Marriage Green Card

Your path to lawful permanent residence in the United States starts with one step.
Use your professional experience to obtain a Green Card through a qualified job offer.

USTAY Immigration – Planning, responsibility, and trust for your U.S. journey.

USTAY is an immigration consultancy based in Washington, D.C., created to bring clarity, rigor, and legal security to U.S. immigration processes.

With 3,000+ clients served and a 98% approval rate, our team of 30+ specialized professionals ensures a responsible, transparent process with real, end-to-end support.

TESTIMONIALS

Maria J. EB-3 Household approval – Texas
USTAY was transparent from start to finish. I live in the U.S. today with my Green Card and highly recommend them.
Maria J. EB-3 Household approval – Texas
USTAY was transparent from start to finish. I live in the U.S. today with my Green Card and highly recommend them.
Maria J. EB-3 Household approval – Texas
USTAY was transparent from start to finish. I live in the U.S. today with my Green Card and highly recommend them.

Learn more about Ustay

WHAT WE OFFER

(end-to-end with USTAY)

Personalized strategic consultation

Full end-to-end guidance, with WhatsApp support and scheduled meetings

EB-3-dedicated team

Preparation and filing of the key stages/forms:

CLIENT JOURNEY

faq

What you need to know before taking the next step

EB-3 is an employment-based immigrant category tied to a permanent, full-time job offer sponsored by a U.S. employer that can lead to a Green Card (lawful permanent residence).

It has three subcategories:

  • Professional: requires a bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent).
  • Skilled Workers: requires at least 2 years of experience or training.
  • Unskilled (Other Workers): permanent roles that require less than 2 years of experience.

Yes. The EB-3 process allows the principal beneficiary to include immediate dependents, provided they meet U.S. immigration criteria.

Who qualifies as a dependent?

  • Spouse
  • Unmarried children under 21 at the time the Green Card is adjudicated

Attention to children’s age

To qualify as a derivative child under EB-3, the son/daughter must:

  • Be unmarried; and
  • Be under 21 at the moment of Green Card approval (adjudication).

If the child turns 21 before approval, they may lose eligibility to receive the Green Card as a derivative — commonly referred to as “age-out.”

After receiving a full-time job offer in the United States, the sponsoring employer must begin the process with the Department of Labor (DOL).

Stage 1 – Labor Certification (PERM)

The employer must obtain DOL certification demonstrating that:

  • There are no U.S. workers available, qualified, or willing to take the position; and
  • Hiring a foreign worker will not negatively affect the wages and working conditions of U.S. workers.

Stage 2 – I-140 Petition

Once certification is approved, the employer files the I-140 with USCIS, proving:

  • The candidate meets the criteria of the EB-3 subcategory (Professional, Skilled, or Unskilled); and
  • The company has the financial ability to pay the offered wage.

Stage 3 – Applicant’s filing

After I-140 approval and once the priority date is current per the Visa Bulletin, the applicant proceeds to the final step:

  • Outside the U.S.: complete Consular Processing at the U.S. consulate in the country of residence.
  • Lawfully inside the U.S.: file for Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) to become a permanent resident without leaving the country.

What are the requirements?

In addition to the job offer, labor certification, I-140 filing, and financial ability, the applicant’s qualification depends on the EB-3 subcategory:

  • EB-3 Professional

    Requires a bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent in a field related to the offered position.

  • EB-3 Skilled Worker

    Requires at least 2 years of proven experience or formal training directly related to the role.

  • EB-3 Unskilled Worker

    For permanent positions requiring less than 2 years of experience.

    The applicant must demonstrate the ability to perform the job, even without advanced prior qualifications.

For the EB-3 immigration process, the cost structure is divided into two main categories: professional fees and government/process fees.

  • Professional fees: US$ 12,500.00
  • Newspaper Advertisement: US$ 250 – US$ 1,000. Mandatory newspaper advertisement, with cost varying by region and publication.
  • Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker: US$ 715 (Form I-140).
  • Application to Adjust Status: US$ 1,440 (Form I-485).
  • Work Authorization: US$ 260 (Form I-765).
  • Travel Authorization: US$ 630 (Form I-131), optional.
  • Medical exam: US$ 200 – US$ 500. Mandatory medical exam, with cost varying by region.
  • Document translation: Approximately US$ 500. The cost may vary depending on the number and type of documents.

These fees are not paid all at once, but are distributed throughout the different stages of the process as each phase begins. They include both fixed fees set by the U.S. government and variable costs depending on the region and the specific characteristics of each case.

The main differences involve processing priority and qualification requirements.

EB-2 is aimed at professionals with advanced education (e.g., master’s or higher) and professional skills in their field. It includes the NIW (National Interest Waiver) subcategory, which can waive the job offer if the applicant proves the proposed work is of national interest to the U.S.

EB-3 targets professionals with varying levels of experience, divided into:

  • Professionals: bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) plus a valid job offer;
  • Skilled Workers: at least two years of experience or training;
  • Unskilled Workers: capable of performing permanent duties that do not require more than two years of experience.

Timeframes depend on the EB-3 subcategory:

  • Professional: 18–24 months
  • Skilled: 2–3 years
  • Unskilled: 4–5 years

These are averages. Cases may be shorter or longer due to external circumstances. Factors such as consulate closures and limits on visa issuance in recent years can affect overall timeline

Yes. You can proceed through Consular Processing at the U.S. consulate in your country of residence.

FORM

Fill out the free eligibility form.

Our team will seriously evaluate your profile and, if it is
viable, you will receive a structured proposal with
transparency and responsibility.

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