An RFE (Request for Evidence) can be scary for anyone applying for an H1B or an educational visa in the United States. If you are a student in an F1 program or an IT professional with an application for a H1B, then you receive a Request for Evidence (RFE) from a US government agency, you must be very careful to respond to all parts of the rfe accurately & quickly.
Any mistakes made when responding to an RFE could potentially ruin your immigration application. Fortunately, there are many professional RFE response services available to help reduce your fears and provide you with expert strategies, reviews of your documents and USCIS compliant guidance.
With the right professional RFE response service, you can have confidence that your chances of getting your visa are significantly increased and actually guaranteed.
What Is a Request for Evidence (RFE)?
A Request for Evidence (RFE) is a formal notice issued by USCIS when additional documentation is needed to decide an immigration petition. An RFE does not indicate denial, but it signals that the officer requires clearer or stronger evidence.
In education and specialty occupation RFEs, USCIS typically questions whether the beneficiary’s degree is equivalent to a US degree or whether the job genuinely requires specialized knowledge.
The RFE notice outlines specific issues and provides a deadline to submit a complete response. Submitting well-prepared expert evaluations and opinion letters is essential to avoid delays or denials.
An RFE does not indicate denial, but it signals that the officer requires clearer or stronger evidence.
Top 6 RFE Response Services Providers
1. Document Evaluation LLC
Document Evaluation LLC specializes in providing RFE (Request For Evidence) response services for education equivalencies and specialty occupations. The professionals at Document Evaluation will read the specific language used in your RFE to prepare Letters of Expert Opinion and Educational Evaluation that conforms to all USCIS requirements and clearly describes your foreign education, work experience-based qualifications, & US job requirements. Document Evaluation provides its services for H-1B Specialty Occupation RFEs and EB-2 NIW education-related RFEs and more.
Because Document Evaluation focuses on targeted documentary evidence rather than generic report formats, their customers can develop highly structured and convincing RFE responses within the strict time constraints imposed by USCIS.
Explore this service: Document Evaluation: Best Credential Evaluation Services USA
2. Morningside Evaluations
Morningside Evaluations has consistently ranked on the 1st page of search results for Immigration Credential Evaluation and is widely trusted by US Immigration Attorneys.
The Morningside team focuses on evaluating foreign education and foreign work experience and is commonly used to prepare RFE responses. Morningside’s evaluation report clearly defines the degree level, the areas of study related to the beneficiary’s occupation and the equivalent US document that corresponds to the educational credentials.
Morningside has a proven track record in successfully addressing when an RFE has called into question whether the education of a beneficiary is sufficient to meet the qualifications of a Specialty Occupation. All of Morningside’s evaluations include a well-organized format with clear and concise documentation for all USCIS processes.
Explore this service: Morningside Evaluations
3. Trustforte Corporation
Trustforte is one of the top names in providing immigration credential evaluations and expert opinions regarding immigration matters (such as responding to requests for further evidence (RFE) related to education equivalency, job qualification disputes, and specialty occupations).
Trustforte provides evaluations of international degrees according to US education requirements, and explains why specific job roles require specialized degrees. Because Trustforte has been in business for many years and possesses a high degree of credibility, attorneys frequently cite Trustforte’s evaluations when responding to challenging RFEs from USCIS.
Explore this service: The Trustforte Corporation
4. Foundation for International Services (FIS)
The Foundation for International Services (FIS) is an industry leader in providing high-quality expert opinion letters, with a network of university professors and industry experts who support their services as a trusted source of information for all types of RFEs in education and specialty occupations such as the H-1B, EB-1, O-1, & EB-2 National Interest Waiver categories.
The content in FIS letters focuses on explaining the academic equivalency, level of professional and job complexity consistent with USCIS adjudication standards. With their credentials, FIS is a trusted source for challenging RFEs.
Explore this service: Foundation for International Services (FIS)
5. International Education Evaluations (IEE) – Immigration-Focused RFE Documentation
International Education Evaluations (IEE) is a top provider, providing credential evaluations and expert opinion letters for immigration RFEs. Their service helps clarify how foreign systems compare to US standards and how job descriptions meet specialty occupation criteria.
Many RFEs related to education use IEE evaluations, and many USCIS cases have questions about the relevance of an applicant’s field of study. Their evaluations are clear, to the point, and well-organized to be used in the initial filing as well as in a response to RFE.
Explore this service: International Education Evaluations (IEE) – Immigration-Focused RFE Documentation
6. Park Evaluations – Employment-Based RFE Expert Letters
Park Evaluations is one of the most recognized providers of Expert Opinion Letter Services for employment-based immigration cases, especially in response to Requests for Evidence (RFEs). They offer services that include assessing the validity of specialty occupation claims, providing evidence of prior relevant work experience, and validating job requirements.
Park Evaluations has been able to provide effective solutions for USCIS requesting further clarification on whether or not a given job is actually considered “specialty occupation” status and/or if any given requirement is overly restrictive. Providing letters produced by Park Evaluation assists clients throughout H-1B RFE cycles, as well as during the course of PERM audits and employer-sponsored immigration matters.
Explore this service: Park Evaluations – Employment-Based RFE Expert Letters
Let’s Wrap this up!
When requesting for evidence (RFE) regarding educational and special occupations, it is imperative to provide precise and detailed documentation with professional opinions to support the applicant’s case. Unfortunately, using generic responses or using a “one-size-fits-all” approach to addressing USCIS concerns will not be effective.
The top-rated RFE specialists above assist their clients with producing a robust, compliant USCIS response through evaluation of RFE documentation and a comprehensive written opinion from a qualified professional.
Of the companies listed above, Document Evaluation LLC is unique due to its focus on RFEs, has extensive experience evaluating education equivalencies and speciality occupations for company files, and provides excellent service to applicants and attorneys who are faced with complicated RFEs.
Frequently Asked Questions!
If foreign degrees or work experience do not meet US academic standards or visa requirements, USCIS will issue a Request for Evidence (RFE) for Educational Qualifications.
An Academic Specialty Occupation RFE is issued when there is a disagreement about whether an individual’s job requires an academic specialty based upon a higher level of knowledge & whether or not that individual has the appropriate education degree.
Expert opinion letters provide independent assessments regarding equivalencies between foreign degrees or work experience & US Requirements, as well as providing information concerning the complexity of the job duties.
Yes, but in many cases, a combination of your education and your work experience may be examined to determine the equivalency of your US Degree.
Common Types of Visas That Receive Educational / Specialty Occupation RFEs Including the Use of Work Experience Only to Fulfil Education Requirements - H-1B, EB-2 NIW, EB-1, O-1, TN, PERM, and/or Other Types Of Immigration Applications
Using a professional service is not required; however, it can greatly enhance the clarity of RFE responses, in particular, as well as the overall strength and credibility of the response.
Most providers have standard and expedited options, with the normal processing time for requests being generally within 1 week, or 2 weeks for an expedited service.
A response that is incomplete and/or not strong enough can lead to the denial of a petition, regardless of whether or not the petition would be strong on its own merits.