EB-3 — Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers
The EB-3 (Employment-Based Third Preference) category provides a pathway to U.S. permanent residency for foreign nationals sponsored by a U.S. employer for a permanent, full-time position. Unlike the EB-1 and EB-2 NIW categories, EB-3 petitions are employer-driven and require an approved PERM Labor Certification from the U.S. Department of Labor in most cases, followed by Form I-140 filing with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
At Stepwise Global Solutions Inc., we provide structured documentation preparation and case-organization support for both employers and beneficiaries pursuing EB-3 petitions. Our role is to ensure that every piece of supporting evidence — credentials, experience records, employer documentation, and supporting letters — is thoroughly organized, accurately presented, and aligned with USCIS adjudication standards.
Who Qualifies Under EB-3
The EB-3 category is divided into three sub-classifications, each with distinct evidentiary requirements:
Skilled Workers — Foreign nationals whose job requires a minimum of two years of training, education, or experience. The position must be permanent, full-time, and not of a temporary or seasonal nature.
Professionals — Foreign nationals holding a U.S. bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent that is required for the offered position. Education and experience cannot be substituted to satisfy the bachelor’s-degree requirement under this sub-category.
Other Workers (Unskilled) — Foreign nationals performing unskilled labor requiring less than two years of training or experience. This sub-category is subject to extended visa backlogs and is the most numerically limited.
Core Requirements for an EB-3 Petition
Every EB-3 case rests on three foundational elements:
- A bona fide, permanent, full-time job offer from a U.S. employer.
- An approved PERM Labor Certification from the U.S. Department of Labor (with limited exceptions, such as Schedule A occupations).
- Demonstrable proof that the beneficiary meets the minimum education, training, and experience requirements stated on the labor certification.
Because EB-3 petitions are employer-sponsored, both the petitioning employer and the beneficiary must contribute documentation. Stepwise Global Solutions assists in organizing and presenting that documentation with the same precision we apply to our EB-1 and EB-2 NIW casework.
Our EB-3 Documentation and Case-Strategy Services
- Eligibility and Sub-Category Assessment. We review the beneficiary’s credentials, work history, and the offered position to determine the most appropriate sub-category — Skilled Worker, Professional, or Other Worker — and identify any documentation gaps before filing.
- Beneficiary Documentation Preparation. We assist beneficiaries in compiling academic credentials, degree evaluations (where applicable), employment verification letters, training records, licensure documentation, and prior employer references that match the PERM labor certification’s stated requirements.
- Employer Documentation Coordination. We help employers organize the supporting evidence required for the I-140 petition, including ability-to-pay documentation, organizational records, and job-description alignment with the certified PERM.
- Petition Letter Drafting. We prepare a clear, well-structured petition cover letter and supporting narrative that connects the beneficiary’s qualifications to the certified position and to the regulatory criteria for the chosen sub-category.
- Evidence Organization and Indexing. We compile the entire evidentiary package — exhibits, indexes, and tabulated supporting documents — into a presentation-ready format that follows USCIS conventions for clarity and reviewability.
- RFE Response Support. In the event of a Request for Evidence, we help analyze the issues raised and prepare structured supplemental documentation responding to USCIS concerns.
What Stepwise Global Solutions Does Not Do
Consistent with our firm-wide policy of transparency, we want our EB-3 clients to understand the boundaries of our services. We are not a law firm, and we do not file PERM Labor Certifications with the Department of Labor, provide legal advice or representation before USCIS, conduct prevailing wage determinations, or represent clients in immigration court. For these matters, clients should retain a licensed U.S. immigration attorney. Stepwise Global Solutions frequently works alongside attorneys engaged by the employer or beneficiary, providing the documentation backbone that strengthens the legal filing.
Why EB-3 Cases Benefit from Specialized Documentation Support
EB-3 petitions are often viewed as “simpler” than EB-1 and EB-2 NIW cases because they rely on objective minimum requirements rather than subjective assessments of extraordinary ability. In practice, however, EB-3 denials and Requests for Evidence frequently arise from issues we specialize in addressing: inconsistencies between the beneficiary’s experience records and the requirements stated on the certified PERM, insufficient documentation of qualifying experience from prior employers, foreign-degree credentials that have not been properly evaluated for U.S. equivalency, and disorganized exhibit packages that obscure clearly qualifying evidence. Our work helps prevent these issues before the petition is filed.
Our EB-3 Process
Step 1: Free Evaluation. Submit the beneficiary’s CV or résumé and a copy of the position’s job description for an initial eligibility review.
Step 2: Strategic Consultation. We provide a written assessment outlining the appropriate EB-3 sub-category, key evidentiary requirements, and any documentation that should be obtained or strengthened before filing.
Step 3: Document Collection and Organization. We provide a detailed checklist tailored to the case and assist in compiling employer letters, academic records, credential evaluations, and supporting evidence.
Step 4: Drafting and Review. We prepare the petition cover letter and organize the full evidentiary package for review by the client and, where applicable, retained counsel.
Step 5: Finalization and Filing Support. Once the package is approved, we assist in finalizing exhibits and preparing the documentation for submission. For clients represented by attorneys, we coordinate directly with counsel to ensure filing readiness.
Who We Serve in the EB-3 Category
- Skilled trades professionals with two or more years of qualifying experience.
- Healthcare professionals including nurses, physical therapists, and allied-health workers (some of whom qualify under Schedule A).
- Engineers, IT professionals, and analysts holding bachelor’s degrees in their field of employment.
- Educators, administrators, and specialists in fields requiring a bachelor’s degree.
Employers and HR teams seeking structured documentation support for sponsored employees.
Request a Free EB-3 Evaluation
If you or your sponsoring employer are considering an EB-3 petition, please submit a free evaluation request including: the beneficiary’s CV or résumé, the job description or PERM-certified position details (if available), the beneficiary’s highest academic credential and country of education, years of qualifying experience, and the beneficiary’s current U.S. visa status and country of birth.
Our team will respond within 24 business hours with an eligibility assessment and recommended documentation strategy.
Submit to: https://stepwiseglobalsolutions.com/free-evaluation-request-form/
Address: 5405 Red Coral Circle, Mount Dora, FL 32757
All submissions are handled with strict confidentiality. A free evaluation does not create an attorney-client relationship. Stepwise Global Solutions Inc. is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation; clients requiring legal counsel should retain a licensed immigration attorney.