Does the EB3 Skilled Worker Immigration to the U.S. Really Cost Billions of VND?

As the demand for EB3 immigration to the United States continues to grow in Vietnam, many workers wonder whether the actual cost of the EB3 program really reaches billions of dong as they’ve heard. This article will analyze in detail the actual cost structure, compare it with long-term benefits, and answer the question of whether “EB3 immigration to the U.S. costs billions of dong” is true or just a misconception about this skilled worker immigration program.

1. Overview of the EB3 U.S. Immigration Program

The EB3 program (Employment-Based Third Preference) is one of the legal immigration pathways to the U.S. for foreign workers. Unlike programs requiring advanced degrees like EB-2 or large investments like EB-5, EB3 immigration is specifically designed for three main groups: skilled workers, professionals with bachelor’s degrees, and other workers.

What’s special about EB3 immigration is that it doesn’t require a college degree for the skilled worker category. Workers only need 2 years of work experience or vocational training certificates and a U.S. employer sponsor who can prove that no qualified American workers are available for the position. This process is carried out through PERM (Program Electronic Review Management) labor certification from the U.S. Department of Labor.

With a quota of approximately 40,040 EB3 visas allocated annually, this program opens up long-term immigration opportunities for tens of thousands of people worldwide. For Vietnamese people, EB3 immigration is becoming a popular choice thanks to its low requirements and ability to sponsor the entire family.

2. Actual Costs of the EB3 Skilled Worker Immigration Program

2.1. Official U.S. Government Fee Structure

When considering whether “EB3 immigration costs tens of billions of dong” is true, we need to analyze each specific cost item. According to 2025 USCIS data, the mandatory government fees for EB3 include:

The I-140 form fee (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) is $715, usually paid by the U.S. employer. This is the immigration petition filed by the sponsoring company after receiving PERM certification. The I-485 form fee (Application to Adjust Status) is $1,440 if the applicant is in the U.S. and wants to change status. If processing through consular processing, the processing fee is approximately $325 per person.

Additionally, there’s a biometric fee of $85 per applicant when adjusting status in the U.S. This fee includes fingerprinting and background checks. For those who want to shorten processing time, Premium Processing service is available for $5,000, reducing I-140 review time to 15 days instead of 8-10 months.

Total government fees for EB3 immigration range from $1,520 to $2,555 depending on the specific case. This amount converts to about 38-64 million VND, not including other service costs.

2.2. Attorney and Consulting Service Costs

An important part of the question “does EB3 immigration cost billions of dong” is legal service fees. According to surveys from many reputable law firms in the U.S., attorney costs for EB3 vary greatly depending on the complexity of the case.

For simple skilled worker cases, attorney fees typically range from $3,000 to $7,000. Some large law firms list fees of $7,995 with flexible payment options over 6 months. Consulting companies specializing in EB3 immigration often offer complete packages with fees starting from $80,000 for the entire Skilled Workers application.

This all-inclusive package typically covers all stages from finding an employer, preparing PERM documents, filing I-140, to supporting the consular interview.

2.3. Additional Costs

Besides government and attorney fees, EB3 immigration involves many other supplementary costs. Medical examination costs are mandatory, typically ranging from $200 to $500 depending on the country. In Vietnam, USCIS-designated medical centers charge about 5-10 million VND for a complete examination including tests, X-rays, and vaccinations.

Translation and notarization costs for documents are also significant. EB3 applications require certified translation of documents like birth certificates, diplomas, and work experience certificates into English. This cost typically ranges from 2-5 million VND depending on document quantity.

Another considerable expense is travel and interview costs. If applicants in Vietnam must go to the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, costs for airfare, hotel, and meals can reach 10-20 million VND. After approval, airfare to the U.S. for the entire family typically costs 50-100 million VND depending on booking time.

Additionally, many people must pay for initial living expenses in the U.S. during the first 2-3 months, including rent, essential purchases, food, and transportation before receiving their first paycheck. This cost ranges from $3,000 to $6,000 depending on the state of residence, equivalent to 75-150 million VND. However, this type of cost is already included in Newland USA’s total application fee.

3. Comparing EB3 Immigration Costs with Benefits Received

3.1. Return on Investment Analysis

To accurately answer whether “EB3 immigration costing billions of dong” is worthwhile, we need to compare it with long-term benefits. According to data from EB3 job platforms, starting wages for skilled workers range from $20 to $29 per hour, equivalent to about $40,000 to $60,000 annually for full-time work.

Suppose a Vietnamese person spends $80,000 (about 2 billion VND) for the entire EB3 immigration process including services, airfare, and initial living expenses. With a salary of $60,000/year and after deducting about 20% in taxes, the first year’s net income is $48,000. If maintaining a modest lifestyle and saving 30% of income, this person can recover their investment within 3 years.

However, the above calculation doesn’t account for salary increases over time. Many skilled workers after 1-2 years of working in the U.S. can move to better jobs with salaries of $60,000-$70,000/year thanks to improved English and accumulated experience. This significantly shortens the payback period to 2-3 years.

3.2. Long-term Family Benefits

A major advantage of EB3 immigration is the ability to bring the entire family to the U.S. The main applicant’s spouse receives a green card and has the right to work legally immediately. This means household income can double if both spouses work.

Children under 21 who immigrate with their parents receive free public education from kindergarten through 12th grade. In Vietnam, quality private education costs can reach 100-200 million VND per year per child. Thus, education cost savings alone over 12 years can reach 1.2-2.4 billion VND per child.

After 5 years as a lawful permanent resident, EB3 applicants can apply for U.S. citizenship. Having a U.S. passport brings countless benefits like visa-free travel to over 180 countries, global employment opportunities, and voting rights. This intangible value is difficult to measure in monetary terms.

3.3. Comparison with Other Immigration Programs

When considering “EB3 immigration costing billions of dong,” it needs to be viewed in context compared to other immigration programs. The EB-5 investment program requires a minimum of $800,000 (20 billion VND) to $1,050,000 (26 billion VND) invested in a U.S. business, not including attorney fees and management costs which can add another $100,000-$200,000.

The E-2 business investment program, while not leading directly to a green card, also requires investment capital from $100,000 to $200,000. Canadian immigration programs like Express Entry, though lower in cost, have strict requirements for English proficiency, education, and work experience.

Meanwhile, EB3 immigration with total costs about 10 times less than EB-5 for the entire family is considered the most affordable option to obtain a permanent U.S. green card. Especially, skilled workers don’t need advanced degrees or fluent English to qualify, and the application completion time is about 3-4 years.

4. Factors Affecting EB3 Immigration Costs

4.1. Choice of Consulting Agency

One of the determining factors in whether “EB3 immigration costs billions of dong” or just hundreds of millions is the choice of consulting agency. Reputable consulting companies typically offer all-inclusive packages with higher fees but guarantee professional processes, high success rates, and comprehensive support.

Conversely, some applicants choose to prepare applications themselves or only hire attorneys to handle individual steps separately. This approach can save 50-70% of costs but requires applicants to find employers themselves, understand the legal process clearly, and be willing to face rejection risks due to incomplete applications.

For skilled workers not fluent in English or unfamiliar with the U.S. legal system, using an all-inclusive service is usually the safer choice despite higher costs.

4.2. Nationality and Waiting Time

The actual cost of EB3 immigration is also affected by the applicant’s nationality. Citizens from countries with high EB3 application volumes like India, China, or Mexico face much longer waiting times than Vietnamese citizens.

According to the February 2026 Visa Bulletin, the average processing time for Vietnamese skilled workers under EB3 is approximately 24-36 months. During this waiting period, many applicants continue working in Vietnam without incurring additional costs beyond maintaining their applications.

However, if waiting time extends beyond 4-5 years like some other countries, applicants may need to renew documents, undergo medical examinations again, or even reapply if there are changes in marital status or children’s ages. These additional costs can add $2,000-$5,000, increasing total EB3 immigration costs.

5. Common Misconceptions About EB3 Immigration Costs

5.1. Confusion Between Costs and Investment

Many people hearing that EB3 immigration costs billions of dong mistakenly think this is money “lost” similar to study abroad or travel expenses. However, this is actually a long-term investment in the family’s future with clear returns.

Unlike EB-5 investment in businesses with capital loss risks, EB3 only requires payment of service fees and initial living expenses. After receiving a green card, workers are free to work, earn money, and accumulate assets. Income 3-5 times higher than their home country combined with career advancement opportunities makes EB3 immigration a certain “profitable investment.”

Moreover, intangible values like the right to live in a society governed by law, advanced healthcare and education systems, clean and safe living environment cannot be converted to money. Many families report feeling the EB3 immigration cost was completely worthwhile after just 2-3 years of settlement when seeing their children develop comprehensively and having better career opportunities themselves.

5.2. Misunderstanding About “Sponsorship Fees”

Another common misconception making people think “EB3 immigration costs billions of dong” is confusion about employer “sponsorship fees.” Some disreputable consulting companies in Vietnam inflate costs by saying workers must “buy” job positions from U.S. companies for tens of thousands of dollars.

In reality, according to U.S. labor law, employers cannot charge fees from workers to provide jobs. All costs related to PERM and I-140 should in principle be paid by the sponsoring company. If a consulting agency asks you to pay “job search fees” or “company sponsorship fees” of tens of thousands of USD, this may be a sign of fraud.

Reputable consulting companies only charge legal service fees, not job search fees. They connect applicants with legitimate U.S. employers who genuinely need skilled workers. Workers only need to pay personal application costs like government fees, medical examinations, translation, and airfare – totaling typically under $10,000 without using an all-inclusive package.

5.3. Confusing EB3 with Other Programs

Another reason many people think EB3 immigration costs billions of dong is confusion with the EB-5 investment program. As mentioned, EB-5 requires a minimum investment of $800,000 in a U.S. business, 16 times the average cost of EB3.

There are also cases of people confusing EB3 immigration costs with study abroad then employment programs. Through this route, international students must pay 4 years of college tuition (about $100,000-$200,000), living expenses ($40,000-$80,000 over 4 years), then hope to find an employer to sponsor H-1B Visa then convert to green card – a process that can take 8-10 years with total costs reaching 5-10 billion VND.

Compared to this, EB3 skilled worker immigration with costs of about 2 billion VND and a timeframe of 2-3 years is a much faster and more economical option than the above routes.

6. Conclusion

The question “does EB3 immigration cost billions of dong” is not a question with a right or wrong answer. This depends on many factors such as service choice, ability to complete the application, and personal needs of applicants. While costs are not small, they are completely worthwhile when compared with long-term benefits in income, education, healthcare, and quality of life. What’s important is that applicants need to equip themselves with knowledge, choose reputable consulting agencies, and prepare finances thoroughly.

Newland USA, with a team of experienced experts and the motto “Stable settlement – Lifelong prosperity,” is ready to advise and support in preparing applications and accompany customers throughout the EB3 immigration process. Contact Newland USA now via hotline 0785591988 or email: newsletter@newlandusa.asia for detailed and free consultation.

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