Demystifying Degree Evaluations for USCIS

Navigating U.S. immigration often requires proving your foreign education is equivalent to a U.S. degree. This guide breaks down the USCIS requirements for foreign degree evaluations.

For many employment-based visas and green card applications, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires applicants to demonstrate they possess a certain level of education. If your degree was earned outside the United States, you can't simply submit your foreign diploma. You need a **foreign degree evaluation** to show its U.S. equivalency.

A foreign degree evaluation is a report prepared by a professional evaluation service that analyzes your academic credentials and states their equivalence in terms of a U.S. degree or diploma. This report becomes the official evidence of your educational qualifications for USCIS.

gavelWhy Does USCIS Require an Evaluation?

Educational systems vary immensely worldwide. A "bachelor's degree" can mean different things in different countries, ranging from three to five years of study. USCIS needs a standardized way to determine if a foreign credential meets the specific requirements of a visa category, such as the H-1B visa's typical requirement of a U.S. bachelor's degree or its equivalent.

fact_checkChoosing a Credential Evaluation Service

While USCIS does not maintain an official list of "approved" evaluators, it's essential to choose a reputable service. The key factor for USCIS is a credible, logical, and well-documented report from an independent credentials evaluator. The evaluation must clearly justify its conclusion of U.S. equivalency. At D&T Evaluations, our experts specialize in preparing the detailed reports that meet USCIS standards, ensuring your academic history is presented clearly and accurately.

assignment_indCommon Visas Requiring Degree Evaluations

While the H-1B is the most well-known, several other U.S. visa and green card categories rely on credential evaluations to verify an applicant's qualifications. Here are some of the key ones:

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    EB-2 Advanced Degree Professional: To prove a foreign degree is equivalent to a U.S. Master's degree, or that a Bachelor's plus five years of experience meets the requirement.
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    EB-3 Professional/Skilled Worker: To demonstrate that a foreign degree meets the job's requirement for a U.S. Bachelor's degree.
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    L-1B Specialized Knowledge: An evaluation can help prove that a degree is related to the company's specialized area, strengthening the case.
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    O-1 Extraordinary Ability: Academic achievements are a key criterion. An evaluation quantifies the level of your foreign education for immigration officers.
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    TN Visa (USMCA): For Canadian and Mexican professionals to confirm their degree meets the requirements for their specific profession under the trade agreement.

descriptionTypes of Evaluations: Which One Do You Need?

Evaluation services typically offer two main types of reports. The one you need depends on the specifics of your immigration case.

1. Document-by-Document Evaluation (General Report)

This is the most common type needed for immigration. It identifies your credentials, the institution you attended, and provides a statement of its U.S. equivalency. It's often sufficient for cases where you simply need to prove you have the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's or master's degree.

2. Course-by-Course Evaluation

This report is more detailed. It lists every course you took, converts the credits or hours into U.S. semester credits, converts your grades to a U.S. GPA scale, and provides a U.S. equivalency. This is typically required for continuing education, professional licensing, or complex immigration cases where the specific field of study must be proven.

checklistThe Process and Required Documents

To get your credentials evaluated, you will need to provide the service with clear copies of your academic records. If your documents are not in English, they must be accompanied by a complete and certified English translation.

  • schoolDegree Certificate/Diploma: Proof that you were awarded the degree.
  • list_altTranscripts/Mark Sheets: A record of all subjects studied and grades received.
  • translateCertified English Translations: For any documents not originally in English.

help_outlineSpecial Cases: 3-Year Degrees and Work Experience

One common issue is the evaluation of three-year bachelor's degrees from countries like India or the UK. USCIS may not always consider a three-year degree as equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor's degree on its own. In these situations, an evaluation can sometimes use the **"three-for-one" rule**, where three years of progressive, professional work experience in your field can be substituted for one year of university study to achieve the bachelor's degree equivalency.

Trust D&T Evaluations with Your Credentials

A meticulously prepared foreign degree evaluation is a critical component of a successful USCIS application. Our team at D&T Evaluations provides the expert, reliable reports you need to satisfy immigration requirements with confidence.

Start Your USCIS Evaluation Today