An academic credential evaluation is a formal assessment of your foreign degree, diploma, or academic qualification against US educational standards. The evaluation produces a written report that states the US equivalent of your foreign qualification — for example, a three-year Indian Bachelor of Engineering is evaluated as equivalent to a US Bachelor of Science in Engineering.
Educational systems vary significantly across countries — degree lengths, grading scales, credit systems, and qualification names differ from one country to the next. A US employer, university, or USCIS adjudicator cannot automatically determine the US equivalent of a foreign degree without an independent evaluation. An academic credential evaluation provides that equivalency in a formal, documented report that carries professional authority.
USCIS adjudicators use academic evaluation reports to verify that a beneficiary holds the educational qualifications required for an employment-based visa petition. US universities use them to determine admission eligibility and course placement. Employers use them to confirm that a foreign candidate's qualifications meet the minimum requirements for a position. Professional licensing boards use them to assess eligibility for US licensure in fields such as medicine, engineering, and nursing.
An academic evaluation provides a general degree equivalency statement — for example, "the applicant holds the equivalent of a US Bachelor of Science." A course-by-course evaluation provides a detailed subject-by-subject breakdown of every course completed, including credit hours and grades. For most immigration petitions and general employment purposes, an academic evaluation is sufficient. Universities and professional licensing boards that require detailed transcript analysis typically request a course-by-course evaluation. If you are unsure which you need, our free review will confirm the right service for your situation.
Academic credential evaluations are required across a wide range of immigration, employment, and educational situations. Below are the most common cases where an evaluation report is needed.
USCIS requires that a beneficiary's educational qualifications be documented and verified for employment-based visa petitions. If your degree was earned outside the United States, an academic evaluation establishes the US equivalent and confirms that your qualifications meet the minimum educational requirements for the position. This is particularly important for H-1B specialty occupation petitions and EB-2 and EB-3 employment-based green card applications.
Self-petitioners filing for EB-2 National Interest Waiver or EB-1 extraordinary ability must demonstrate that their educational background meets the standard for the category. An academic evaluation provides the formal documentation USCIS needs to assess your qualifications independently. For EB-2 NIW petitioners especially, combining an academic evaluation with an Expert Opinion Letter significantly strengthens the petition package.
US universities and graduate programs require international applicants to submit an academic credential evaluation as part of the admissions process. The evaluation confirms your degree level and academic standing in terms US admissions officers can assess directly. Whether you are applying to an undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral program, an academic evaluation from an accredited provider is a standard requirement at most institutions.
Foreign-trained professionals seeking US licensure in fields such as engineering, nursing, pharmacy, architecture, and social work are often required to submit an academic credential evaluation to the relevant licensing board. Licensing requirements vary by state and profession — our team can advise on the specific evaluation format required for your licensing application.
If USCIS has issued a Request for Evidence questioning whether a beneficiary's foreign degree meets the educational requirements for a visa petition, an academic evaluation report is the primary document used to respond. Our Express plan delivers evaluation reports in 1 to 3 days — well within most RFE response deadlines. We also work alongside our Expert Opinion Letter service for RFE responses that require both credential documentation and field-expert validation.
We evaluate foreign academic qualifications at all levels, from secondary school certificates to doctoral degrees, issued by institutions in any country.
We evaluate three-year, four-year, and five-year bachelor's degree programs from all countries and assess their equivalency to a US Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or other four-year undergraduate degree. The evaluation report specifies the field of study and confirms whether the degree meets the minimum educational requirement for the relevant visa category or employment position.
We evaluate postgraduate degrees, master's programs, and professional degrees from all countries and assess their equivalency to a US Master of Arts, Master of Science, or relevant professional master's degree. For immigration purposes, a master's degree equivalency is particularly relevant for EB-2 petitions and advanced professional positions.
We evaluate doctoral and PhD degrees from international institutions and assess their equivalency to a US Doctor of Philosophy or relevant doctoral qualification. Doctoral evaluations are commonly required for EB-1B outstanding researcher petitions and senior academic positions.
We evaluate diploma programs, post-diploma qualifications, and professional certificates from international institutions. Depending on the program length and content, these may be evaluated as equivalent to a US associate degree, one to two years of university coursework, or a relevant professional certification.
We evaluate secondary school leaving certificates, higher secondary certificates, A-levels, and equivalent qualifications from international school systems. These evaluations are commonly required for US university undergraduate admissions and for immigration cases where secondary qualifications form part of the educational background being assessed.
The documents required for an academic evaluation depend on your qualification level. All documents must be submitted in English or accompanied by a certified English translation. If your documents are in another language, we can provide translation services alongside your evaluation.
Submit the official degree certificate or diploma issued by your university or institution. This is the primary document confirming that you completed your program and were awarded your qualification. If your original certificate has been submitted to a government office or is unavailable, contact us — we can advise on acceptable alternatives in most cases.
Official academic transcripts or mark sheets showing all courses completed, grades received, and years of study are required for most evaluations. These documents allow our evaluators to assess the content and level of your program in detail. Transcripts should cover all years of your program, not just the final year.
If your evaluation includes secondary or higher secondary qualifications — such as a 10th or 12th standard certificate, O-levels, A-levels, or an equivalent — submit those certificates and mark sheets as well. These are particularly important when your bachelor's degree program length is being assessed in the context of total years of education.
All documents submitted for evaluation must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation. Documents in any other language cannot be evaluated without a translation. If you need translation services, we offer certified translation starting from $30 per page alongside your academic evaluation — contact us to arrange both services together.
Our evaluation process is straightforward and built around your timeline. From submission to delivery, we keep you informed at every step.
Upload your documents through our application form or send them by email. Our team reviews your submission the same day, confirms which evaluation type is right for your situation, and provides a quote and estimated delivery timeline. You do not pay until you have confirmed the service and timeline.
Your documents are assigned to a professional evaluator with experience in the educational system of the country where your degree was issued. Evaluators assess your qualification in the context of the educational framework of your country — not just by document title — to produce an accurate and defensible equivalency determination.
Your evaluator reviews all submitted documents, assesses the level and content of your qualification, and prepares a formal evaluation report stating the US equivalent of your degree. The report includes the evaluator's credentials, the basis for the equivalency determination, and all required certification statements for USCIS or institutional submission.
Your completed evaluation report is delivered as a PDF formatted for direct USCIS submission or institutional use. The report includes the evaluator's signed certification. Physical copies are available on request. We retain your report on file for 90 days in case a duplicate is needed.
Our academic evaluation pricing is straightforward, transparent, and based on the type of evaluation report required. There are no hidden fees or surprise charges. All reports include the required certifications for USCIS or institutional submission.
Recommended for employment, licensing, and immigration purposes (including USCIS petitions). Includes a statement of US degree equivalency, course-by-course breakdown with semester credits and grades, grade point average (GPA) conversion on a 4.0 scale, and upper-level course identification. Delivery within 5 business days.
Recommended for immigration (USCIS), general employment, and basic admission requirements. Provides verification of your international credentials, the US degree equivalency (e.g., Bachelor of Science), and the field of study. Delivered as a formal PDF report within 5 business days. Most popular choice for standard USCIS filings.
Built for urgent deadlines, RFE responses, and time-sensitive visa applications. Same comprehensive evaluation report (Course-by-Course or General) with guaranteed priority processing and delivery within 24 to 48 hours from document confirmation. Recommended when your filing deadline requires expedited turnaround.
A software engineer from India held a three-year Bachelor of Engineering degree from a recognized Indian university. The petitioning employer needed to establish that this degree was equivalent to a US Bachelor of Science in Computer Science to satisfy the H-1B specialty occupation requirement. Our Standard plan delivered the academic evaluation report in three business days. The evaluation clearly established the US equivalency and the H-1B petition was approved.
A biomedical researcher from Nigeria held a five-year medical degree and a postgraduate diploma in research. For her EB-2 NIW self-petition, she needed both an academic evaluation and an Expert Opinion Letter. Our team coordinated both services — the academic evaluation established her equivalent US master's level qualification, and the Expert Opinion Letter addressed all three Dhanasar prongs. Her I-140 was approved without an RFE.
A Chinese applicant seeking admission to a US graduate program needed an academic evaluation of her four-year undergraduate degree from a Chinese university. The Economy plan delivered her evaluation report in five business days — well before her application deadline. The report was accepted by the admissions office and she was admitted to her chosen program.
Clear answers about academic credential evaluations, USCIS standards, degree equivalencies, and delivery times.
An academic credential evaluation is a formal assessment of your foreign degree or diploma against US educational standards, prepared by a credentialed professional evaluator. The evaluation produces a written report stating the US equivalent of your qualification — for example, a four-year Indian engineering degree evaluated as equivalent to a US Bachelor of Science in Engineering. This report is used by USCIS, US employers, universities, and professional licensing boards to assess your educational background.
Yes. Our academic credential evaluations are prepared by accredited professionals and meet USCIS documentation requirements. We are a member of TAICEP — The Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals. Our evaluation reports include all required elements: the evaluator's credentials, the basis for the equivalency determination, and the evaluator's signed certification statement. We have supported successful immigration petitions across H-1B, EB-2, EB-3, and other employment-based categories.
An academic evaluation provides a general degree equivalency — for example, "the applicant holds the equivalent of a US Bachelor of Science." A course-by-course evaluation provides a detailed breakdown of every course, credit hour, and grade, subject by subject. For most immigration petitions and employment purposes, an academic evaluation is sufficient. Universities and licensing boards that require detailed transcript analysis typically request a course-by-course evaluation. If you are unsure which you need, our free review will confirm the right service for your situation.
For most evaluations you will need your degree certificate or diploma and your official academic transcripts or mark sheets covering all years of your program. If your evaluation includes secondary qualifications, submit those certificates as well. All documents must be in English or accompanied by a certified translation. If you are unsure what to submit, contact us before uploading — our team will confirm exactly what is needed for your specific situation.
Yes. All documents submitted for evaluation must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation. We offer certified translation services starting from $30 per page — contact us to arrange translation and evaluation together, which simplifies the process and can reduce overall turnaround time.
Economy plan delivers in 5 to 7 business days. Standard plan delivers in 3 to 4 business days. Express plan delivers in 1 to 3 business days. Exact timelines are confirmed during your free case review based on your documents and requirements. Our team is available 24/7 and the process begins as soon as your documents are received.
Yes. Our academic evaluation reports are accepted by US universities and graduate programs for admissions purposes. If you need a specific format required by a particular institution, let us know when you submit your documents and we will confirm whether our standard report meets their requirements or whether any additional elements are needed.
The equivalency determination depends on your specific degree, institution, program length, and country of study. We cannot confirm equivalency before reviewing your documents. In general, a four-year bachelor's degree from a recognized institution is typically evaluated as equivalent to a US bachelor's degree in the relevant field. Contact us for a free review and we will give you a realistic expectation based on your specific situation before you commit to any service.
Yes. We work directly with immigration attorneys and law firms who require academic credential evaluations for their clients' petitions. We deliver in attorney-ready format and can coordinate directly with your office. Contact us to discuss volume arrangements for law firm accounts.
An academic evaluation report is the primary document used to respond to a USCIS RFE questioning a beneficiary's educational qualifications. Our Express plan delivers in 1 to 3 business days — well within most RFE response deadlines. For RFE situations that also require an Expert Opinion Letter, we can coordinate both services to ensure your response package is complete and consistent.
Submit your documents and tell us your timeline. We review your case the same day, confirm the right evaluation type, and deliver a USCIS-ready report on your schedule.
