EB-1B
VS
EB-3
Type
Green card
Green card
Description
Outstanding Professors and Researchers
Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers
Profiles that typically qualify
Professors, Researchers, Academic scholars, Senior university faculty members
Almost any worker
Requirements
Demonstrate international acclaim in an academic field by meeting at least 2 of 6 required evidence criteria, such as receiving prestigious awards, authoring scholarly books or articles, or contributing original scientific or scholarly research to the field.
You must possess at least 3 years of experience in teaching or research.
You must secure a tenure-track or comparable research position in the U.S. with an employer that meets specific research capabilities.
You must be sponsored by a U.S. university, institution of higher education, or a private employer that employs at least 3 full-time researchers and can document achievements in an academic field.
The U.S. employer must demonstrate the ability to pay your salary.
Must have a job offer and undergo labor certification (PERM), showing no available qualified U.S. workers.
Skilled Workers: Job offer requires at least 2 years of training or experience.
Professionals: Job offer requires a U.S. bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent.
Other Workers: Job offer requiring less than 2 years of training or experience.
Pros
Provides complete flexibility to work, live, and study in the U.S.
No labor certification is required, simplifying the application process.
Offers the fastest pathway to a green card among EB categories.
Lower standard (outstanding recognition) compared to EB-1A (extraordinary ability).
Provides complete flexibility to work, live, and study in the U.S.
Straightforward process with clear requirements.
Highly flexible, applicable to almost any job that aligns with your experience or qualifications based on its minimum requirements.
Cons
Requires sponsorship and a permanent job offer, limiting flexibility.
Only available to candidates with high-level job offers in research or academia.
Rigid requirements apply to both the petitioner and the beneficiary.
The labor certification process (PERM) is lengthy and time-consuming.
Applicants are tied to the employer sponsoring the petition for most of the application process.
Slower processing times compared to other categories, particularly for applicants from certain countries.
Sponsorship
Required
Required
Validity period
Permanent residency
Permanent residency
Renewable
Every 10 years
Every 10 years
Without premium processing
10-18 months1
Three stages, totaling about 36-48 months1
With premium processing
15 business days2
15 business days2
Can spouse work
Yes
Yes
Disclaimers
1Applicants from India, China, or Mexico may experience longer wait times.
2Available for only the first stage of the process.
1Applicants from India, China, or Mexico may experience longer wait times.
2Available for only one stage of the process, with minimal impact on the overall processing time.
Type
EB-1B
Green card
EB-3
Green card
Description
EB-1B
Outstanding Professors and Researchers
EB-3
Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers
Profiles that typically qualify
EB-1B
Professors, Researchers, Academic scholars, Senior university faculty members
EB-3
Almost any worker
Requirements
EB-1B
Demonstrate international acclaim in an academic field by meeting at least 2 of 6 required evidence criteria, such as receiving prestigious awards, authoring scholarly books or articles, or contributing original scientific or scholarly research to the field.
You must possess at least 3 years of experience in teaching or research.
You must secure a tenure-track or comparable research position in the U.S. with an employer that meets specific research capabilities.
You must be sponsored by a U.S. university, institution of higher education, or a private employer that employs at least 3 full-time researchers and can document achievements in an academic field.
The U.S. employer must demonstrate the ability to pay your salary.
EB-3
Must have a job offer and undergo labor certification (PERM), showing no available qualified U.S. workers.
Skilled Workers: Job offer requires at least 2 years of training or experience.
Professionals: Job offer requires a U.S. bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent.
Other Workers: Job offer requiring less than 2 years of training or experience.
Pros
EB-1B
Provides complete flexibility to work, live, and study in the U.S.
No labor certification is required, simplifying the application process.
Offers the fastest pathway to a green card among EB categories.
Lower standard (outstanding recognition) compared to EB-1A (extraordinary ability).
EB-3
Provides complete flexibility to work, live, and study in the U.S.
Straightforward process with clear requirements.
Highly flexible, applicable to almost any job that aligns with your experience or qualifications based on its minimum requirements.
Cons
EB-1B
Requires sponsorship and a permanent job offer, limiting flexibility.
Only available to candidates with high-level job offers in research or academia.
Rigid requirements apply to both the petitioner and the beneficiary.
EB-3
The labor certification process (PERM) is lengthy and time-consuming.
Applicants are tied to the employer sponsoring the petition for most of the application process.
Slower processing times compared to other categories, particularly for applicants from certain countries.
Sponsorship
EB-1B
Required
EB-3
Required
Validity period
EB-1B
Permanent residency
EB-3
Permanent residency
Renewable
EB-1B
Every 10 years
EB-3
Every 10 years
Without premium processing
EB-1B
10-18 months1
EB-3
Three stages, totaling about 36-48 months1
With premium processing
EB-1B
15 business days2
EB-3
15 business days2
Can spouse work
EB-1B
Yes
EB-3
Yes
Disclaimers
EB-1B
1Applicants from India, China, or Mexico may experience longer wait times.
2Available for only the first stage of the process.
EB-3
1Applicants from India, China, or Mexico may experience longer wait times.
2Available for only one stage of the process, with minimal impact on the overall processing time.