EB-3 Visas in Los Angeles

Attorney-Led EB-3 Guidance from Sponsorship Through Certification

EB-3 sponsorship involves more than confirming that an employer has a permanent position available. Employers and prospective workers must identify the appropriate classification, complete the required PERM steps, and account for priority-date availability before permanent residence can be approved.

Arnaout Immigration Law Firm guides Los Angeles employers and foreign workers through this process. We’ve focused on immigration law since 2015, representing individuals and families in employment-based immigration and green card matters. A licensed attorney manages every PERM case from the prevailing wage request through certification.

Discuss EB-3 sponsorship with our firm. Call (818) 276-9900 to arrange a case assessment.

Who Qualifies for an EB-3 Green Card?

EB-3 is the third-preference category for skilled workers, professionals, and other workers. Each classification generally requires a permanent, full-time job offer from a U.S. employer, but the position’s requirements and the worker’s qualifications determine which category may apply.

The three EB-3 classifications are:

• Skilled Workers: The position requires at least two years of training or experience, and qualified workers aren’t available for the job.
• Professionals: The occupation normally requires at least a baccalaureate degree or its foreign equivalent. Education and experience can’t be combined as a substitute for the required degree.
• Other Workers: The worker performs permanent, nonseasonal labor requiring less than two years of training or experience.

EB-2 and EB-3 classifications have different qualification standards. EB-2 can cover advanced-degree positions and jobs requiring a bachelor’s degree plus five years of progressive experience. EB-3 includes professional and skilled-worker positions with different requirements. We review the offered position and prospective employee’s background before advising on classification.

The PERM Process for EB-3 Visas in Los Angeles

Most EB-3 cases require PERM Labor Certification, the Department of Labor process for assessing the offered position and the availability of qualified workers. The sponsoring employer must participate throughout the process and meet the applicable recruitment and filing requirements.

Our PERM process includes:

• Prevailing Wage Determination: We prepare the request using Form ETA-9141 so the Department of Labor can determine the required wage for the position.
• Recruitment Campaign: The employer conducts the required recruitment, followed by a quiet period before the application is filed.
• Labor Certification Filing: We prepare Form ETA-9089 for submission to the Department of Labor.
• Petition Deadline: Once PERM is certified, the employer has 180 days to file Form I-140 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Schedule A occupations follow a different path because standard PERM recruitment isn’t required. Professional nurses and physical therapists are among the occupations covered by Schedule A. We assess the position to determine whether the standard process or a Schedule A procedure applies.

EB-3 Processing Times & Priority Dates

No single processing period applies to every EB-3 case. The overall timeline depends on the Prevailing Wage Determination, recruitment, PERM adjudication, immigrant petition processing, and the availability of an immigrant visa number. Agency workloads and case-specific issues can affect several stages.

A priority date establishes an applicant’s place in line for visa availability. Whether the case can move forward depends on the applicable Visa Bulletin category and country of chargeability, which is the country assigned to the applicant for immigrant visa quota purposes.

For the November 2026 Visa Bulletin, the EB-3 Skilled Workers and Professionals Final Action Date for All Other Countries is June 15, 2024. The listed date is January 22, 2014, for India and January 22, 2022, for China. These dates apply only to that bulletin and can advance, remain unchanged, or move backward in later months.

Other Workers are subject to a separate annual numerical limit within the EB-3 category. Because classification and visa availability both affect timing, we consider the offered position, the worker’s country of chargeability, and the relevant bulletin when discussing the path forward.

Planning for the Sponsored Worker’s Family

Sponsorship planning may involve the worker as well as family members. Each person’s circumstances and immigration history require individual review, so we don’t assume that one strategy will address every family member’s needs.

We provide immigration guidance in English, Spanish, Tagalog, Cebuano, and Arabic. Our Family Center accommodates parents and children during legal appointments, making it easier for families to participate in important discussions about a green card case.

PERM Costs & Employer Responsibilities

There’s no government filing fee for Form ETA-9089. The sponsoring employer bears the recruitment and filing costs associated with the PERM stage. We offer flat rates and flexible payment options for PERM filings.

Additional costs can arise during the immigrant petition and permanent-residence stages. Before beginning, employers and workers should clarify which services are included at each stage and who’s responsible for the related expenses. We explain the scope of our representation and the covered steps before work begins.

Discuss an EB-3 Sponsorship Strategy

We provide personalized, hands-on representation for employers and prospective workers considering EB-3 visas in Los Angeles. Clients work directly with a devoted attorney who reviews the position, the worker’s qualifications, PERM requirements, and priority-date considerations.

Our contact form provides another way to request an assessment of a proposed sponsorship. We can identify issues requiring attention and explain the relevant stages.

Call (818) 276-9900 to speak with Arnaout Immigration Law Firm about an EB-3 case.