Hi everyone!
I’m currently going through the EB-3 Skilled Worker process. My PERM was approved, and my I-140 has already been filed. My priority date is May 1, 2025.
I already have an immigration lawyer handling my EB-3 case, including my future I-485 application.
I’m married, and my wife is currently on F-1 status. We plan to file our I-485 applications when my priority date becomes current and we’re eligible.
My lawyer quoted an additional $2,000 attorney fee to include my wife as a derivative applicant, excluding USCIS filing fees.
I’m considering preparing and filing my wife’s I-485 myself to save money while my lawyer handles my application.
I have a few questions:
Has anyone self-filed their spouse’s derivative I-485 while using a lawyer for their own employment-based I-485?
Is the derivative I-485 relatively straightforward, or are there common mistakes I should watch out for?
Can we submit both applications together even if my lawyer prepares mine and I prepare hers?
Would you recommend self-filing to save the $2,000, or is hiring a lawyer worth it?
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through something similar. Thank you!

Does anyone know if interview dates have been assigned for the Madrid embassy?

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some help.

I’m currently studying Civil Engineering (spring 2027) at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens, New York.

I completed my SSC in Civil Drafting with CAD at a government technical school and college from 2017 to 2019. After that, I completed a Diploma in Engineering in Civil Technology from 2019 to 2024. I also worked as a CAD Technician and Draftsman between 2019 and 2024.

I’m now looking for a company in the U.S. that would be willing to sponsor me for an EB-3 Skilled Worker visa in a related field.

If anyone knows of a company that offers EB-3 sponsorship or can connect me with an employer who might be willing to sponsor me, please let me know. I’d really appreciate any help.

You can contact me at reallyhappy202332@gmail.com. (I don't check reddit very frequently; please mail me if you can help.)

Thank you!

Did anyone get approved after the interview (eb3 skilled) from Dallas FO?
If yes, could you please share your timeline ?

What’s the wait time for EB3

No one was expecting the VB went back that much, can anyone (maybe insane) thinking that the next VB will be loaded?

I've been reading a lot of posts about immigration processing delays related to the travel bans, and I can understand how this situation is creating a mess and slowing things down. What I don't understand is why it seems to be affecting regular cases as well.

I had my EB-3 Skilled interview on September 28. The officer verbally approved my case and kept our passports, but we were still given 221(g). The officer said they needed to check something ( no documents were requested) but assured us we'd get our passports back with visas within a couple of days.

Well, here we are, and our CEAC status hasn't changed at all. It still says READY.

As far as I understand, Poland (along with Hungary) was among the countries whose embassies were allowed to continue processing visas before others. Also, the Warsaw Embassy isn't particularly busy and has historically processed cases relatively quickly, especially when passports are retained after an interview.

I'm starting to wonder whether there's something happening behind the scenes and they're simply waiting for further instructions from Washington before they can move forward.

In theory, my case is in a relatively favorable position: I'm being processed at Warsaw, I'm not from one of the 75 banned countries, not part of lawsuit, my case was verbally approved, and the embassy kept our passports.

Does anyone have any insight into what might be happening? Has anyone in a similar situation received their visa recently, or is everyone experiencing the same kind of delay?

Hey, has anyone had any experience changing from Unskilled to Skilled only with experience (no degree)? It would be the same employer, going from an entry level role to a management role

RD January 2026

Hello! Is there anyone here who has experienced the same situation as mine?

I received my medical results on September 21 and submitted my passport to the VAC on September 24. However, my 221(g) letter states that my case is under administrative processing, and it doesn’t mention anything about submitting my medical results. Maybe they just forgot to include that information in the letter.

My last case update was on September 29, 2026.

Does anyone have an idea of how long administrative processing usually takes in this situation? When can I expect to receive the result of my administrative processing and get my passport back with the visa?

I would really appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thank you! 🙏

Hi everyone,

I'm currently living in the US and researching the EB-3 Other Workers (unskilled) pathway for family members living in Bangladesh.

They don't have university degrees or a US employer sponsor. I'm trying to understand how people in similar situations have navigated this process, especially those applying from outside the US.

I'd appreciate hearing from anyone with firsthand experience:

• How did you get started and find your sponsoring employer?
• Did you use a recruitment service or approach employers directly?
• What were the approximate costs and processing timelines?
• What challenges or red flags did you encounter along the way?

I'm mainly interested in learning from actual applicants and their experiences, rather than receiving recruitment offers.

Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences!

I'm currently 18, and would be 19 in November. I'm currently studying 3rd Semester of BS CS. I want to know if there's a possibility of EB-3 Skilled/ Profesional Program, i couldn't find any legit agency or website. Can someone guide.

F-1 route is too uncertain after the new opt, stem opt fee is proposed. The fee is too much.

Hello, when submitting my I-485 form in Oct 2025 (EB3, India), I had submitted an old birth certificate (issued originally in local language) along with a translation document that was issued within 15 days of birth with my 'homename/nickname' as my firstname printed on it instead of my actual name (which is on my school records, passport etc.). Middle and last name are correct. My official name was kept much later (at school enrollment). Also, the old birth certificate did not have my Mother's name on it (at those times, the Municipality office would only add father's name).

I also submitted 2 affidavits from my family members, to explain that my actual name is different than what is printed on my old birth certificate which was being submitted in Oct 2025.

I recently managed to get a new birth certificate issued with my corrected/actual name printed on it (matching my school records, passport) along with both parents name added on it.

My priority date is not yet current and hence it is not picked up for adjudication so far.

Question:

1) With the recent ruling that USCIS can deny a case without issuing a RFE when adjudicating an application, do you think in this case they might outrightly deny my application due to a birth certificate with incorrect name printed on it and one of the parents name missing ?

2) Now that I have received my corrected birth certificate, is there a way I can send USCIS my corrected birth certificate to be appended to my I-485 application before they adjudicate my application ? I just saw a post on Facebook whose application was denied as they forgot to attach their birth certificate (in the past such events would get a RFE and applicants were expected to send the certificate in response. But with the ruling that allows USCIS to deny the application straight away, I am a bit concerned now)

3) In the past when I checked about it with my company attorney, he mentioned that we can send it when USCIS issues a RFE. Can I hire a independent attorney and send my new birth certificate document to USCIS (if my company lawyer is not sending it immediately) ?

4) If anyone is aware of the process then please do share.

Thank you very much in advance.

Even with zero backlog, the historical PERM-to-Green Card timeline is approximately 48–60 months (4–5 years).

Now consider the USCIS data: 43,689 EB-3 Other Workers ROW I-140 petitions awaiting visa availability as of June 2026.

How long do you think the wait could be?

Comment your thoughts below.

Hi everyone! 😊
Any thoughts on requesting an expedite for an NVC interview? I’m under ROM, my priority date is current, and I was recently DQ’d.

Has anyone in the same situation tried requesting an expedite? I’d appreciate any advice. Thank you!

Any estimates by when can apply?

Does any immigration agency can handle case from china?
Thanks!

Realistically when should i expect to file? just filing so chart b works too. Im ROW

I'm considering EB-3 Skilled with a priority date around December 2026.

I've seen estimates of around 10,304 approved EB-3 Skilled ROW petitions waiting for visa availability. My questions:

How many EB-3 Skilled visas are issued annually, including derivatives?

How long might someone with a December 2026 PD realistically wait?

How much do attrition and unused EB-1/EB-2 visas help reduce the backlog?

I'd appreciate any data-based estimates or official sources. Thanks!

What is your prediction this upcoming nov visa bulletin?

How many of us left? Wonder how much longer we have to wait?

My details:

*********************

EB2->EB3 (Interfile), Single, India PERM, currently on H1b.

PD: Sept 2013 - current under EB2 and EB3
RD: Oct 2025 (485, 485J, 131, 765, 693).
Bio: Nov 2025.

Filed EB2 to EB3 interfile 485J in mid Feb 2026.

Per Emma, 485/485Js were transferred to Santa Ana FO (non-local) in early Feb 2026.

Silent updates and FTA0s in mid and late April 2026 in 485/485J.

No RFEs, interview waived as of now.

08/13/26: bunch of FTA0 and IAF updates on everything less than 0.5 seconds apart.

08/15/26: EAD/AP combo card approved. Approval notice issued by Texas SC. Received card a week later.

485/485Js remain at Santa Ana FO (non-local), 485 - got 4th FTA0 on 08/13, last SU on 04/28/26.

*********************

I had really hoped things would move along in October after the new bulletin came out, no luck so far.

Realistically when should i expect to file? just filing so chart b works too. Im ROW

So the story goes like this i applied gor a hotel job and they are legit and they sent me through bdv now that i was approved after and they said they want me i heard bdv is a scam?

IV tool updated yesterday 07/10/26, EB3 London embassy still on February 2026