In 2025, the EB-3 Green Card Jobs category is witnessing an upscaled employers with various fast-food giants like McDonald’s franchises, stepping up to sponsor immigrants for permanent US residency. Through the EB-3 visa, professionals, skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled workers get the opportunity to grasp long-term employment and a Green Card. This publication outlines the fast-food industry’s rising demand for foreign labor to fill various positions with diverse salary expectations, and also provides a comprehensive review of the multi-year EB-3 application process.
What McDonald’s and other fast-food chains are dominating EB-3 sponsorship
Currently, the American food service industry is seeing a decline in labor availability, which has taken an even worse turn due to high turnover, unstable domestic workforce subject to low wages, and, of course, the post-pandemic effects. To address this case, industry giants like KFC and McDonald’s are leveraging the EB-3 visa program to recruit foreign workers.
The EB-3 visa allows US employers in high-demand sectors to sponsor and hire foreign labor for vacant job roles, including fast-food chains, where a qualified American workforce is minimal.
Job roles frequently sponsored under the EB-3 program include:
| Job roles | Expected annual salary |
| Assistant managers | $20,000 to $30,000 |
| Shift supervisors | $15,000 to $25,000 |
| Food service workers | $11,000 to $18,000 |
Nationwide snapshot of 2025 EB-3 Green Card job openings
Here’s a complete list of EB-3 eligible job roles across major cities in the US in 2025, along with franchised outlets of global fast-food giants:
| Fast-food franchise | Job roles | Location | Yearly salary |
| McDonald (Nationwide coverage) | Shift managers | Los Angeles, CA | $17/hour – $35,000 |
| Cashiers | Orlando, FL | $11.50/hour – $24,000 | |
| Food prep workers | Houston, TX | $12/hour – $25,000 | |
| Burger King | Assistant managers | Chicago, IL | $18/hour – $37,000 |
| Shift managers | Miami, FL | $14/hour – $29,000 | |
| Wendy’s | Restaurant supervisors | New York, NY | $19/hour – $40,000 |
| Grill cooks | Dallas, TX | $13/hour – $27,000 | |
| Taco Bell | Assistant general managers | Atlanta, GA | $20/hour – $42,000 |
| Line cooks | Phoenix, AZ | $12.50/hour – $26,000 | |
| KFC | Shift supervisors | Nashville, TN | $15/hour – $31,000 |
| Team members | Denver, CO | $11.75/hour – $24,000 | |
| Subway | Store managers | Boston, MA | $22/hour – $46,000 |
| Sandwich artists | Seattle, WA | $12/hour – $25,000 | |
| Pizza Hut | Assistant managers | Philadelphia, PA | $17.50/hour – $36,000 |
| Delivery drivers | Las Vegas, NV | $12/hour + tips – $28,000 | |
| Dunkin’ | Shift leaders | Baltimore, MD | $15.50/hour – $32,000 |
| Baristas | Newark, NJ | $13/hour – $27,000 | |
| Chick-fil-A | Hospitality team leads | San Diego, CA | $18/hour – $37,000 |
| Kitchen staff | Charlotte, NC | $14/hour – $29,000 | |
| Domino’s Pizza | Delivery drivers | Detroit, MI
|
$11.50/hour + tips – $26,000 |
| Shift runners | Austin, TX | $16/hour – $33,000 |
Comprehension of salary expectations and influencing factors
Most fast-food job roles under the EB-3 program are categorized as ‘unskilled workers’, meaning expected wages always go around the minimum wage standard in most states.
In general, entry-level positions like cashiers and kitchen staff get paid between $11,000 to $15,000 annually, while those positions with higher obligations like assistant managers and supervisors can receive between $30,000 to $45,000 per year.
Factors affecting salary
- Company brand and size: Highly profitable or large franchises often offer better benefits, bonuses, and more growing opportunities.
- Geographic location: States with urban job sites and higher minimum wages typically present better compensation.
- Experience and tenure: After a year or two of consistent employment and commendable performance, there are better likelihood of promotions.
The EB-3 visa process – Breakdown of a +36-month journey
While the EB-3 program presents a more accessible pathway to applicants towards permanent residency, the overall process is rather multi-staged and sluggish. It usually takes more than 3 years for an application to receive Green Card approval. So, here’s how the whole system works:
1. PERM Labor Certificate (6-12 months)
The first is for the employer to obtain a PERM Labor Certification from the US Department of Labor. US employers must present proof of their efforts in good faith, failing to hire an eligible worker within the US workforce. This involves:
- Job advertisement
- Applicants interview
- Documentation of recruitment efforts
- File ETA Form 9089
2. Form I-140 – Immigrant petition for foreign worker (6-12 months)
After approval of the PERM, the employer is to file Form I-140 with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
- Standard processing takes around 6 to 12 months.
- Premium processing takes around 12 calendar days, subject to a fee of $2,805.
3. Visa backlog/priority date wait (12-24+ months)
Due to annual EB-3 visa caps, prospective applicants, especially from countries like the Philippines, China, Mexico, and India, have to wait for their priority date to turn current. This backlog phase can often stretch to more than 2-year periods depending on the nationality.
4. Consular processing or status adjustment (6-12 months)
After the availability of the Visa, prospective applicants can consider either:
- Consular processing, if the applicant is from outside of US.
- Status adjustment (Form I-485), if already in the US.
5. Green Card approval (2-4 months)
After the final review and approval from the respective authorities, the applicant will receive their permanent resident green card, the possession of which will grant them full rights to work and reside in the US.
Realities and challenges of the EB-3 program
Although beneficial, the EB-3 program has its share of varied difficulties. Applicants must consider both the pros and cons of it.
Pros:
- Opportunity to work legally and obtain experience
- Scope to obtain permanent US residency
- Likelihood of better job advancement and income over time.
Cons:
- Long application timeline of more than 3 years.
- Applicants should bear the legal expenses and filing fees.
- Low starting salary/wages.
- Employer dependency could jeopardize the visa status in the event of job loss.
So, should you pursue the EB-3 visa in 2025?
The EB-3 visa is the primary and viable method for foreign nationals to seek long-term employment and stability in the US, especially in the fast-food industry. Irrespective of the lengthy application processing times and modest wages, it is a vital pathway to secure a Green Card. So, given the high demand for immigrant labor in the US market, the EB-3 program still holds better prospects for US employment-based immigration.