A U.S. Bachelor’s degree
or its equivalent in their specialty.
The regulations allow you to have the
equivalent of a U.S. Bachelor’s degree.
1. A 4-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited or
recognized foreign university or college will
generally be considered equivalent to a U.S.
bachelor’s degree.
NOTE: If you have less than a 4-year degree, U.S.
immigration allows you to ‘combine’ your degrees
if you have multiple degrees.
2. Regulations also allow you to
or in some cases use work experience only,
to meet the equivalency requirement.
NOTE: For H1B purposes, 3 years of progressive
work experience in the field will be considered the
equivalent of one year of U.S. university study.
VisaPro has developed a FREE Visa Eligibility tool.
A ‘Credential Evaluation’ for an H1B visa is the procedure that seeks to determine the equivalency of foreign
degrees and/or experience with education in the U.S.
Since H1B visa requires that applicants have a U.S. bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, USCIS must have evidence that your
foreign degree is ‘equivalent’ to a particular U.S. degree.
A Credential Evaluation establishes whether or not your foreign degree is ‘equivalent’ to a particular U.S. degree.
Harry, a British national is seeking a job in the US as an
electrical engineer. He completed an apprenticeship as an
electrician 18 years ago. The apprenticeship was extensive
with approximately 2 years of classroom work together
with on-the-job training. The classroom work covered the
theory and physics of electricity as well as the technical
aspects of the job.
1
With Harry’s apprenticeship and 18 years of progressive
experience leading to his current job in South Africa as an
electrical engineer, education credential evaluators and the
USCIS found that
.
He got his H1B petition approved and is happily
working in the US.
1
The equivalency to a united states bachelor’s or
advanced degree can be determined by one or more of
the following 5 methods.
1
An assessment from an official university employee who has
the power to grant college-level credit for training and/or
experience in the specialty at a recognized college or
university which has a program for granting such credit
based on an individual's training and/or work experience.
The recognized college-level equivalency examination
results or special credit programs, such as the Program on
Non collegiate Sponsored Instruction (PONSI); or College
Level Examination Program (CLEP).
2
An assessment of education by a trustworthy
credential evaluation service that specializes in
assessing foreign education evaluation for H1B.
3
Proof of certification or registration from a nationally
accredited professional association or society for the
specialty that is well-known to grant certification or
registration to people in the occupational specialty that
have attained a certain level of proficiency in the specialty.
4
A determination by the USCIS that the degree required by
the specialty occupation is equivalent and has been
acquired through a combination of education, focused
training, and/or work experience in areas related to the
specialty and that the foreign national has achieved
recognition of proficiency in the specialty occupation as a
result of such experience and training.
5
Michael graduated from what he thought was a well-known university in Sweden with a degree in computer
science. He was seeking a job in the IT industry in the US as a software engineer. He did not want to spend the money on an evaluation and did not believe that he
needed a credential evaluation because his degree was in computer science (and everybody knows what that is) and
it was from a ‘reputable’ university.
2
Unfortunately for Michael, the USCIS officer reviewing his case disagreed and asked for a credential evaluation in a
Request for Evidence.
When Michael sought out the credential evaluation, he found out that his degree program was not ‘accredited’ by
his own country’ education system and would not be deemed equivalent to a U.S. degree.
2
Michael’s employer had to withdraw the H1B petition.
2
VisaPro attorneys have handled complex foreign credential
evaluations for H1B visas involving degrees
from around the world.
We can assist you with procuring the most suitable evidence
by and the
which Credential Evaluation works best for you
with VisaPro’s FREE H1B Filing Consultation at:
About VisaPro
VisaPro was established in October 2002 with a dream to
provide exceptional U.S. immigration legal services at
reasonable costs to companies and individuals around the globe
and today we are proud to say that we have succeeded.
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and overall pleasantness made my job much easier. They assisted me every step of the way in
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