May 24
A common question is, “Do I need an education evaluation to qualify for an H-1B visa?”
H-1B visa occupations are professional-level jobs that require a U.S. bachelor’s degree, the equivalent or higher. Applicants with a foreign degree must prove it is equivalent to a specific U.S. degree by completing a Foreign Credential Evaluation, commonly called an H-1B education evaluation.
The Foreign Credential Evaluation contains the education credentials, field(s) of study, and the higher education institution description. The report includes the evaluator’s opinion on whether the foreign degree is the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree.
If the H1B visa applicant does not have a degree, they may utilize the 3-for-1 rule, which counts every three years of work experience as one year of academic study in a related field.
8 C.F.R. §214.2 (h)(4)(iii)(D)(5), the 3-for-1 rule, states: “For purposes of determining equivalency to a baccalaureate degree in the specialty, three years of specialized training and/or work experience must be demonstrated for each year of college-level training the alien lacks.”
To prove work experience equivalency, the H-1B applicant must complete a Foreign Credential Evaluation from a specially qualified evaluator (typically a person associated with a college or university.) The evaluation will include the H-1B applicant’s job titles, industry, and duties of previous employment. Any higher education coursework that the applicant enrolled in is also part of the evaluation, including the school’s name and location, the classes, and the study duration.
The Credential Evaluation report must also include a degree equivalency statement consisting of the evaluator’s name, title and organization, the name of the evaluation agency and the applicant’s equivalent degree.
For example:
Dr. Albert Einstein of Princeton University, on behalf of Relativity Evaluation Services, found Mr. Smith’s BS Degree in Horticulture from Oxford University in England to be equivalent to a four-year degree in Horticulture at an institution of Higher Education in the United States.
Recent Immigration Articles
Check out these articles below
– Additional Case Profiles In early 2025, the U.S. government launched an unprecedented immigration crackdown targeting foreign students and recent graduates involved in pro-Palestinian activism. President Donald Trump vowed to “find and deport” international students who joined campus protests criticizing Israel’s war in Gaza, and by late March the State Department had revoked the visas
Read MoreInvestigation into Recent Mass Student Visa Revocations (2024–2025) Background and Overview In late 2024 and early 2025, U.S. immigration authorities carried out a wave of student visa revocations that has affected hundreds of international students across the country. These actions have primarily targeted holders of F-1 student visas (including those on Optional Practical Training and
Read MoreH-1B Visa Lottery: Fiscal Year 2026 Comprehensive Update The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially completed the initial selection process for the Fiscal Year 2026 H-1B visa lottery. This lottery significantly impacts STEM engineers, IT professionals, researchers, and many other specialized workers aiming to advance their careers in the United States by obtaining
Read MoreUnderstanding the EB-4 Visa: Pathway for Special Immigrants The Employment-Based Fourth Preference (EB-4) visa serves as a crucial avenue for “special immigrants” to attain permanent residency in the United States. This category addresses unique immigration needs not encompassed by traditional employment or family-based visas. Eligibility Criteria for EB-4 Visa The EB-4 visa encompasses various
Read More