EB-3 Unskilled Visa Processing Time (2025): Real Timelines

When it comes to U.S. immigration, the EB-3 “Other Workers” visa—often referred to as the EB-3 unskilled visa—remains one of the most sought-after employment-based pathways. But if you are exploring this option, one of your first questions will naturally be: how long does the EB-3 unskilled visa process actually take in 2025?

The short answer: it is not a quick journey. As of September 2025, most applicants can expect the process to take anywhere from two and a half years to more than four years, depending on where they are from, their employer’s timeline, and the pace of the U.S. immigration system. To understand why it takes this long, it’s important to break down the different steps involved.

Understanding the EB-3 “Other Workers” Visa

The EB-3 visa is divided into three categories: skilled workers, professionals, and “other workers.” This last category, known as EB-3 Other Workers or EB-3 Unskilled, is specifically for jobs that require less than two years of training or experience. Because of a separate annual quota, this category often faces longer wait times compared to the skilled or professional EB-3 streams.

In 2025, demand for this visa continues to outpace the available numbers, which means many applicants are subject to long queues dictated by the Department of State’s monthly Visa Bulletin.

The First Stage: PERM Labor Certification

Every EB-3 case begins with the employer, not the worker. Before filing an immigrant petition, the employer must secure a PERM labor certification from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). This stage involves obtaining a prevailing wage determination, conducting mandatory recruitment to test the U.S. labor market, and then submitting the PERM application.

In 2025, prevailing wage determinations are taking five to eight months, recruitment adds another two to three months, and once filed, PERM applications themselves are taking on average 16 months to be adjudicated. If the case is selected for audit, which happens to a notable percentage of filings, several additional months are added. Realistically, the PERM stage alone can consume a year and a half to over two years of the process.

The Second Stage: The I-140 Petition

Once PERM is approved, the employer files the Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker. This stage confirms the job offer and the worker’s eligibility. The good news is that the I-140 is relatively fast compared to PERM. Regular processing can take about eight months on average, while premium processing—available for most EB-3 petitions—guarantees a decision within 15 business days.

However, it’s important to remember that even if your I-140 is approved quickly, you cannot move forward to the final stage unless your priority date is current in the Visa Bulletin.

The Waiting Game: Visa Bulletin Backlogs

The single biggest factor slowing down EB-3 unskilled visas is the Visa Bulletin. Every month, the U.S. Department of State publishes cutoff dates for each category and country of chargeability. Your case can only move forward once your priority date, usually the date your PERM was filed, becomes earlier than the published cutoff.

As of September 2025, the EB-3 Other Workers Final Action cutoff dates are:

• Most countries (All Chargeability Areas): July 8, 2021
• Mexico: July 8, 2021
• Philippines: July 8, 2021
• China (Mainland-born): May 1, 2017
• India: May 22, 2013

This means that even if your PERM was filed in 2022, 2023, or 2024, your priority date is still not current. You must wait until the Visa Bulletin advances past your filing date before you can complete your case. For many applicants, especially from high-demand countries, this backlog represents years of additional waiting.

The Final Stage: Green Card Approval

Once your priority date is current and your I-140 has been approved, you finally reach the last stage. If you are applying from outside the United States, your case will be transferred to the National Visa Center (NVC), which prepares your file for an immigrant visa interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country. If you are already living in the U.S. in valid status, you may file for Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) with USCIS.

Both processes include medical exams, background checks, and final interviews. Timing at this stage depends on embassy interview availability or USCIS field office workloads. For consular processing, interviews may take a few additional months once the priority date is current, while adjustment of status cases can range from six months to more than a year depending on the field office.

So, How Long Does It All Take?

Looking at all the stages together, here’s the realistic picture for 2025 applicants:

• PERM stage: around 19–25 months on average

• I-140 stage: 15 days with premium processing, or 6–8 months with regular processing

• Visa Bulletin backlog: several years for most, since the cutoff for “all countries” is still stuck at mid-2021

• Final green card approval: a few more months to a year after the date becomes current

Altogether, a brand-new EB-3 Other Workers applicant starting the process in 2025 should be prepared for a journey of at least 2.5 years and more likely 4 years or longer, depending largely on the Visa Bulletin.

What to Watch Moving Forward

One key moment in the immigration calendar is October, which marks the beginning of a new U.S. fiscal year. Each October, new visa numbers are released, and sometimes the Visa Bulletin moves forward significantly. However, in recent years, movement has been cautious and limited. Applicants should monitor the Visa Bulletin each month and adjust expectations accordingly.

It’s also worth noting that immigration timelines are never static. Backlogs can grow or shrink depending on how many applications are filed, how quickly the agencies process cases, and how Congress sets annual limits. For now, patience remains an unavoidable part of the EB-3 unskilled journey.

Final Thoughts

The EB-3 unskilled visa continues to be a vital option for workers around the world who wish to build a future in the United States. But it is not a quick or simple process. The combination of lengthy PERM processing times, I-140 petitions, and visa number retrogression means that waiting is almost guaranteed.

For those considering this path, the best strategy is to start early, we suggest to work with a reliable employer like Pine Visa, and keep track of the Visa Bulletin every month. While the journey may feel long, each step forward is a step closer to permanent residence in the United States.

EB-3 Other Workers FAQs (Updated 2025)