What Is the Difference Between EB-3 Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers?
By Pinal Dave Last updated: 2026-08-01
TL;DR: EB-3 splits into three sub-groups: skilled workers (jobs requiring at least 2 years of training or experience), professionals (jobs requiring at least a U.S. bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent), and "other workers" (unskilled labor requiring less than 2 years of training or experience). All three require an approved PERM labor certification and an employer sponsor, but "other workers" is capped at a much smaller share of annual visa numbers and historically moves far more slowly on the Visa Bulletin.
The Three EB-3 Sub-Categories
| Sub-category | Minimum requirement | Typical roles |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled workers | At least 2 years of job experience or training | Skilled trades, technicians, experienced non-degree roles |
| Professionals | U.S. bachelor's degree (or foreign equivalent) required for the job | Accountants, engineers without EB-2-level requirements, teachers |
| Other workers | Less than 2 years of experience or training | Unskilled or entry-level labor roles |
All three share the same overall EB-3 preference category and the same general process — employer-sponsored PERM labor certification followed by an I-140 petition — but they are allocated visa numbers differently within EB-3's total annual limit, with "other workers" subject to a smaller statutory carve-out.
Why "Other Workers" Moves So Slowly
The INA sets aside a smaller portion of the EB-3 annual allocation specifically for "other workers," while skilled workers and professionals share the larger remaining portion. Combined with historically high demand relative to that smaller allocation, this is why the "other workers" priority date on the Visa Bulletin has often lagged years behind the skilled worker/professional line for the same country.
How EB-3 Relates to EB-2
EB-2 (advanced degree or exceptional ability) generally requires a job that itself calls for a master's degree or higher (or a bachelor's plus 5 years of progressive experience, or documented exceptional ability). Many roles that qualify for EB-3 professional or skilled worker classification do not meet EB-2's job requirement, which is why EB-3 exists as a distinct, separate route rather than a fallback tier of EB-2.
Step-by-Step: The EB-3 Process
- Employer determines the correct sub-category based on the actual job requirements (experience/training level or degree requirement), not the worker's own qualifications alone — the job itself must call for that level.
- Employer obtains a prevailing wage determination from the Department of Labor for the specific occupation and location.
- Employer conducts PERM recruitment to test the U.S. labor market, following DOL-prescribed recruitment steps, then files Form ETA-9089.
- Employer files Form I-140 once PERM is certified, selecting the correct EB-3 sub-category (skilled worker, professional, or other worker) on the petition.
- Applicant tracks the Visa Bulletin for the relevant sub-category (skilled worker/professional share one line; other workers often has a separate, slower line) and country of chargeability, then files I-485 or completes consular processing once current.
FAQ
Can a job be filed as EB-3 professional if it only requires an associate's degree? Generally no. EB-3 professional status requires a job that calls for at least a U.S. bachelor's degree or its foreign equivalent as the minimum entry requirement.
Is it better to file as EB-3 skilled worker or professional if a role could qualify for either? Skilled worker and professional visa numbers are generally counted together against the same larger EB-3 allocation, so there is typically no Visa Bulletin speed advantage between those two specifically — the classification should simply match the job's actual minimum requirements. "Other workers" is the sub-category with the distinct, smaller allocation.
Can someone with a master's degree be sponsored under EB-3 instead of EB-2? Yes, if the specific job itself only requires a bachelor's degree, the case can be filed as EB-3 even if the individual happens to hold a higher degree, and this can sometimes be a strategic choice depending on Visa Bulletin movement.
Does "other workers" require PERM just like the other EB-3 sub-categories? Yes. All EB-3 sub-categories, including other workers, require a certified PERM labor certification before the I-140 can be filed.
Can an EB-3 case later be upgraded to EB-2? There is no formal "upgrade" of an existing case, but an employer can file a new PERM and I-140 for a role that genuinely requires EB-2-level qualifications, and in some scenarios the original priority date can be retained on the new I-140.
Why do EB-3 "other workers" cases sometimes wait many years longer than skilled worker or professional cases for the same country? Because "other workers" draws from a smaller portion of the annual EB-3 allocation relative to historical demand, its priority date has often moved much more slowly, particularly for high-demand countries.