Short answer: the EB-3 Unskilled ("Other Workers") green card has no English test. USCIS and the State Department do not ask for IELTS, TOEFL or any language certificate. But English can still matter in three places: the job requirements your employer writes in PERM, your answers at the visa interview, and your daily work and life in the United States. Later, English is required for U.S. citizenship.
Do you need English for EB-3 Unskilled?
USCIS's EB-3 page says what an Other Workers case needs: a permanent, full-time job offer for work that needs less than two years of training or experience, and an approved labor certification (PERM). A language test is not on that list. A worker who speaks only Bangla or Korean can be in the same line as a worker who speaks good English.
So when someone tells you "you must pass IELTS first", ask them to show the official rule. There is none for this category.
Where English can still matter
| Stage | Is there an English test? | What really counts |
|---|---|---|
| Job offer and PERM (U.S. Department of Labor) | No | The job requirements written by the employer. If English is written as a requirement, you must meet it. |
| I-140 (USCIS) | No | Proof that you meet the PERM job requirements and that the employer can pay the wage |
| NVC and visa interview | No | True, consistent answers about you, your family and your job offer |
| Work in the U.S. | No | Safety instructions, training, talking with a supervisor |
| U.S. citizenship (later) | Yes | English reading, writing and speaking test plus civics test, with some exceptions |
1. PERM: what the employer writes
Under the PERM rule 20 CFR 656.17(h), the job requirements must be the ones "normally required for the occupation" unless the employer documents a business necessity. A foreign language requirement (any language other than English) is allowed only with business necessity, for example a translator job. For factory, food processing, cleaning or farm jobs, the requirements are usually simple. Ask your attorney to show you the requirements in your PERM: whatever is written there is what you must meet, and you should never claim a skill you do not have.
2. The interview: understand your own case
The consular officer checks that you qualify and that you really intend to take the job. There is no grammar test. What matters is that you can explain, truthfully and simply, the basics of your case. Prepare these answers in your own words:
- The employer's name and the city or state where you will work
- Your job title and what you will do every day
- When you will start, and who is coming with you
- Your work history, as written in your documents
Answers that are learned by heart but do not match your documents cause more trouble than simple English. Follow the language instructions in your interview letter. Our Dhaka interview page shows the official monthly visa numbers for the embassy.
3. The job and daily life
Your employer must train you, but basic English makes the first months much easier: safety signs, shift changes, a doctor's visit, a bank account, a driving test. Our after-arrival guide lists the first steps in the U.S.
Does my wife or child need English?
No. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 come as your derivatives. They do not need a job offer or a language test for the green card. Children who are close to 21 need an age check; see EB-3 Unskilled age limit.
English and U.S. citizenship later
After living in the U.S. as a green card holder (usually for 5 years), you can apply for naturalization. This step does have an English test (reading, writing, speaking) and a civics test. USCIS lists exceptions: people aged 50 or older who have been permanent residents for 20 years, or aged 55 or older with 15 years, are exempt from the English test – but they must still take the civics test, in their own language.
Use the waiting time: a practical plan
The whole EB-3 Unskilled process takes about 5 years. In the November 2026 Visa Bulletin, the final action date for "all chargeability" (Bangladesh, Korea, Nepal) was 1 June 2022 – about 4 years and 5 months behind. That is a lot of time to prepare. Our green card timeline tool shows where your case is.
- Year 1: learn the words of your future job: tools, safety, numbers, time, days of the week.
- Years 2–3: practise short conversations: introducing yourself, asking for help, reporting a problem.
- Before NVC: check that the English spelling of your name is the same on passport, birth certificate and marriage certificate; see our document checklist.
- Before the interview: practise the four case answers above with a family member.
- Before travel: learn addresses, phone numbers and emergency words for your new city.
FAQ
Do I need an IELTS score for EB-3 Unskilled?
No. No official rule asks for IELTS or TOEFL in this category.
Can I be refused at the interview because my English is weak?
English level by itself is not a refusal reason in the EB-3 rules. Problems come from answers that do not match the documents, or from not being able to meet a job requirement written in your PERM.
Can an employer choose a worker with better English?
Yes. Hiring is the employer's decision. The PERM rules limit what the employer may write as a requirement, but not whom it may hire.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Your attorney decides on your case. Visa Bulletin figures are from the November 2026 bulletin and change every month.