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Can You Work in the U.S. and Apply for a Green Card Without a Degree or Strong English?

Can You Work in the U.S. and Apply for a Green Card Without a Degree or Strong English? Understanding EB-3 Other Workers

When people consider working in the United States or applying for a green card, their first questions often are:

“Can I apply without a higher education qualification?”

“Can I work in the U.S. if my English is limited?”

“Do I have a chance of obtaining a green card without specialized skills?”

The answer is not a simple yes or no.

U.S. employment-based immigration has several categories, each with different requirements for education, experience, occupations and employers. For some people without advanced qualifications or years of specialized experience, EB-3 Other Workers is a lawful employment-based immigration pathway worth exploring.

Can someone without a higher education qualification apply for EB-3?

It may be possible.

EB-3 includes several subcategories: Professionals, Skilled Workers and Other Workers.

The Other Workers subcategory mainly covers permanent, non-seasonal positions that typically require less than two years of training or experience. It differs from EB-3 Professionals, which requires a bachelor’s degree.

Other Workers therefore generally has no universal category requirement to be a university graduate.

However, this does not mean there are no requirements.

Applicants must meet the minimum requirements set by the particular U.S. employer and position and be capable of performing the work.

Want to understand what this type of program involves?

Explore the EB-3 Other Workers process, positions and application arrangements.

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Can you work in the U.S. with limited English?

EB-3 Other Workers does not itself require every applicant to submit a standardized English test score such as IELTS or TOEFL.

This does not mean that someone with no English is suitable for every position.

Actual language requirements depend on:

The employer;
The position;
The working environment;
Safety requirements;
Practical communication needs with colleagues or customers.

Some entry-level roles may have relatively flexible language requirements. Roles involving substantial customer communication, management, safety procedures or complex instructions may require stronger English.

A more accurate description is:

Limited English does not necessarily rule out EB-3 Other Workers, but applicants must still meet the specific employer’s and position’s requirements.

How can someone with modest educational qualifications and English skills seek a green card through employment?

This is where EB-3 is often misunderstood.

EB-3 Other Workers is not a process of first obtaining a temporary work visa and later finding a way to convert it into a green card.

It is itself a U.S. employment-based immigration category.

The process is typically initiated by a U.S. employer.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s permanent labor certification process requires a qualifying permanent, full-time job and prescribed recruitment and U.S. labor market testing. The employer can then proceed with the related immigrant petition.

A typical process includes:

Step 1: Initial eligibility assessment

Review country of birth, personal background, work experience, family circumstances and previous U.S. visa or immigration history.

Step 2: Matching with a qualifying U.S. employer and position

Available roles depend on actual vacancies and employer requirements at the time.

Step 3: PERM labor certification

The U.S. employer completes prevailing wage procedures, recruitment and U.S. labor market testing, then files a permanent labor certification application with the Department of Labor.

Step 4: I-140 immigrant petition

After PERM approval, the U.S. employer files Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, with USCIS.

Step 5: Waiting for an immigrant visa number

EB-3 is subject to annual employment-based visa limits. The applicant’s priority date and the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin determine when the case can move to the next stage.

Step 6: NVC and U.S. consular processing

Applicants outside the United States typically complete NVC document processing, a medical examination and an immigrant visa interview. Eligible applicants in the U.S. may apply for adjustment of status using Form I-485.

Step 7: Immigrant visa issuance and entry into the United States

Applicants abroad enter the United States using their immigrant visa and, subject to the relevant conditions, become lawful permanent residents. USCIS subsequently produces and mails the physical green card.

Is EB-3 a work visa or a green card pathway?

More precisely, EB-3 is an employment-based permanent immigration category.

It differs from nonimmigrant work visas used for short-term or temporary employment in the United States.

The core process is:

A genuine U.S. employer + a permanent full-time position + PERM + I-140 + an available immigrant visa number + immigration procedures.

This is why EB-3 typically involves a lengthy wait rather than completion within a few months.

As of September 2026, the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin still lists waiting dates for Other Workers, with different cut-off dates depending on place of birth. No program should promise a fixed approval date.

Who might consider EB-3 Other Workers?

This pathway may be worth exploring for people who:

Do not have a university degree;
Do not have advanced specialized skills;
Have limited English;
Wish to plan for long-term U.S. residence through lawful employment-based immigration;
Are prepared to start in an entry-level role;
Are willing to honor agreed working arrangements with a U.S. employer;
Can accept the waiting periods involved in employment-based immigration;
Wish to plan for the long term together with their spouse and children.

This does not mean there are no eligibility conditions.

Immigration history, background, health, job qualifications, the employer and visa availability can all affect the outcome.

Can a spouse and children be included in the planning?

Where eligible, employment-based immigration can include the principal applicant’s legal spouse and qualifying unmarried children under 21.

For many families, EB-3 can therefore be more than one person’s career plan: it may form part of a long-term U.S. residence plan for the whole family.

Eligibility and matters such as protection of a child’s age must be assessed according to each family’s circumstances.

How long might the wait be if you apply now?

This needs to be approached realistically. The timeframe is normally around three to four years. Applicants from places such as China or India may face longer waits, potentially eight to ten years.

EB-3 Other Workers is subject to annual visa limits, and country of birth affects the waiting line.

There is no fixed completion time that applies to everyone.

For example, as of September 2026, the Department of State’s Other Workers Final Action Date for most countries of birth was April 1, 2022; for mainland China-born applicants, May 1, 2019; and for India-born applicants, January 1, 2014. These dates may advance, remain unchanged or retrogress.

Instead of asking only:

“What is the fastest possible timeline?”

you should also establish:

What is my country of birth? What is the current cut-off date? Is the employer genuine? Is the job genuine? How will PERM and I-140 be handled? Who coordinates the entire process?

After applying, another option is to arrange junior college study in the United States to learn the language while waiting there.

Want details about EB-3 positions, procedures and eligibility?

Hakudatsu Global currently provides preliminary eligibility assessments for the U.S. EB-3 Employer-Sponsored Immigration program, Other Workers information, employer and job matching coordination, document preparation guidance and coordination with U.S. partners. Our existing project page also introduces PERM, I-140, consular processing and relevant job information.Hakudatsu

View the full project overview

👉 U.S. EB-3 Employer-Sponsored Immigration: Project Overview

Unsure whether you are a suitable candidate? Start with an initial assessment

If you are unsure about:

Whether your educational background qualifies;
Whether your English is sufficient;
Whether your age is suitable;
The waiting line for your country of birth;
Whether family members can be included;
The effect of previous visa or immigration history;
Which jobs might suit you;

you can submit your basic information for a preliminary assessment based on your circumstances.

Submit your details free of charge

👉 Free preliminary eligibility assessment / Contact form

About Hakudatsu Global

Based in Fukuoka, Japan, Hakudatsu Global provides coordination services for businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals in Japanese and international company formation, visas and residence, cross-border business, overseas education and international residence planning. Through its international partner network, it helps clients explore feasible options across countries and regions.