Live and work in the U.S with a route to citizenship
The United States of America (U.S.) spans 50 states across most of North America, making it the third-largest nation in the world by land area. It stands as a global powerhouse — not only in geography but also in economics, innovation, and influence.
Home to one of the most advanced and mature financial systems, the U.S. leads the world with a GDP exceeding $20 trillion, representing the largest consumer market on the planet. This thriving economic landscape attracts investors, entrepreneurs, and professionals from every corner of the globe.
Often referred to as the “Land of Opportunity,” the U.S. embodies the ideals of ambition, progress, and prosperity, offering individuals the chance to build careers, businesses, and lives in one of the most diverse and forward-looking societies in the world.
The EB-3 Visa is an employment-based immigrant visa that grants eligible foreign nationals the right to live and work in the United States as permanent residents. It is part of the five-tiered U.S. employment-based immigration system and represents the third preference category (EB-3).
This pathway is open to individuals who qualify under one of three professional designations recognised by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS):
Skilled Workers – Applicants with a minimum of two years’ experience in their area of specialisation.
Professionals – Individuals with advanced degrees or credentials requiring professional licensing.
Unskilled or Other Workers – Those capable of performing non-seasonal roles where there are no qualified U.S. workers available.
Unlike many investor residency schemes, the EB-3 is employment-driven, offering permanent U.S. residency through verified job placement rather than direct capital investment.
While the EB-3 Visa is sometimes grouped with “residency by investment” programmes, it operates differently — there is no mandatory financial investment in property, business, or funds.
Instead, applicants contribute a fixed programme cost of $45,000 for the principal applicant, covering all U.S. government filing and immigrant visa fees. Additional dependents can be included for $3,000 per person. Eligible family members include a spouse and children under 21 years old.
Should the application not proceed successfully, all payments (excluding processing fees) are fully refundable, ensuring financial transparency and protection for participants.
Recipients of the EB-3 Visa are issued a U.S. Green Card, granting them permanent residency with the freedom to live, work, and travel throughout the country. Green Card holders may relocate freely across state lines, take employment with minimal restriction, and enter or exit the U.S. without a separate visa.
The visa also extends its privileges to immediate family members, allowing the principal applicant’s spouse and unmarried children under 21 to obtain residency alongside them.
Compared with other residency routes, the EB-3 offers simpler eligibility requirements, as applicants only need a valid, full-time job offer (non-seasonal) from a U.S. employer to qualify. Once granted, the Green Card remains valid for ten years and can be renewed indefinitely, paving the way for long-term stability and, ultimately, U.S. citizenship.
Those eligible to apply for the EB-3 Visa must meet specific requirements. These include:
You must be a citizen of a country that is eligible for the EB-3 visa program
You must have a job offer from a sponsoring employer in the United States
You must meet the minimum education and experience requirements for the job you are applying for
You must pass a medical examination and criminal background check
The principal applicant can include their spouse and any children under the age of 21 in their application. The cost for each additional applicant is $3,000.
While the EB-3 Visa does not grant U.S. citizenship directly, it does provide a route to securing citizenship through naturalisation. To apply for U.S. citizenship, applicants must fulfil the following requirements:
Be at least 18 years old
Held their EB-3 Visa for at least five years
While both types of visa grant permanent U.S. residency, there are some differences between the two. The main difference is that the EB-5 Visa is based on making a qualifying investment. The EB-3 Visa is dependent on the applicant having employment in the U.S.