US migration under EB-3 is a choice attracting growing interest from Vietnamese workers, thanks to a lower entry bar than other employment-based categories. This article walks through the entire pathway, from the initial requirements to the whole family holding a Green Card, along with the practical notes you need to know before starting.
This is not an absolutely fast or cheap pathway, but it is a clear and viable one for people with a trade. Understanding it correctly helps you avoid the wrong expectations and prepare better for a major decision for your whole family.
Who is US migration under EB-3 suited for
This category is aimed at three groups: skilled workers, professionals, and other workers. What they have in common is that all need a US employer to sponsor a permanent, full-time position.
The best-fit group is usually someone with a specific trade but no college degree, or a general laborer wanting a stable migration pathway. People with large capital usually consider the investment category, while people of outstanding ability consider a higher-preference category. US migration under EB-3 sits in the most realistic middle ground for the majority of Vietnamese workers.
Theo U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), applicants cannot self-petition and must have a job offer from an employer. This is the core feature that distinguishes this category from self-sponsored ones.
The three subgroups within EB-3
Understanding the three subgroups helps you determine your correct position from the start, since each group has different requirements and wait times.
- Skilled Workers: is for jobs requiring at least two years of training or experience. Typical examples are welders, electricians, chefs and technicians — trades with clear skills that do not require a college degree.
- Professionals: is for people with at least a bachelor’s degree, working in a job that requires that exact level. Vietnamese degrees need to be evaluated as equivalent to the US standard.
- Other Workers (EB-3 Other Workers): is for jobs requiring less than two years of training, such as caregivers, kitchen assistants and packers. This group has the lowest entry bar but a tight quota, so wait times tend to be longer.
Identifying the wrong subgroup can delay a case or require it to be redone. You should carefully compare the actual nature of the job against each group’s requirements before filing.
Requirements for US migration under EB-3
The most important requirement is a genuine, full-time, permanent job offer from a US employer. That position must reflect a real business need, not one created solely to sponsor someone.
In addition, you need to prove you are qualified for the sponsored position — through work experience, education or relevant certification. For the skilled workers group, experience in Vietnam usually needs to be verified through a reference letter from a former employer and related documents.
English requirements are not as strict as many other categories, especially for the other workers group. Still, basic communication ability is very useful for work and life after arrival. A clean background record and passing the immigration medical exam are two mandatory requirements for every applicant.
The five stages of the EB-3 pathway
This category’s pathway can be divided into five consecutive stages, each with its own role and processing time.
- Determine the Prevailing Wage: the US Department of Labor sets the minimum wage for the position, ensuring it is not below the local market rate for the same job.
- PERM Labor Certification: the employer runs a test recruitment to prove no qualified US worker is available, then files with the Department of Labor.
- File Form I-140 petition: after obtaining PERM, the employer files Form I-140 with USCIS to confirm the position and the ability to pay the wage.
- Wait for the Priority Date: the applicant tracks the monthly Visa Bulletin until their case’s turn comes up.
- Apply for the Green Card: file Form I-485 to adjust status if already in the US, or process through consular processing with a DS-260 application if still in Vietnam.
Each stage can be delayed by backlogs at the relevant agencies. Knowing the sequence clearly helps you understand where you stand in the overall journey and prepare documents in time for the next step.
The PERM step and the role of the Department of Labor
PERM is the foundational step, managed by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) . The goal of this step is to protect the domestic labor market: the employer must advertise the position and prove no qualified American worker was found for it.
This is also the stage most prone to delays, since it depends on processing speed and the test recruitment process. Any mistake during this process can lead to an audit or denial, forcing the employer to start over.
That is why the professionalism and experience of whoever prepares the case at the PERM stage has a major impact on both the timeline and the overall success rate of the pathway.
The role of the sponsoring employer
The employer is at the center of the EB-3 category. They must not only create the position but also prove the financial ability to pay the committed wage, usually through tax and business financial records.
A reputable employer, operating stably and with a genuine staffing need, will make the case much stronger. Conversely, a sponsored position lacking substance is a major risk that can get the case denied at a later stage.
Therefore, thoroughly vetting the employer before committing is one of the most important decisions. You should look closely into the business’s industry, scale and sponsorship history.
Time and cost to prepare
The entire pathway usually takes 1.5 to 4 years, sometimes longer for the other workers group due to the tight quota. The wait for the priority date is the hardest factor to predict, since it depends on global visa demand and each year’s backlog.
Financially, you need to account for government fees, attorney fees, the employer’s test recruitment costs, along with translation, medical exam and travel expenses. These costs arise at different points in time, so they should be budgeted for by stage.
For an up-to-date reference figure for each item, you can check our migration cost table or use the cost calculator . Planning your finances early helps you avoid being caught off guard along the way.
Key risks and notes
The biggest risk is a case backlog that pushes back the priority date, extending the wait beyond expectations. This is an objective factor no individual can control, so you need to prepare mentally for a long journey.
The second risk comes from the employer itself: a business running into financial trouble or withdrawing the job offer can affect the case. So choosing a trustworthy sponsoring party from the start is critical.
Finally, you should be wary of promises that guarantee approval or unrealistically shorten the timeline. No party can guarantee outcomes; a transparent, lawful process is the only sustainable foundation.
Benefits for the whole family
A major advantage of this category is that the entire family can settle together. The spouse and unmarried children under 21 receive Green Cards derived from the principal applicant’s petition.
After arriving in the US, dependents can study, work and enjoy the same rights as permanent residents as the sponsor. Children are admitted into the public school system, while the spouse can apply for a work permit to work legally.
After meeting the residency period requirement, the whole family can apply for naturalization to become US citizens. This is the ultimate destination that most families aim for when choosing the EB-3 immigration path to the US.
Summary and next steps
EB-3 immigration to the US is a long but clear journey, well suited to people with a trade and patience. Understanding the five stages correctly, preparing finances early and choosing a trustworthy employer are the three decisive factors.
You should start by identifying which subcategory you belong to, then look closely into the step-by-step EB-3 process to picture the full roadmap. Thorough preparation from the outset will save a great deal of time and effort later on.
References
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) – https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/permanent-workers/employment-based-immigration-third-preference-eb-3
- U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) – https://flag.dol.gov/programs/perm
Read more: Overview of the EB-3 visa for US immigration · EB-3 Pros and Cons: Benefits and Limitations to Weigh Carefully
