Do I need a job offer and a sponsoring employer for an EB-3 green card?

EB-3 is an employer-sponsored category, so you cannot self-petition. A U.S. employer must offer you a permanent, full-time position and act as your petitioner. The employer files Form I-140 with USCIS to establish that the job and your qualifications meet the EB-3 requirements.

Because sponsorship is tied to a specific job and employer, the petition is built around that role. If the job offer disappears before you obtain permanent residence, the basis for the petition can be affected, although in some cases an approved petition retains value such as a priority date. This is different from categories that allow self-petitioning, which EB-3 generally does not.