EB-3 Process 2026: PERM, I-140 to Green Card Timeline

Short answer: EB-3 is not a self-petition. A U.S. employer must complete the prevailing wage determination, recruitment and PERM, then file I-140. The priority date is the date the PERM was filed with the Department of Labor (once the I-140 is approved). After that you wait for the final action date to reach it, then, if you are abroad, go through NVC and a consular interview. The total is measured in years and nobody can guarantee a timeline.

What are the EB-3 stages?

1. Prevailing wage determination: the employer requests a prevailing wage determination from the Department of Labor, usually one of the longest early waits. See EB-3 prevailing wage.

2. Recruitment and PERM: the employer recruits as required to show no qualified U.S. workers are available, then files PERM (Form ETA-9089) with the Department of Labor. The priority date is the PERM filing date, not the approval date.

3. I-140: the employer proves to USCIS that you meet the job requirements. I-140 premium processing is available and currently runs 15 business days for most I-140s; see I-140 premium processing.

4. Visa wait: check the monthly Visa Bulletin, where worldwide, China, India, Mexico and the Philippines are listed separately.

5. Green card: applicants in the U.S. who qualify may file I-485. Applicants abroad go through NVC (fees and documents) and a consular interview, and complete the I-693 medical exam.

What affects "how long"?

Where do Taiwan and Hong Kong stand?

EB-3 Other Workers has a cutoff date for every country. In the October 2026 Visa Bulletin the final action date for Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau is January 1, 2022 (Dates for Filing June 1, 2022), and for mainland China October 1, 2019. The November 2026 bulletin moves most countries to June 1, 2022. Your priority date must be earlier than the final action date (or the Dates for Filing date if USCIS allows that chart). Applicants in Taiwan or Hong Kong can complete the whole process from abroad without first holding an H-1B.

Practical reminders for applicants

Confirm the employer will sponsor and, as the law requires, pay all PERM costs, which cannot be charged to you. The job description, ads and your résumé must align. Stay in contact with the employer during the wait so the job does not disappear; see what if the employer withdraws. If you have children approaching 21, ask an attorney about CSPA (a child's age is calculated using the priority date and visa availability). Expired medicals or police certificates can cause delays. For a stage-by-stage view of timing, see the EB-3 timeline from recruitment to green card.

Last updated: 30 October 2026

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Frequently asked questions

What is my EB-3 priority date?

For PERM-based cases, it is the date the PERM (ETA-9089) was filed with the Department of Labor, not the approval date. The I-140 must ultimately be approved.

How long does PERM take?

The prevailing wage determination often takes several months, and PERM adjudication has recently run a year or more. Check the DOL FLAG processing times page.

Can I-140 be expedited?

Yes, by filing Form I-907. USCIS currently counts 15 business days for most I-140s; follow the USCIS page.

How do I get the green card from Taiwan?

Most applicants go through NVC and a consular interview and complete the I-693 medical exam. You do not need to be in the U.S. first.

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.