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.

VisaPro offers services in the following areas:

Investor and Entrepreneur Advisory Services

Work Visas: E-3, H-1B, H-2B, H-3, L-1, O, P-1, P-3, TN

Investor Visas: E-1, E-2, EB-5

Green Cards

Employer Immigration Compliance

Washington, DC

1050 17th Street NWSuite 1000

Washington, DC 20036

New York

520 White Plains Road Suite 500

Tarrytown, NY 10591

1100 S Hope St.Suite 103

Los Angeles, CA 90015

Los Angeles

Contact Us

“I have had the pleasure of working with the staff at VisaPro. Their knowledge, professionalism

and overall pleasantness made my job much easier. They assisted me every step of the way in

applying for an H1B Visa, I could not imagine getting through this process without them. I would

highly recommend VisaPro to anyone applying for a Visa. I would most definitely use VisaPro

again”

Beverly Brawer,

United States Luggage Company LLC