Is EB3 faster than EB2?
EB3 and EB2 visas are within the employment-based categories for foreign nationals. The EB3 Visa is a third-priority worker immigrant visa available to UK nationals who wish to move permanently to the United States. The EB3 immigrant visas require a company to sponsor the Irish citizen as a foreign worker. The EB2 visa and employment-based immigrant visa allow UK citizens who hold an advanced degree to move to the US under permanent residency.
Should you have any questions regarding the EB2 Visa or EB3 visa or immigration services, you can contact our experienced immigration attorney to discuss any concerns you may have with a comfortable attorney-client relationship or just help navigate the process.
You can call us on 0333 305 9375, or contact us online seven days a week via our live chat.
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What are the EB3 and EB2 visas?
The EB2 and EB3 visas are both employment-based immigrant visas which require a US employer to sponsor you. In order to get this visa, there cannot be any other qualified and/or willing American citizens or American permanent residents for the role.
Both these visas are very exciting to applicants because they give you permanent residence status in the United States, also known as a green card. With a green card, green cards, offer you many benefits including:
- The ability to live and work in the United States
- Straightforward entrance and exit to and from the United States
- Ability to sponsor your family for family-based green cards for immigration benefits
- As a permanent resident, you have the ability to obtain U.S. Citizenship
- Ability to study at school in the United States
Both visas have many benefits. But it is important that you understand the differences to determine which visa and green card process will enable you to determine which visa is most appropriate. Determining the correct visa is something that our team at Total Law can support you with.
The EB2 visa
A second-preference employment visa
Available to people with advanced degrees, which are considered are master’s degrees or higher (or the foreign equivalent).
A person with exceptional ability. Exceptional ability is someone with extraordinary ability in their field. This can be proven through awards, work experience, or other evidence.
Open to individuals who will work in the national interest of the United States in roles such as healthcare professionals who will work in under-resourced areas.
Someone with a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in addition to five years of work may also be eligible.
The EB3 Visa
A third-preference employment visa
Open to professionals with bachelor’s degrees or higher (or the foreign equivalent).
Skilled workers with 2 or more years of relevant work experience.
Unskilled workers with less than 2 years of relevant work experience.
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What are the Requirements?
Under both visas, you must hold an offer of employment from a US employer who is able and willing to sponsor you.
Both visa’s employer sponsor must receive an approved perm Labor Certification from the U.S. Department of Labor to highlight they did indeed attempt to hire a qualified U.S. worker, but they were unsuccessful. This process is also referred to as the perm labor certifications.
The one exception to the sponsorship rule is if you apply for the National Interest Waiver category, available under the EB2 visa. The National Interest Waiver is for people that will be working in a specific field that is in the national interest, you may self-petition and you do not require a job offer not an original labor certification.
The EB2 visa category holders must hold advanced degrees, have exceptional ability, or benefit the national interest of the United States. These standards must be shown through past work experience, significant awards, or other evidence. These are relatively high bars to meet, whereas the EB3 visa has less strict requirements meaning that many more people are eligible within the EB3 visa category other than EB2.
Is EB3 faster than EB2?
There’s a significant difference in processing time between the EB2 visa and the EB3 visa.
As discussed, the EB2 visa has stricter requirements than the EB3 visa.
Due to this, the EB2 visa is known for having less of a visa backlog, or a situation where the demand for a particular visa is higher than the available supply of that visa.
Thanks to this, there can be an extended waiting period.
As such, the whole process of applying for an EB3 visa can take anywhere between 1 and 3 years. Your US sponsor could pay for premium processing which gives the application a shorten the processing time.
However, this may be of use if your permit priority date is still not current.
The EB2 visa processing time depends on the time it takes for your priority spot to open up in the Visa Bulletin. On average, the processing time is between 6-9 months.
To obtain a priority date, there is a premium processing service fee.
This priority date service will process your visa application in 15 calendar days.
The priority premium service is not available for applicants who are seeking an EB2 national interest waiver.
If your visa requires a PERM Labor Certification, this may increase the wait to 8 months to 2 years, depending on how your employer conducts their recruitment process and whether they are audited for it.
How Total Law Can Help?
Getting to the United States is an exciting adventure and the green card potential can open many doors for skilled individuals from the UK.
For support with the EB2 and EB3 categories, the best way to go forward is by contacting the Total Law team of qualified immigration lawyers, We are available to support every step of the process, seven days a week, by phone or by online chat on our website.
Advice Package
Get clear, expert advice on your visa options, eligibility and application before you commit to applying.
Application Package
Let our immigration lawyers prepare, check and manage your application so you can apply with confidence.
Fast Track Package
Need to apply quickly? Get priority handling by our immigration lawyers from preparation to submission.
Appeal Package
Been refused or received an unfavourable decision? Get expert legal help to challenge it or determine your next step.
The Advice Package
During this Advice Session, an immigration lawyer will assess your circumstances, explain your options and tell you what you need to do to make a strong application.
We review your circumstances, explain the relevant requirements, identify potential problems or refusal risks, and advise you on the evidence and next steps.
The Application Package
With our Application Package, your dedicated immigration lawyer will assess your case, prepare your application, check your supporting documents and submit your forms on your behalf.
We check your application for missing information, inconsistencies and potential issues before submission, helping you avoid common mistakes that could affect your case.
The Fast Track Package
Our Fast-Track Application Package gives your case priority with our immigration lawyers, helping you get your application prepared, checked and submitted as quickly as possible.
Your case receives priority handling, including accelerated document reviews, application preparation, communication with your caseworker and submission support.
The Appeal Package
Our immigration lawyers will review the decision, explain why it was refused and advise on the strongest option available to you, including an appeal, review or fresh application where appropriate.
We will examine the reasons for refusal, identify weaknesses or errors, assess your available options and provide the legal support and representation your case requires.
Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
The EB2 visa fees are
- Form I-140 processing fee is $715.
- If you want to use the premium processing, you will pay an additional $2,805
- USCIS Immigrant fee: $235
- Form DS-260 filing fee: $325 (if you are undergoing consular processing).
- Form I-864 filing fee: $120
- Form I-485 filing fee varies depending a number of factors. The maximum amount is $1,440, while the minimum is $950.
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