EB-3 Categories: Professional, Skilled, Other Workers
EB-3 has three tracks: professionals (degree), skilled workers (2+ years) and Other Workers (under 2 years). The job's minimum requirements decide your track and your wait.
Short answer: EB-3 has three tracks: (1) professionals, where the job requires a bachelor's degree and you have one; (2) skilled workers, requiring at least 2 years of training or experience; and (3) Other Workers, requiring less than 2 years. All generally need a U.S. employer and labor certification (PERM), except Schedule A occupations such as registered nurses. Your track follows from the job's minimum requirements, not from the track you would like.
How do the three categories differ?
| Category | Typical requirement | Typical wait |
| Professionals / skilled workers | Bachelor's degree required by the job; or at least 2 years of training or experience | November 2026 final action date: 15 June 2024 for most countries (mainland China 22 January 2022, India 22 January 2014, Philippines 15 August 2023); Other Workers is a separate, earlier row |
| Other Workers | Job requires less than 2 years of experience; permanent and full-time | Usually longer; final action date 1 January 2022 in the October 2026 bulletin and 1 June 2022 in November 2026 |
The dates above are the "most countries" dates, which also apply to applicants born in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; mainland China, India and the Philippines, for example, have different dates. Other Workers is a separate row with an earlier final action date (1 June 2022 versus 15 June 2024). Dates change every month, so confirm on the State Department Visa Bulletin.
What the job's minimum requirements say matters more than holding a "higher" degree: if the job requires only a high school diploma, a master's degree does not move the case into the professional category. For the Other Workers definition and eligibility, see who qualifies as an Other Worker; for the 2-year rule, see EB-3 skilled workers.
Why is "I have a degree" not enough?
Immigration law looks at whether the job requires that education and whether you meet it. The minimum requirements must reflect the employer's genuine needs; they cannot be tailored to a worker or a category, and the classification follows from them. The employer and its attorney of record fix the real minimums before PERM starts (20 CFR 656.17). If a job genuinely requires a degree, a degree holder may also look at EB-2, but that depends on the job's requirements rather than personal preference.
Which category fits applicants from Taiwan and Hong Kong?
Taiwan and Hong Kong share the "all other countries" dates with most countries. This site mainly serves EB-3 Other Workers: jobs requiring less than 2 years of experience, permanent and full-time, with the employer paying all PERM and labor certification costs (20 CFR 656.12) and no charge to the worker. If your background fits a position, see jobs and the process. Schedule A occupations such as nursing do not need PERM recruitment; see Schedule A nurses and healthcare.
What does Global Immigrate recommend?
Establish the job's real minimum requirements first, compare them with your education and experience second, and only then look at the wait. Other Workers cases usually wait longer; understand that risk in writing before you commit. For the labor certification steps, see how PERM works.
Last updated: 30 October 2026
Questions? admin@usa-eb3.com, WhatsApp +852 6888 4742, LINE oscar_gi.
Frequently asked questions
Do all three EB-3 categories need PERM?
Generally yes, except Schedule A occupations such as registered nurses, which do not need PERM recruitment.
If I have a bachelor's degree, am I automatically a professional?
No. It depends on whether the job requires a bachelor's degree and whether you meet it. The job's minimum requirements decide the classification.
What is the main difference between Other Workers and skilled workers?
Other Workers jobs require less than 2 years of experience, while skilled worker jobs require at least 2 years. The waits usually differ as well.
Which date counts for my place in line?
For PERM-based cases the priority date is the PERM (ETA-9089) filing date, not the approval date.
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.