H1B RFEs frequently stem from education-related issues that catch applicants off guard. The H1B visa targets highly skilled professionals who possess a US bachelor’s degree or higher, or its foreign equivalent, to fill specialty occupation roles. Educational requirements form the backbone of H1B approval decisions, and these standards can become complicated quickly. Different nations maintain distinct education systems, structures, and equivalency standards. The situation becomes more challenging when degrees from various countries share identical English translations yet carry vastly different academic weight.
When you or your employee or client encounters an H1B education challenge, recognizing the problem and implementing the right solution during RFE response becomes crucial. Below we examine frequent H1B education pitfalls and effective strategies to overcome them.
Poor Quality Transcript Translations
H1B petition submissions require CIS to receive all educational documents translated into English and assessed for US academic equivalence. Certain degrees resist direct English translation. Simultaneously, numerous degrees translate seamlessly into English regarding terminology, yet the underlying academic substance differs completely. This explains why degrees require both translation AND evaluation, as these represent highly specialized professional services. Translation agencies sometimes exceed their professional boundaries by making educational value assessments alongside language conversion. This creates a significant H1B education pitfall that grows increasingly dangerous as translation agencies promote themselves as comprehensive “one-stop solutions” for translation and evaluation services. Credential assessment demands individual case analysis since each educational journey remains unique, every institution maintains distinct characteristics, and each country operates under exclusive structural frameworks. Qualified evaluators must possess deep understanding of these distinctions, plus federal case law, CIS precedent decisions, degree program entry requirements, and international trade agreements to produce accurate assessments of your degree, or your employee or client’s credentials. Translation agencies lack this specialized expertise and instead rely on restrictive equivalency databases like EDGE, which functions as a conservative reference tool rather than a true standardized equivalency system since no such standardized database actually exists.
When you or your employee or client faces an RFE due to inadequate translation, consult a credential evaluation agency that maintains regular experience with H1B RFE matters. Expert evaluators can identify translation deficiencies and provide appropriate assessments accordingly.
Institution Lacks Government Accreditation
The reality remains that many institutions worldwide deliver excellent educational programs that thoroughly prepare professionals for highly specialized careers without holding government accreditation. This means you or your employee or client might possess legitimate education from an institution held in high regard within your professional field, or your employee or client’s professional field, yet the institution’s non-accredited status prevents CIS from approving the visa.
This represents an RFE challenge that offers variable recovery prospects. When you have, or your employee or client possesses substantial progressive work experience within their specialty occupation field, a qualified credential evaluator with proper authority can convert professional experience years into college credits to establish US bachelor’s degree equivalency that CIS will accept. Determining viability works best BEFORE petition filing, though even if you encountered this H1B challenge for FY2017 you might still achieve RFE resolution and secure visa approval.
Bachelor’s Degree Actually Represents High School Completion
This scenario occurs with surprising frequency. High school diploma misidentification as a Bachelor’s degree can result from cross-cultural miscommunication, inadequate translations, and reliance on incorrect information. H1B educational standards mandate candidates hold US bachelor’s degrees or higher, or equivalent credentials. High school diplomas – including foreign equivalents of US high school completion – prove insufficient for approval.
When you or your employee or client faces this H1B education challenge, contact a credential evaluator who maintains experience working with H1B RFEs. Any post-secondary education from accredited institutions can contribute toward bachelor’s degree equivalency, combined with progressive work experience years that you possess, or your employee or client possesses within the employment field. This represents a difficult mistake to recover from, and you might discover that you or your employee or client has been pursuing an incorrect visa option from the start. However, opportunities still exist to recover from this H1B education challenge.
About Sheila Danzig
Sheila Danzig is the executive director of TheDegreePeople.com and a leading expert in foreign degree evaluations. She is widely recognized for her innovative approach to difficult cases, helping thousands of clients successfully obtain visa approvals even when facing RFEs or denials. Her expertise in USCIS requirements and commitment to providing personalized, effective solutions make her a trusted resource for professionals navigating the immigration process.
Get a Free Review of Your Case
If you’ve received an RFE, don’t wait. Sheila Danzig and TheDegreePeople.com offer a free review of your case to determine the best course of action. Our expertise has helped thousands of professionals, including H-1B applicants, secure approvals even in challenging cases.
To get your free case review, visit www.ccifree.com today. Don’t let an RFE stand in your way—get the expert help you need to strengthen your petition and move forward with confidence.