Skilled workers
For positions requiring at least two years of training or experience. You must demonstrate that you meet the position’s requirements.
EMPLOYMENT-BASED IMMIGRATION
EB-3 employment
immigration.
Understand the employer-sponsored route to U.S. permanent residence, and how your qualifications connect to the position.
Request a consultation
The goalU.S. permanent residence
The foundationA qualifying employer & job
The first stepReview your background
UNDERSTANDING EB-3
Three categories.
Different job requirements.
EB-3 generally requires a permanent, full-time job offer and labor certification. Your qualifications must meet the requirements of the offered position.
Professionals
A professional position requiring a U.S. bachelor’s degree or a foreign equivalent degree. Education and experience cannot simply replace the required degree; the position’s requirements also apply.
Other workers
For non-temporary, non-seasonal positions requiring less than two years of training or experience. Each role still has its own requirements.
THE EMPLOYER’S ROLE
Know the employer and the job.
An EB-3 case is tied to a real employer and a specific job.
Before proceeding, review the duties, location, wage, qualifications and employment expectations. Employer sponsorship involves responsibilities throughout the process, including demonstrating the ability to pay the offered wage.
Ask TCSI about current opportunities. Employer availability and case suitability are confirmed individually.
Ask about opportunitiesTHE GENERAL PROCESS
A roadmap for the journey.
Initial consultation & opportunity review
Discuss your education, work history, location preferences and family plans. Review the employer and position, then coordinate a case-specific legal assessment.
Prevailing wage, recruitment & PERM
The employer follows the applicable prevailing wage and recruitment requirements and applies for labor certification.
I-140 immigrant petition
The employer submits the immigrant petition with supporting evidence, including the applicant’s qualifications and the employer’s ability to pay.
Visa processing or adjustment of status
When eligible and a visa is available, the applicant proceeds through a U.S. consulate or adjustment of status in the United States, as applicable.
Employment & settlement preparation
Connect confirmed case developments with the employer’s onboarding plans, travel preparation, housing priorities and your family’s transition. TCSI can help coordinate the practical next steps.
This is a general overview. Individual cases can differ, and government processing or visa backlogs affect timing. No approval or completion date is guaranteed.
UNDERSTAND THE MILESTONESDifferent decisions.
Different decisions.
Different stages.
Knowing what a milestone means helps you plan the next step more realistically.
What does PERM establish?
Labor certification concerns the specific employer and job opportunity. DOL reviews the applicable labor-market requirements; certification itself is not a visa or permission to begin working in the United States.
What is the priority date?
For a case requiring labor certification, the priority date is generally the date DOL receives the labor certification application. Visa availability depends on the category and country of chargeability, which is usually based on birth rather than current residence.
Does I-140 approval mean I can move?
An approved petition is an important stage, but it does not itself give immigration status or work permission. Visa availability and the appropriate immigrant visa or adjustment process still matter. Confirm your next action with counsel before making travel or employment commitments.
HOW TCSI SUPPORTS YOU
A clearer view of your progress.
TCSI helps connect questions and requested information with the relevant parties. Use these four points to make a progress discussion concrete; the agreed service scope determines the support provided.
01Current stage and latest confirmed information
Distinguish preparation, submission, a request for more information and a decision. A useful update identifies the step involved and the date of the information, rather than describing the whole case as simply “in progress.”
02Documents and questions still outstanding
Organize requested documents by the person asking for them and any stated deadline. Counsel determines the legal evidence needed; TCSI helps coordinate the requests and practical follow-up.
03The person responsible for the next action
Clarify whether the next step belongs to you, the employer, counsel or the reviewing authority. When a case is awaiting an external response, distinguish that wait from a task you can complete now.
04Supporting information and changes to the plan
Use available receipt notices, written requests, decisions and information from the responsible parties. Keep individual case updates separate from general processing estimates.
BEFORE YOU PROCEED
Prepare for your first consultation.
Start with your background and goals. We’ll help organize the next information requests.
Your education & training
Highest qualification, field of study, school and completion dates. Note any licenses, certificates or vocational training relevant to the position.
Your work experience
A résumé with employers, job titles, dates and main duties. Specific responsibilities help explain your experience more clearly than a title alone.
Your current circumstances
Citizenship, country of residence and a general summary of any prior U.S. immigration history for the attorney’s review.
Your plans & priorities
Family members who may move with you, location preferences, work expectations and the questions you want to resolve before committing.
UNDERSTAND THE ENGAGEMENTA clear scope before
A clear scope before
you make a commitment.
Amounts and payment schedules depend on the program and agreed support. Review the written proposal using the four categories below.
- Professional services
- Ask who provides coordination and legal representation, which tasks each fee covers, and when payment is due. Confirm any separate engagement with counsel.
- Application and family costs
- List government, medical, translation and courier charges separately. Confirm how accompanying family members affect the total and who receives each payment.
- Travel and settlement
- Keep flights, accommodation, deposits, transport and household setup outside the immigration budget unless expressly included in writing.
- Changes and cancellations
- Request written terms for withdrawals, employer changes, additional requests and refunds. Check the trigger, amount and timing for each payment before signing.
PERM rules restrict an employer from seeking payment for labor certification activities, including specified recruitment and legal costs. Counsel should review the allocation of fees for your case.
Prepare evidence, not just a résumé.
Depending on the position, counsel may request degree records, transcripts, employer letters describing dates and duties, training records and additional supporting evidence. Documents in another language may require a complete English translation with the translator’s certification.
Can my family apply with me?
A spouse and unmarried children under 21 may qualify as derivative applicants. Age-protection rules and individual family circumstances require legal review.
How long does EB-3 take?
The timeline depends on labor certification, petition processing, visa availability and individual circumstances. Premium processing of an eligible petition does not remove visa backlogs or accelerate every stage.
Are employer opportunities always available?
Openings and requirements change. Current employers, locations, job duties, wages and application conditions must be confirmed before proceeding.
What can change during the process?
Recruitment outcomes, a DOL audit, requests for evidence, employer changes, visa-number availability and consular processing can affect a case. Report changes in your work, family or immigration history promptly so counsel can assess the impact.
LET’S BEGIN
Explore your EB-3 options.
Begin with your background, your goals and the questions that matter to you.