The Dignity Act of 2025 is gaining attention across the immigration and labor landscape for its bold attempt to reform the U.S. immigration system. Among the groups that stand to benefit the most are EB-3 visa holders in the Other Workers category. This category, which often includes individuals in essential, non-professional roles, has faced years of delays, outdated processes, and structural bottlenecks.
Now, with the Dignity Act proposing specific changes to improve legal immigration, three key provisions stand out for EB-3 Other Workers: a recalculation of visa caps, a major funding boost across immigration agencies, and the creation of an immigration process coordinator. Let’s explore each benefit in detail and why this proposed legislation could be a turning point for thousands of foreign workers.
Understanding the Dignity Act of 2025
The Dignity Act, introduced in the U.S. Congress, addresses many broken aspects of the immigration system, including legal immigration challenges. While much of the bill targets individuals living in the U.S. without legal status, certain sections focus specifically on employment-based immigration, especially EB-3 Other Workers.
For EB-3 applicants, three key provisions are found in Sections 3301, 3304, and 3305 of the bill. Each of these targets a major obstacle currently limiting efficiency, fairness, or clarity in the EB-3 visa process.
Key Benefit #1: Dependents No Longer Counted Against the Annual Visa Cap
One of the most transformative changes proposed in Section 3301 is that spouses and minor children will no longer count against the annual visa quota. Currently, dependents are lumped together with the principal applicant, leading to severe backlogs.
For example, in the EB-3 Other Workers category, the annual cap is roughly 10,000 visas. Yet, estimates show that only 3,000 of these are issued to actual workers, the rest are consumed by family members. This means 70% of visas go to dependents, significantly slowing down processing for qualified workers.
Under the Dignity Act, only the principal worker will count toward the cap. This simple change could triple the effective visa availability for EB-3 Other Workers. The impact? Processing times could drastically drop, visa bulletins could move more quickly, and retrogression where applicants wait years for availability could be eliminated.
Notably, dependents will still go through the same immigration process and be issued visas simultaneously. This change affects only how they are counted, not whether or how they are processed.
Key Benefit #2: Major Funding Increases to Immigration Agencies
In Section 3305, the Dignity Act addresses one of the most persistent problems facing EB-3 applicants: delays caused by underfunded government agencies.
The EB-3 process has three key stages:
- Department of Labor (DOL): Handles the Prevailing Wage Determination and PERM labor certification.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): Processes the I-140 petition and Adjustment of Status.
- State Department: Handles consular processing for applicants abroad.
The Dignity Act proposes massive funding increases to all three:
- DOL’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification: From ~$65 million to nearly four times that amount.
- USCIS: Receives $2.56 billion to tackle I-140 and adjustment backlogs.
- State Department: Gains $852 million to ease consular delays.
These investments aim to eliminate processing delays and restore efficiency to a system long plagued by bureaucratic underfunding. For EB-3 Other Workers, this could mean faster PERM approvals, quicker petition processing, and shorter waits for interviews at embassies and consulates.
Key Benefit #3: Immigration Agency Coordination
The third major change, also outlined in Section 3305, is the creation of a new Immigration Agency Coordinator. This individual or office would oversee and streamline the interagency workflow between the DOL, USCIS, and the State Department.
Currently, no central coordination exists among the three agencies, resulting in:
- Gaps in communication
- Inconsistent processing timelines
- Fragmented procedures
By creating a single point of accountability, the bill aims to optimize handoffs between departments and reduce confusion. For EB-3 applicants, this could lead to a smoother experience from start to finish—with fewer surprises and delays.
Additional Benefit: Dual Intent for F-1 Student Visa Holders
While not directly related to EB-3 Other Workers, Section 3304 modernizes student visas by allowing dual intent. Under current rules, F-1 student visa holders must prove they have no intention to immigrate even if they eventually transition to an EB-3 role.
Dual intent allows visa holders to pursue permanent residency while on a temporary visa without violating terms. This small but meaningful change will make it easier for international students moving into EB-3 pathways to legally travel, work, and adjust their status without bureaucratic entanglement.
How To Use the Dignity Act as an EB-3 Other Worker
If you’re an EB-3 applicant in the Other Workers category, here’s how you can engage with the Dignity Act based on what’s outlined in the bill:
1. Review Section 3301
This section confirms that spouses and minor children will no longer be counted against the annual employment-based visa quota. This change doesn’t affect the process for dependents , they’ll still be processed at the same time but it changes how they are counted, which could triple the number of visas available to actual workers and significantly reduce backlogs.
2. Check Section 3305
This part of the bill outlines major funding increases to the three agencies involved in EB-3 processing:
- The Department of Labor (for prevailing wage and PERM)
- USCIS (for I-140 processing and adjustment of status)
- The State Department (for consular processing)
It also includes the creation of a coordinator role to oversee and streamline workflow across these agencies, something that currently doesn’t exist.
3. Understand the Impact of Section 3304
Section 3304 updates student visa rules by allowing dual intent for F-1 students and their dependents. For EB-3 applicants who came to the U.S. as students, this change makes it easier to travel while having immigrant intent, especially after an I-140 is filed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Will my family still be able to immigrate with me if they are not counted in the visa cap?
A: Yes, your spouse and minor children will still go through the full immigration process and receive visas if eligible. The change only affects how they are counted toward the visa cap, not their eligibility or processing.
Q: Is the Dignity Act already law?
A: No, as of now, it is still a proposed bill in Congress. It must pass both the House and Senate and be signed by the President to become law.
Q: How soon would the visa bulletin change if the Dignity Act passes?
A: Experts estimate that the impact on the visa bulletin could be seen within a few months after the bill is enacted, as the new counting method is implemented and backlogs start to clear.
Final Thoughts
For EB-3 visa holders in the Other Workers category, the Dignity Act of 2025 could be a game-changer. By adjusting how dependents are counted, massively increasing agency funding, and streamlining processing through a new coordinator, the bill proposes real solutions to long-standing immigration challenges.
While the Dignity Act still has legislative hurdles to clear, its focus on legal immigration reform offers hope to thousands of workers and families striving for stability and opportunity in the United States. If passed, it may mark one of the most significant shifts in employment-based immigration policy in decades.
Stay informed and be ready to act when the time comes.
Also read: How the Dignity Act Could End EB-3 Retrogression
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