For many foreign nationals who want to live and work permanently in the United States, the EB-3 visa offers one of the most accessible employment-based immigration paths. This visa category allows both skilled and unskilled workers to obtain permanent residency through employer sponsorship.
The EB-3 Visa Bulletin for Other Workers is one of the most important tools applicants must understand during the process. It determines when applicants can move forward with their green card application based on their priority date.
Every month, the U.S. Department of State releases the Visa Bulletin, which shows which applicants can proceed to the final stages of their immigration process.
Understanding how the EB-3 Visa Bulletin works can help applicants avoid confusion, reduce delays, and better prepare for the steps that lead to permanent residency in the United States.
What Is the EB-3 Visa Category?
The EB-3 visa is the third preference employment-based immigrant visa category in the United States. It allows U.S. employers to sponsor foreign workers for permanent employment when they cannot find enough qualified U.S. workers.
According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the EB-3 category includes three subgroups:
Skilled Workers
These jobs require at least two years of training or experience.
Professionals
These positions require at least a bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent.
Other Workers (Unskilled Workers)
These jobs require less than two years of training or experience.
The Other Workers category is especially important for industries facing labor shortages such as hospitality, food service, caregiving, agriculture, manufacturing, and cleaning services.
Why the EB-3 Visa Bulletin Matters
The EB-3 Visa Bulletin for Other Workers controls when applicants can receive their green card. Even after an employer completes the early steps of the immigration process, applicants must wait until their priority date becomes current.
The priority date is usually the date when the employer files the PERM Labor Certification with the U.S. Department of Labor.
The Visa Bulletin shows a cutoff date for each visa category and country. If your priority date is earlier than the listed cutoff date, you can move forward with your green card application.
If your priority date is later than the cutoff date, you must wait until the bulletin advances.
This system works like a waiting line, ensuring employment-based green cards are issued fairly according to U.S. immigration law.
Latest EB-3 Visa Statistics and Visa Limits
Each year the U.S. government limits the number of employment-based immigrant visas available. The worldwide employment-based visa cap is approximately 140,000 visas annually.
The EB-3 category receives about 28.6% of the total employment-based visa allocation according to U.S. immigration law.
Labor shortages in the United States continue to increase demand for foreign workers. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, there are millions of open jobs in the U.S. with not enough available workers to fill them.
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also shows strong demand in service, hospitality, and labor-intensive industries.
These shortages are one of the key reasons many U.S. employers rely on the EB-3 visa program to hire foreign workers.
Understanding Priority Dates in the EB-3 Visa Bulletin
Your priority date determines your position in the green card waiting line.
When your employer files the PERM Labor Certification through the Department of Labor’s Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG), that filing date becomes your priority date.
The Visa Bulletin includes two important charts.
Final Action Dates
This chart shows when green cards can actually be approved.
Dates for Filing
This chart indicates when applicants may submit documents for adjustment of status or consular processing.
If your priority date is earlier than the listed date in the Final Action chart, your green card may be approved.
If the chart shows the letter “C,” it means the category is current and there is no waiting line.
Why EB-3 Other Workers Often Have Longer Wait Times
The EB-3 Other Workers category often moves slower than other employment-based categories.
This is because many employers need entry-level workers in industries that experience high turnover. These jobs typically require less training, which means more applicants qualify.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports that industries like hospitality, healthcare support, and food service face some of the highest worker shortages in the country.
Because demand for these workers is high and the number of available visas is limited, waiting times can increase.
Another factor is per-country visa limits. No country can receive more than 7% of the total annual employment-based visas.
This means applicants from countries with high demand may face longer waiting periods.
Retrogression and Forward Movement
Two common terms you will see when following the EB-3 Visa Bulletin are retrogression and forward movement.
Retrogression occurs when the government moves cutoff dates backward because too many visas were used earlier in the fiscal year.
This means applicants who were close to receiving a visa must wait longer.
Forward movement happens when visa demand slows or when unused visas become available.
When that happens, the cutoff dates move forward and more applicants become eligible to proceed.
Visa Bulletin movement often changes throughout the year depending on visa usage and government estimates.
How To Track Your EB-3 Visa Bulletin Status (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Determine Your Priority Date
Your employer will receive a priority date when the PERM Labor Certification is filed.
Step 2: Identify Your Category
Confirm whether you are applying under Skilled Worker, Professional, or Other Workers.
Step 3: Check the Visa Bulletin Each Month
Visit the official Department of State Visa Bulletin page:
Step 4: Compare Your Priority Date
Look at the Final Action Dates chart and compare your priority date to the listed cutoff date.
Step 5: Prepare Your Documents
If your priority date becomes current, gather documents for adjustment of status or consular processing.
Step 6: Complete the Final Green Card Process
Submit Form I-485 if you are in the U.S., or complete consular processing through a U.S. embassy if you are abroad.
Typical EB-3 Visa Processing Timeline
While processing times vary, most EB-3 cases follow a similar timeline.
PERM Labor Certification
The Department of Labor reviews labor certification applications to confirm no qualified U.S. workers are available.
According to current Department of Labor processing data, PERM processing may take over a year depending on workload.
I-140 Petition
The employer files Form I-140 with USCIS to classify the worker under the EB-3 category.
USCIS processing times vary depending on workload and whether premium processing is used.
Visa Bulletin Waiting Period
Applicants must wait until their priority date becomes current.
Final Green Card Processing
Once current, applicants complete adjustment of status or consular processing.
The final stage can take several months depending on USCIS or embassy scheduling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does the EB-3 Visa Bulletin change?
The Visa Bulletin is updated once every month by the U.S. Department of State. Each update shows new cutoff dates that determine whether applicants can proceed with their green card process. Because demand changes throughout the year, the dates may move forward, stay the same, or move backward.
Why do EB-3 Other Worker visas take longer than other categories?
The Other Workers category often has longer waiting times because many industries in the United States need entry-level labor. Since these jobs require less training, a larger number of applicants qualify, which increases demand while visa numbers remain limited.
What happens if my priority date becomes current?
When your priority date becomes current, you can proceed with the final steps of the green card process. This may include filing Form I-485 if you are already in the United States or completing consular processing through a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.
Can EB-3 Visa Bulletin dates move backward?
This situation is called retrogression. It happens when more visas are used than expected during the fiscal year. When retrogression occurs, the government moves cutoff dates backward to control visa issuance.
Where can I check the official EB-3 Visa Bulletin?
You can always check the most recent Visa Bulletin on the U.S. Department of State website. The official page provides updated cutoff dates for all immigrant visa categories.
How long does the EB-3 visa process usually take?
The entire EB-3 process can take several years depending on processing times and visa availability. The labor certification and petition stages may take one to two years, while the waiting period for the Visa Bulletin can vary depending on demand.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the EB-3 Visa Bulletin for Other Workers is essential for anyone pursuing a green card through employment in the United States.
While the process can take time, knowing how priority dates move helps applicants stay prepared and avoid unnecessary delays.
By checking the Visa Bulletin regularly, preparing your documents early, and working with a reliable employer sponsor, you can move forward confidently toward permanent residency in the United States.
