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

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?"

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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