EB-3 Myths: 7 Common Misunderstandings (2026)
Common EB-3 myths: a job offer means a fast green card, paying skips the queue, workers pay PERM, Other Workers needs a degree. The facts are different.
Short answer: The most common EB-3 myths are that a job offer means a fast green card, that paying can move you up the queue, that the worker pays PERM costs, and that Other Workers needs a degree. In fact the wait follows your birthplace dates, the employer must pay PERM costs, and Other Workers needs no degree.
Myth 1: A job offer means I get a green card quickly?
Not necessarily. PERM, I-140 and the birthplace-based wait each take time. A job offer is a starting point, not the finish line.
Myth 2: My passport decides my wait?
No, your country of birth does. In October 2026 the EB-3 Other Workers Final Action Date was 1 January 2022 for people born in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau and 1 October 2019 for mainland China. In November most countries are at 1 June 2022. See How country of birth affects your EB-3 wait.
Myth 3: Paying or premium processing skips the queue?
No. There is no legitimate way to pay for a place in the queue. Premium Processing only speeds up I-140 adjudication; it does not change the priority date, visa availability, the PERM or consular processing. I-140 premium processing is currently counted in business days (15 or 45 business days depending on category), so check USCIS for the latest. See Warning signs in recruiter promises.
Myth 4: The worker has to pay PERM costs?
No. By law the employer must pay the labor certification and PERM costs and may not charge them to you. See Who pays EB-3 costs?.
Myth 5: EB-3 Other Workers requires a degree?
No. Other Workers jobs need less than 2 years of training or experience and no degree. Also, having a degree does not automatically place you in the professional category if the job does not require one.
Myth 6: An approved I-140 is a green card?
No. You must still wait for your priority date to become current and then complete adjustment of status (I-485) or the consular interview.
Myth 7: The whole family always arrives together?
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can generally be derivatives, but a child can "age out" at 21. Under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA), the child's age is calculated as their age on the date a visa becomes available minus the time the I-140 was pending, and the child must seek permanent residence within one year of availability. Ask the employer's attorney to run the calculation and plan against the monthly Visa Bulletin.
Last updated: 30 October 2026
Related reading: How country of birth affects your EB-3 wait; Who pays EB-3 costs?; Warning signs in recruiter promises; The EB-3 process.
Questions? admin@usa-eb3.com, WhatsApp +852 6888 4742, LINE oscar_gi.
Frequently asked questions
Can premium processing shorten my wait?
No. It only speeds up the I-140 decision, not the visa queue.
Someone told me I can pay to move up the queue. Is that true?
No. Treat it as a warning sign.
Who pays PERM costs?
The employer. The worker may not be charged.
Can my child still follow me after turning 21?
It depends on the CSPA calculation. Ask the employer's attorney to assess it early.
Official sources
General information only, not legal advice. Immigration rules and the Visa Bulletin change; check the official sources above before you decide. Petitions are prepared and filed by the sponsoring employer’s licensed U.S. immigration attorney.