Vanteo Blog

EB-3 Unskilled Visa Workers Make a Big Impact in Hotels

Written by Vanteo | October 15, 2025

Even with rising wages and competitive incentives, hotels continue to face empty positions that disrupt service quality. The U.S. hospitality industry is grappling with persistent labor shortages that show no signs of easing. Housekeeping departments report vacancy rates exceeding 20% in many markets, while food and beverage operations struggle to maintain consistent staffing levels.

These gaps directly affect your guests' experience and your bottom line. When housekeeping can't turn rooms on time or your restaurant operates on a skeleton crew, every aspect of the operation suffers. Traditional hiring approaches aren't solving the problem. The EB-3 unskilled visa program presents an opportunity to create a more sustainable workforce.

Understanding the EB-3 Visa Program

The EB-3 visa program, specifically the Unskilled or "Other Workers" category, offers hotels a means to recruit international workers for permanent, full-time positions that require less than two years of training or experience. Unlike temporary visa programs, EB-3 creates long-term workforce stability.

Here's what makes this different: you're not hiring seasonal help or temporary workers who'll leave in a few months. You're building a committed team of EB-3 hospitality workers who view their roles as career opportunities, not steppingstones. These individuals have invested significantly in relocating to the United States and are motivated to succeed in their positions.

What employers gain is much more than filling vacancies. EB-3 visa workers in hotels typically demonstrate lower turnover rates, stronger workplace commitment, and greater reliability than traditional hiring channels provide. This isn't a temporary fix. It's a strategic approach to building a stable, dedicated workforce.

EB-3 workers make a substantial commitment to relocate to the U.S. and are eager to excel in their roles.

Where EB-3 Workers Create the Most Impact in Hotels

Housekeeping: The Foundation of Guest Satisfaction

Housekeeping remains the most challenging department to staff in post-pandemic hospitality. The physical demands, irregular hours, and limited career advancement opportunities make domestic recruitment difficult. Yet housekeeping quality directly determines guest satisfaction and your ability to generate revenue through room availability.

EB-3 workers address this challenge head-on. Hotels partnering with global talent through the EB-3 visa program often report significant improvements in room turnover consistency and cleanliness standards. When your housekeeping team shows up reliably, maintains quality standards, and stays with your property long-term, guest satisfaction scores reflect the difference.

The operational impact extends throughout the property. Consistent housekeeping staffing means fewer last-minute room blocks and reduced stress on remaining team members. Your existing staff experiences less burnout when they're not regularly covering for unfilled positions. 

Food and Beverage Service: Stability Where It Matters Most

Food and beverage operations face challenges on multiple fronts, front-of-house servers, back-of-house kitchen support, and essential roles like dishwashers. Each position contributes to the dining experience, and gaps anywhere in the chain create bottlenecks that guests notice.

EB-3 visa workers bring much-needed stability to these operations. Whether supporting kitchen teams, maintaining dining room service standards, or ensuring clean dishes flow consistently, these workers reduce the training churn that drains productivity and morale. When your F&B team isn't frequently onboarding new hires, service quality becomes predictable.

For guests, this translates to smoother dining experiences and reliable service quality. Your team can focus on hospitality rather than damage control. For your operations, it means reduced waste, better inventory management, and more efficient shift transitions.

Maintenance and Groundskeeping: The Backbone of Property Excellence

Maintenance and groundskeeping roles often receive less attention than guest-facing positions, but they're essential to operational excellence. A well-maintained property prevents guest complaints, reduces emergency repair costs, and preserves your asset value. Yet these positions face their own staffing challenges.

EB-3 unskilled visa workers fill critical gaps in property upkeep and preventive maintenance. Hotels utilizing this workforce solution report fewer emergency contractor calls and more consistent property standards. When you have reliable maintenance staff, you shift from reactive to proactive operations, catching issues before they become expensive problems.

The financial impact is substantial. Consistent staffing in maintenance reduces outsourcing costs and allows for better planning around property improvements. Your maintenance team can focus on systematic upkeep rather than triaging crises.

Laundry and Support Services: Behind-the-Scenes Consistency

Laundry and support services operate behind the scenes, but their impact resonates throughout your entire operation. Without clean linens, towels, and uniforms flowing consistently, every department suffers. Yet laundry departments are often the first to experience staffing shortages and the last to receive attention.

EB-3 hospitality workers provide the consistent staffing that keeps these essential operations running smoothly. When your laundry team maintains steady output, housekeeping can meet room turnover targets, F&B has clean linens for service, and your property maintains the polish that guests expect.

This consistency creates a ripple effect. Departments stop competing for limited laundry resources, supervisors spend less time firefighting, and your operation runs with the predictability that allows for strategic planning rather than crisis management.

The Business Benefits: Beyond Filling Jobs 

The impact of EB-3 unskilled visa workers in hotels exceeds filling vacant positions. Let's examine the broader business benefits that make this a strategic investment rather than just another hiring solution.

Reduced turnover and recruiting costs: Continual recruitment drains resources. Advertising, screening, interviewing, and training never stop when turnover runs high. EB-3 workers typically demonstrate significantly longer tenure, allowing you to redeploy those resources toward growth initiatives.

Long-term workforce stability and predictability: When you can reliably forecast your staffing levels months ahead rather than scrambling week to week, you make better business decisions. You can accept group bookings with confidence, plan renovations without staffing anxiety, and focus on strategic initiatives.

Improved team morale and reduced burnout: Your existing staff suffers when they regularly cover for unfilled positions. Bringing EB-3 unskilled workers aboard relieves that pressure, reduces overtime fatigue, and helps retain the experienced team members you've worked hard to develop.

Consistent service standards drive guest satisfaction: Hotel workforce challenges directly impact guest reviews and repeat business. When your team provides consistent, reliable service, guests notice. And your reputation strengthens accordingly. This consistency becomes your competitive advantage.

How Hotels Can Get Started with the EB-3 Program

Getting started with the EB-3 unskilled visa program requires understanding employer eligibility and following a structured process.

  • Your hotel must offer permanent, full-time positions and demonstrate the ability to pay the prevailing wage for the role and location.
  • The process involves labor certification, visa petitioning, and coordination between multiple government agencies.
  • EB-3 applications can take a while to move through the system, so it’s important to start the process early.

Partnering with an experienced EB-3 immigration consulting firm streamlines the process significantly. The right partner handles compliance requirements, manages documentation, and helps you navigate the complexities while you focus on running your property.

While the EB-3 visa process timeline requires patience, long-term stability makes the investment worthwhile.

The Future of Hospitality Staffing

EB-3 unskilled visa workers are strengthening the foundation of the hospitality industry. As traditional labor markets fail to meet demand, global talent offers a sustainable path forward. Hotels that embrace this workforce solution position themselves for consistent service delivery, improved guest experiences, and long-term operational stability.

The future of hospitality staffing requires thinking beyond next quarter's hiring targets. It demands strategic approaches that build dedicated teams committed to your property's success. EB-3 hospitality workers represent that future: reliable, motivated professionals who view their roles as careers worth investing in.

Talk to Vanteo today to learn what’s possible for your hotel.

Vanteo is not a law firm, and this information should not be considered legal advice. Participation in U.S. visa programs is subject to eligibility, regulatory requirements, and government approval. Past performance does not guarantee future outcomes.