Most H1B professionals in year three believe they still have plenty of time before they need to worry about their green card process.
That assumption is becoming increasingly dangerous.
If your H1B year 3 green card not started situation sounds familiar, the reality is that immigration timelines have changed dramatically. Processing delays, Department of Labor backlogs, and employment-based green card demand have created a system where waiting another year can have consequences that last for a decade or more.
Many workers assume their employer will eventually start the process. Others hear phrases like “next quarter,” “we’re evaluating sponsorship,” or “we’ll discuss it after your next review.”
The problem is simple: immigration timelines do not wait for employer decisions.
The numbers show that year three is often the tipping point where waiting starts becoming a real risk.
Understanding the Four Stages of the Employment-Based Green Card Process
Many professionals think green card sponsorship is a single application.
In reality, it is a multi-stage process where each step depends on the previous one being completed first.
Stage 1: Prevailing Wage Determination
The process begins with the Prevailing Wage Determination request filed with the Department of Labor.
This stage establishes the wage level for the position being sponsored.
Current timelines can take several months before a determination is issued.
Without this step, the rest of the process cannot move forward.
Stage 2: Mandatory Recruitment
After the prevailing wage is approved, employers must complete a structured recruitment process.
This includes:
- Job advertisements
- Labor market testing
- Candidate reviews
- Recruitment documentation
Federal regulations require employers to demonstrate that qualified U.S. workers are not available for the position before moving to the next stage.
Stage 3: PERM Labor Certification
The PERM Labor Certification is one of the most important stages in the entire process.
This establishes the future priority date that determines a worker’s place in the employment-based green card queue.
Current Department of Labor processing times remain lengthy, and audited cases can experience even longer delays.
Stage 4: I-140 Immigrant Petition
Once PERM is approved, employers may file the I-140 Immigrant Petition.
This stage confirms that the position and employee qualify for employment-based permanent residency sponsorship.
Only after reaching this point does long-term immigration stability begin to improve significantly.
Why H1B Year 3 Is the Most Important Point in Your Immigration Journey
Many professionals think the six-year H1B limit means they have years remaining before making decisions.
Technically, that is true.
Strategically, it is not.
The employment-based green card process often takes years from start to finish.
Every delay pushes important milestones further into the future.
For workers whose H1B year 3 green card not started situation continues month after month, the available timeline begins shrinking much faster than most realize.
The earlier the process starts, the more flexibility remains available.
The longer it is delayed, the fewer options remain.
Three Questions Every H1B Worker Should Ask Their Employer
If you are uncertain whether your green card process has truly started, ask these questions.
1. Has a Prevailing Wage Request Been Filed?
A legitimate process should have documentation showing that the first stage has begun.
If nobody can confirm this, there may be no active process underway.
2. Which Immigration Attorney Is Handling My Case?
Employers actively pursuing sponsorship usually work with immigration counsel.
If no attorney has been assigned, it may indicate the process remains in discussion rather than action.
3. What Is the Sponsorship Timeline?
Companies committed to sponsorship generally provide clear expectations.
If every conversation results in vague answers, additional evaluation may be necessary.
The Cost of Waiting Another Year
The biggest risk is not simply delay.
The biggest risk is losing time that cannot be recovered later.
Every month without progress means:
- Later priority dates
- Longer waits in immigration queues
- Reduced flexibility
- Greater future uncertainty
Many H1B professionals discover this reality only after several years have already passed.
By then, options often become more limited.
Why More H1B Professionals Are Changing Employers in 2026
A growing number of skilled professionals are choosing employers based on immigration planning rather than salary alone.
Workers increasingly prioritize:
- Sponsorship transparency
- Defined green card timelines
- Long-term career planning
- Immigration stability
- Employer commitment
This trend is especially common among:
- Software engineers
- Cloud architects
- Cybersecurity specialists
- Data engineers
- Healthcare professionals
- Nurses
- Allied healthcare workers
For many candidates, immigration strategy has become a major factor in career decisions.
How MolinaTek Helps H1B Professionals Build a Long-Term Plan
At MolinaTek, we understand that career growth and immigration planning often go hand in hand.
Many professionals come to us after years of uncertainty surrounding sponsorship discussions.
Our team helps qualified candidates explore opportunities with organizations that understand the importance of long-term workforce planning.
We support professionals across:
- Information Technology
- Software Development
- Cloud Computing
- Cybersecurity
- Data Analytics
- Healthcare
- Nursing
- Allied Health
Rather than waiting indefinitely for sponsorship conversations to move forward, many professionals choose to evaluate opportunities where immigration planning is part of a broader long-term strategy.
What Happens If You Do Nothing?
If you are entering year three on H1B and your green card process has not started, doing nothing is still a decision.
Unfortunately, it is often the most expensive decision in terms of time.
Immigration timelines continue moving forward whether sponsorship starts or not.
Priority dates cannot be backdated.
Lost years cannot be recovered.
And opportunities that exist today may not exist later.
That is why more H1B professionals are taking a proactive approach to both career planning and immigration planning in 2026.
Conclusion
The biggest mistake many H1B professionals make is assuming there is always more time.
For workers facing an H1B year 3 green card not started situation, the reality is that immigration timelines, processing delays, and growing backlogs make early planning more important than ever.
The question is not whether time is passing.
The question is whether your green card process is moving forward while it does.
If you are unsure where your sponsorship stands, Molina Tek offers a free 15-minute consultation to help qualified IT and healthcare professionals understand their options, evaluate timelines, and make informed decisions about their future.
The earlier you understand your situation, the more choices you are likely to have.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No. Many immigration professionals recommend discussing sponsorship early because the process can take years.
Repeated delays without action may be a sign that sponsorship is not currently a priority.
Eligible H1B professionals can generally transfer employers under existing portability rules.
PERM establishes the foundation of the employment-based green card process and ultimately affects future priority dates.
In many cases, yes. Long-term immigration stability is often connected to long-term career decisions.