applicants about open positions.
The attorney’s client is usually the employer, not you. That is normal in EB-3 cases, but you should still be able to confirm that the attorney is licensed and that the employer is real.
Through Referrals From People in the Program
Many workers hear about EB-3 jobs from friends or family who are already in the process. A referral is a good starting point, but it is not proof, so check the employer the same way you would check any other offer.
Which Industries Sponsor Most Often
EB-3 sponsorship is most common in industries that have trouble finding enough U.S. workers for entry-level and semi-skilled jobs. These include:
- Hotels and hospitality
- Quick-service and full-service restaurants
- Manufacturing and assembly
- Commercial cleaning and janitorial work
- Warehousing
- Trucking
You can see the types of positions that commonly qualify on the EB-3 jobs list. If an offer is for a job that does not match these patterns, such as a remote office job with no experience required, ask more questions.
Why General Job Boards Are Hit or Miss
Many large job boards let employers tag a listing with “visa sponsorship.” That tag often means a temporary visa like H-1B, or it may be added by a company that has never filed an EB-3 case.
Use general job boards as a starting point only. Before you apply or share personal documents, check the offer using the steps in the next section.
How to Check an EB-3 Offer
Before you share documents or money, take a few simple steps to check the offer. These checks will not catch every scam, but they help you spot problems early.
Step 1: Make Sure the Details Match
A real EB-3 offer is for one specific job at one specific worksite. The job title, duties, location, and wage should stay the same in every document you receive.
If the job title changes, the worksite moves around, or the wage drops, ask why. Small changes can have a normal explanation, but large or unexplained changes are a warning sign.
Step 2: Check Your Case Status Once It Is Filed
After the employer files the I-140, USCIS sends a receipt notice with a receipt number. You can check this number yourself on the USCIS Case Status Online tool at uscis.gov.
If someone says your I-140 has been filed but cannot give you a receipt number, be careful. A real filing always has one.
How to Check the Person Helping You
Most fraud in immigration does not come from employers. It comes from people who claim they can connect you with an employer or speed up your case.
Who Is Allowed to Give Immigration Legal Help
In the United States, only two kinds of people can give you legal advice on immigration:
- A licensed attorney. The attorney must be a member in good standing of the bar in at least one U.S. state. You can check this on that state’s bar association website.
- An accredited representative. This is a trained non-attorney who works for a nonprofit that the Department of Justice has recognized. You can check this on the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) roster of recognized organizations and accredited representatives at justice.gov.
Recruiters, consultants, and agents may help you find a job. They cannot give you legal advice or prepare your immigration forms as your representative unless they are also an attorney or accredited representative.
Watch Out for Notarios
In many Latin American countries, a “notario público” is a trained legal professional. In the United States, a notary public only witnesses signatures and is not allowed to give immigration advice.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns immigrants that if they need legal advice about their immigration status, they should go to a lawyer or an accredited representative and never to a notario. Anyone who uses the title “notario” to offer immigration help should be treated with caution.
Watch Out for “Connections”
Some people say they have special contacts at USCIS or the Department of Labor who can speed up your case. No one can buy a faster place in line for an EB-3 green card.
Your place in line is set by your priority date, which is usually the date the employer filed PERM. The State Department’s monthly Visa Bulletin decides when that date becomes current, and no private person controls it.
Red Flags of an EB-3 Job Scam
USCIS warns that job offers sent from overseas or by email may be scams, especially if you are asked to pay money to receive a job offer. The FTC gives similar advice and tells immigrants never to pay anyone who promises a job, a certificate that will get them a job, or secret access to a job.
Here are the most common warning signs in EB-3 offers.
- A guaranteed green card. No employer, recruiter, or attorney can guarantee approval. DOL and USCIS make those decisions.
- Paying to receive a job offer. USCIS specifically warns about offers that require payment just to get the offer.
- Payment to a personal account or by gift card. Wire transfers to individuals, gift cards, cryptocurrency, and payment apps sent to a personal name are common in scams. USCIS will never ask you to transfer money to an individual.
- A timeline that is too short. If someone promises you a green card in a few months, they are not describing the real EB-3 process.
- Emails or websites that pretend to be USCIS. Official U.S. government websites and email addresses end in .gov. Anything ending in .com or .org that claims to be USCIS is not.
- Requests to pay for government forms. All USCIS forms are free on uscis.gov. No one should charge you just to download them.
- Offers through social media comments or messaging apps. The FTC has warned about scammers who reach out after someone likes or comments on a post and then guarantee a work permit or green card.
One warning sign does not always mean an offer is fake. Two or more together is a strong reason to stop and check before going further.
Why Scams Can Hurt Your Future Case
Losing money is not the only risk. If a scammer files false papers in your name, USCIS may keep a record of it, and a fraud finding can make you ineligible for future immigration benefits.
This is why you should never sign forms you do not understand or let someone file papers that contain false information. Ask for a copy of everything filed on your behalf.
What the Real Process and Timeline Look Like
Knowing the real process makes fake offers much easier to spot. A real EB-3 case moves through these main stages:
- Prevailing wage determination. The employer asks DOL to set the minimum wage for the job and location.
- Recruitment. The employer advertises the job to U.S. workers, as required by DOL rules.
- PERM labor certification. The employer files PERM with DOL, which reviews the case before approving it.
- Form I-140. After PERM approval, the employer files the I-140 with USCIS.
- Waiting for your priority date. Depending on your country and the EB-3 category, you may wait until your priority date becomes current in the Visa Bulletin.
- The final green card step. If you are in the U.S. and eligible, you file to adjust status. If you are outside the U.S., you go through consular processing and an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
From start to finish, the full EB-3 process often takes about 48 months. Some stages move faster or slower depending on government processing times and how many people from your country are waiting.
You can read a step-by-step overview of each stage in the guide to the EB-3 process. When someone’s promises do not match these steps, that difference is often your best clue.
What to Do If You Think an Offer Is a Scam
If an offer shows warning signs, slow down. Taking a few days to check is always safer than acting quickly.
Stop Sending Money and Documents
Do not send more money, passport copies, or personal information until you have checked the offer. Scammers often use personal documents for identity theft, even after the job offer itself falls apart.
Keep Everything
Save all emails, text messages, chat messages, receipts, and payment records. Write down names, phone numbers, website addresses, and the dates you were contacted.
These records help if you report the scam. They also help if you need to explain later that papers were filed without your consent.
Report It
There are several official places to report immigration job scams:
- USCIS. You can forward scam emails to USCIS.Webmaster@uscis.dhs.gov. USCIS also has a page on its website for reporting immigration scams.
- The Federal Trade Commission. Report fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov in English or ReporteFraude.ftc.gov in Spanish. The FTC also takes reports by phone at (877) 382-4357, and you can press 3 to speak to an interpreter.
- Your state attorney general or consumer protection office. Many states take reports of immigration services fraud.
- IdentityTheft.gov. If you shared personal information that could be misused, this FTC website helps you make a recovery plan.
Know the Link to Human Trafficking
Some fake job offers are connected to human trafficking. Trafficking can include being forced to work because of threats, debt, or fear about your immigration status.
If you or someone you know is being forced to work, you can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. In an emergency inside the United States, call 911.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are EB-3 unskilled jobs real?
Yes, EB-3 “other worker” jobs are a real category for positions that need less than two years of training or experience. The jobs must still go through PERM and an I-140 petition, so a real offer will always name a specific U.S. employer and a specific job.
Does a job offer mean I will get a green card?
No, a job offer is only the start, because the employer still has to get PERM approved by DOL and the I-140 approved by USCIS. You also have to qualify for the green card at the final step, and no one can guarantee the outcome.
Can I find EB-3 jobs on regular job websites?
Sometimes, but many listings marked “visa sponsorship” are for temporary visas or are added by employers who have never filed an EB-3 case. Use job websites as a starting point and then confirm the employer’s name, the job, and the worksite before sharing personal documents.
Can a recruiter guarantee my visa?
No, only DOL and USCIS can approve the steps in an EB-3 case, and the timing depends on the Visa Bulletin. A recruiter who guarantees a visa or green card is making a promise they cannot keep.
How can I tell if a website claiming to be from USCIS is fake?
Official U.S. government websites and email addresses end in .gov. If a website or email claims to be USCIS but ends in .com, .org, or anything else, it is not from USCIS.
Do I need to be in the U.S. to apply for an EB-3 job?
No, many EB-3 workers apply from outside the United States and complete their case through consular processing at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Workers already in the U.S. may be able to adjust status if they are eligible, and the employer’s attorney can explain which path applies.
Summary
A legitimate EB-3 sponsorship job always comes from a real U.S. employer offering a specific, permanent, full-time job. That employer has to complete PERM with the Department of Labor and file an I-140 with USCIS before you can apply for a green card.
Real offers come from employers directly, from recruiting platforms that work with sponsoring employers, from immigration attorneys who represent employers, and sometimes from referrals. Whatever the source, you can confirm that the job details stay consistent and that anyone giving you legal advice is a licensed attorney or an accredited representative.
The clearest warning signs are a guaranteed green card, being asked to pay to receive a job offer, payments to personal accounts, and timelines that are much shorter than the real process of about 48 months. If an offer shows these signs, stop, keep your records, and report it to USCIS and the FTC.
