Is the EB-3 Skilled Worker (Green Card) or the H-1B Specialty Occupation faster to get?

The H-1B Specialty Occupation (H-1B) is typically faster, around 3–6 months, versus 18–60 months for the EB-3 Skilled Worker (Green Card). Real timelines depend on the country's caseload and how complete your application is.

Which costs more, the EB-3 or the H-1B?

The EB-3 Skilled Worker (Green Card) (EB-3) costs more, about $2,805 in official fees, versus $2,460 for the H-1B Specialty Occupation (H-1B). Both figures are government fees only and exclude legal, translation, and relocation costs.

Can I get permanent residency with the EB-3 Skilled Worker (Green Card) or the H-1B Specialty Occupation?

The EB-3 offers a direct path to permanent residency, while the H-1B leads to permanent residency in roughly 5 years. If long-term settlement is the goal, weight the route with the clearer PR pathway more heavily.

Do the EB-3 and H-1B need a job offer?

Yes. Both the EB-3 and the H-1B require a job offer or employer sponsorship before you apply. Securing an eligible employer is the critical first step for either route.

EB-3 Skilled Worker (Green Card) vs H-1B Specialty Occupation

United States · EB-3vs United States · H-1B

Quick answerUpdated 2026-05-03

The H-1B is the faster route (3–6 months), the H-1B is cheaper on official fees ($2,460), both lead to permanent residency. Which fits depends on your nationality, profession, and whether you already have a job offer, the breakdown below maps each visa to a profile.

Maintained by Senne Bels, Founder, Transita

If you didn't make it through the FY2026 H-1B lottery, EB-3 is the most realistic backbone path. H-1B is a temporary specialty-occupation visa with a 6-year cap; EB-3 is the employer-sponsored green card for skilled workers (no annual lottery, but per-country backlogs). Many candidates pursue both in parallel: H-1B for immediate work authorization, EB-3 as the permanent residency target. The strategic question is rarely "H-1B or EB-3" but "H-1B AND EB-3, in what sequence?"

At a glance

EB-3

H-1B

Processing time

18–60 months

3–6 months

Application fee

$2,805

$2,460

Initial validity

10 yrs

3 yrs

Path to PR

Yes

Yes, ~5 yrs

Points-based

Employer sponsor

Required

Minimum salary

—

Language test

Not required

Verified

2026-05-03

2026-05-02

Section 02

Which one fits you?

01
Country of birth
Pick EB-3
Most countries, EB-3 timeline is 12-24 months
Pick H-1B
Born in India or China, EB-3 backlog is years; H-1B is interim
02
Immediate need to work in US
Pick EB-3
Can wait for green card processing
Pick H-1B
Need work authorization within 6 months
03
Lottery selection status
Pick EB-3
Wasn't selected, pivot to EB-3 with sponsor
Pick H-1B
Was selected, start H-1B, file EB-3 in parallel
04
Employer commitment
Pick EB-3
Employer willing to sponsor PERM + I-140
Pick H-1B
Employer willing to file H-1B but EB-3 is later

Section 03

Common questions

Is the EB-3 Skilled Worker (Green Card) or the H-1B Specialty Occupation faster to get?: The H-1B Specialty Occupation (H-1B) is typically faster, around 3–6 months, versus 18–60 months for the EB-3 Skilled Worker (Green Card). Real timelines depend on the country's caseload and how complete your application is.
Which costs more, the EB-3 or the H-1B?: The EB-3 Skilled Worker (Green Card) (EB-3) costs more, about $2,805 in official fees, versus $2,460 for the H-1B Specialty Occupation (H-1B). Both figures are government fees only and exclude legal, translation, and relocation costs.
Can I get permanent residency with the EB-3 Skilled Worker (Green Card) or the H-1B Specialty Occupation?: The EB-3 offers a direct path to permanent residency, while the H-1B leads to permanent residency in roughly 5 years. If long-term settlement is the goal, weight the route with the clearer PR pathway more heavily.
Do the EB-3 and H-1B need a job offer?: Yes. Both the EB-3 and the H-1B require a job offer or employer sponsorship before you apply. Securing an eligible employer is the critical first step for either route.

Section 04

Read the full pathway