Sheila Danzig

In today’s job market, having the right credentials is crucial. However, the surge in the number of educational programs and certifications has given rise to numerous scams. To help you navigate this complex landscape and avoid falling victim to fraudulent credentials, here are some essential tips from TheDegreePeople.com, guided by insights from Sheila Danzig.

1. Research the Institution Thoroughly
Before enrolling in any educational program, investigate the institution’s reputation. Verify its accreditation status through recognized accrediting bodies, which can often be confirmed via the U.S. Department of Education’s website or other reliable sources. Avoid programs from institutions with dubious or no accreditation.

2. Question Unfamiliar Credentials
If you encounter credentials you’ve never heard of, don’t hesitate to ask the issuing institution or the credential holder for more information. Nate Tsang of WallStreetZen emphasizes the importance of understanding what a credential signifies by directly questioning applicants about their learning experiences.

3. Look Out for Quick Fixes
Beware of programs that promise fast and easy degrees or certificates. Authentic education takes time and effort. If a program claims you can earn a credential in an unrealistically short time frame with little effort, it’s likely a scam.

4. Verify the Credential’s Authenticity
Use services like Credential Engine, which aims to catalog and verify educational credentials. Although it has only catalogued a small percentage of the millions of credentials out there, it can still be a valuable resource for checking the legitimacy of a program.

5. Consult Reliable Reviews and Testimonials
Look for reviews and testimonials from reputable sources. Websites like the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot can provide insights into the experiences of other individuals. Be wary if you find many negative reviews or consistent complaints about a particular credential.

6. Understand the Cost Structure
Legitimate programs will have transparent pricing structures. Be cautious of those demanding large upfront payments or those with hidden fees. Clear and detailed financial information is a hallmark of reputable educational programs.

7. Check for Government Warnings
Government agencies sometimes issue warnings about fraudulent institutions and scams. Regularly check websites like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or your local consumer protection office for any alerts or warnings about educational scams.

8. Seek Employer and Industry Validation
Consult with employers or industry professionals to ensure that the credential is recognized and valued within your field. This can save you from investing in a program that won’t benefit your career.

9. Be Skeptical of Flashy Advertising
Scammers often use aggressive and flashy advertising to lure victims. If you see advertisements that seem too good to be true, investigate further before making any commitments. Remember, legitimate educational programs rely on their reputation more than on marketing gimmicks.

10. Trust Your Instincts
If something feels off about a program or institution, trust your instincts and take the time to investigate further. It’s better to be cautious than to fall for a scam.

Conclusion

Education credential certificate scams can have serious consequences, but by following these tips from TheDegreePeople.com and Sheila Danzig, you can protect yourself from fraudulent schemes. Always conduct thorough research, verify the legitimacy of the programs, and be vigilant about any red flags. Your diligence will ensure that the credentials you pursue are valuable and respected in your professional journey.

Let us review your cases at no charge what so ever at www.CCIFree.com

About Sheila Danzig

Sheila Danzig, the director of CCI TheDegreePeople.com, excels in resolving RFEs and denials for work visas, specializing in educational and employment visa challenges.

Sheila Danzig of TheDegreePeople.com provides crucial advice for managing I-140 Requests for Evidence (RFEs). Key tips include understanding RFE requirements, organizing responses clearly, gathering complete supporting documents, ensuring accuracy, and seeking expert help. Following these guidelines can improve the chances of a successful petition.

Handling an I-140 Request for Evidence (RFE) can be challenging, but Sheila Danzig of TheDegreePeople.com offers expert advice to navigate this process effectively.

Understand the RFE: 
Carefully read the RFE notice to comprehend what additional information or documentation is required. Knowing exactly what is being requested is crucial for a thorough and accurate response.

Organize Your Response: 
Structure your response in a clear and organized manner. Include a cover letter that outlines the contents of your response package and addresses each point raised in the RFE.

Gather Supporting Evidence:
Collect all necessary documents that support your case. This may include employment verification letters, educational credentials, proof of work experience, and any other relevant evidence.

Be Thorough and Accurate:
Ensure that all provided information is accurate and complete. Inaccuracies or missing information can lead to further delays or a denial of your petition.

Seek Expert Help: 
In addition to consulting with immigration experts or attorneys who specialize in I-140 petitions contact a foriegn credential evaluation service that can provide needed documentation to support your case. 

Sheila Danzig of CCI / TheDegreePeople.com will review your case at no charge to either prevent or overturn an RFE.

This expertise can be invaluable in ensuring your response is comprehensive and compelling.

Highlight Critical Points:
Emphasize the key elements of your petition that demonstrate your qualifications and the merits of your case. Make it easy for the reviewer to see why your petition should be approved.

Meet the Deadline:
Submit your response well before the deadline provided in the RFE notice. Timely submission is essential to avoid any negative impact on your petition.

Follow Up:
After submitting your response, monitor the status of your petition. If you do not receive a timely update, consider following up with the USCIS for a status check. By following these tips from Sheila Danzig of TheDegreePeople.com, you can improve your chances of successfully addressing an I-140 RFE and moving forward with your immigration process.

Let us review your cases at no charge what so ever at www.CCIFree.com

About Sheila Danzig

Sheila Danzig, the director of CCI TheDegreePeople.com, excels in resolving RFEs and denials for work visas, specializing in educational and employment visa challenges.

Understanding RFEs

An RFE is essentially a request from USCIS for additional information or evidence to support your immigration application. It’s important to note that receiving an RFE doesn’t necessarily mean your application will be denied. Instead, it’s an opportunity for you to provide the necessary documentation to strengthen your case.

RFEs can be triggered by various reasons, including missing documents, incomplete forms, inconsistencies in the provided information, or doubts about the applicant’s eligibility. Understanding the specific reason for the RFE is crucial for crafting an effective response.

How to Respond to an RFE

Responding to an RFE requires careful attention to detail and thoroughness. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to tackle it:

1. Read Carefully: Take the time to thoroughly review the RFE and understand the specific information or evidence requested by USCIS. Pay close attention to any deadlines mentioned in the request.

2. Gather Documentation: Collect all necessary documents and evidence to address the concerns raised in the RFE. This may include affidavits, letters of support, financial records, or any other relevant materials. Make sure to organize your documents in a clear and concise manner.

3. Craft a Detailed Response: Write a comprehensive response that directly addresses each point raised in the RFE. Provide clear explanations and supporting evidence to strengthen your case. Be sure to follow USCIS guidelines and format your response accordingly.

4. Seek Professional Assistance: If you’re unsure about how to respond to the RFE or need help gathering evidence, consider seeking assistance from a qualified immigration attorney or consultant. They can provide valuable guidance and ensure that your response is thorough and effective.

Conclusion

Receiving an RFE can be daunting, but with the right guidance, you can effectively address USCIS concerns.

Let us review your cases at no charge what so ever at www.CCIFree.com

About Sheila Danzig

Sheila Danzig, the director of CCI TheDegreePeople.com, excels in resolving RFEs and denials for work visas, specializing in educational and employment visa challenges.

In recent years, computer programmers applying for H-1B visa status have run into approval issues.  This is because the position’s entry in the Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook states that to be employed in this position the applicant must hold an Associate’s Degree, rather than a Bachelor’s Degree, even though a Bachelor’s Degree educational requirement is the norm.  While H-1B eligibility requirements state the job must NORMALLY require a US Bachelor’s Degree or higher, USCIS has been adjudicating the exception as the norm, requiring a position to ALWAYS require a Bachelor’s Degree for entry.

This is a common occupation for H-1B beneficiaries, they now consistently run into Specialty Occupation RFEs instead of outright approval.  We often get clients coming to us with these RFEs, and we are able to get them overturned with an over 90 percent success rate.

Here’s how we do it:

We work with experts in every H-1B field who have extensive experience working directly in the field of the H-1B job.  These experts have held leadership positions within the field that involved making hiring decisions regarding the H-1B position in question.  They are able to lend informed weight to the case because they know what knowledge and skills an employee must have to be successful at the job, and to successfully support the company.  We ask our clients to gather documentation including a breakdown of the duties and responsibilities of the job, evidence of past hiring practices regarding minimum education requirements, the ad for the job, and ads for the same job in parallel companies that show the minimum education requirement.  Anything that can be used to justify the specialization of this position is helpful.  In addition to this evidence and documentation, the expert will use what is provided in addition to their own expertise to write an opinion letter that explains why this job meets specialty occupation requirements.

Don’t wait to get a Specialty Occupation RFE to address this common issue.  Our clients who come to us BEFORE they file for an expert opinion letter DO NOT receive Specialty Occupation RFES: their visas are approved outright.  For a free review of your case visit www.ccifree.com.  We will respond in 4 hours or less.

Sheila Danzig

Sheila Danzig is the director of CCI TheDegreePeople.com. Sheila specializes in overturning RFEs and Denials for work visas.

The first of FY2024 is coming up fast, and that means the last rounds of RFEs are in full swing.  Education RFEs are common hangups for H-1B candidates because pathways through education are as varied as there are beneficiaries.  One education issue that may seem insurmountable is when a beneficiary has absolutely no college education.  A minimum US bachelor’s degree or its equivalent is required for eligibility.  Our client came to us with no college, a job offer, and an education RFE.  He had been hired because his skill and experience were undeniable.  While his employer didn’t need any more convincing, USCIS did.

Here’s how we helped him overturn this RFE: PROGRESSIVE WORK EXPERIENCE!

At CCI TheDegreePeople.com we work with professors authorized to grant college credit for work experience.  They assist in writing credential evaluations that clearly show the academic value equivalent of education attained on the job.  Progressive work experience occurs when attainment of skills and knowledge that would be taught in an academic setting occurred on the job.  This is evidenced by promotions, taking on more responsibility, and taking on roles and tasks that require progressively greater specialized skills and understanding. 

USCIS accepts that three years of progressive work experience is the equivalent of one year of college credit in that major.  Granted, this takes a LOT of work experience.  Fortunately, our client had twelve years of progressive work experience in the field of the H-1B job.  We were able to write a credential evaluation that included a work experience conversion clearly showing that he had attained the academic value equivalency of a bachelor’s degree on the job through his 12 years of progressive work experience.  His visa was approved and he got to work just in time.

If you, or if your employee or client is facing an education RFE, we can help! We work with the broad range of education issues and boast a sustained over 90% success rate in answering even the most complex RFEs.  We offer affordable rush delivery options, which we recommend as we approach the start of FY2024.  It’s time to crush those RFEs and get to work on time. 

For a free review of your case visit www.ccifree.com.  We will respond in 4 hours or less.

Sheila Danzig

Sheila Danzig is the director of CCI TheDegreePeople.com. Sheila specializes in overturning RFEs and Denials for work visas.

Specialty Occupation RFES have become a perennial issue facing H-1B applicants.  At CCI TheDegreePeople.com, we answer these RFEs with an expert opinion letter written by an expert in the field of the H-1B job with extensive experience working in the field including making hiring decisions regarding the H-1B position.  We ask our clients to provide the expert with documentation regarding the position, past hiring practices, hiring practices for the same position in different companies, and a list of the factors that went into setting the starting wage.  Given this information, our experts have been able to write expert opinion letters that answer specialty occupation RFEs, wage level RFEs, and Double RFEs which take issue with both eligibility areas.

Following the first year of widespread specialty occupation issues, we started implementing our successful strategy to prevent Specialty Occupation RFEs.  Instead of waiting for USCIS to take issue with the job, we provide an expert opinion letter addressing both specialty occupation and wage level issues right away with the initial petition.  It works! 

Whether you have received a Specialty Occupation RFE or have yet to submit a complete petition, we can help.  Some cases are more vulnerable to these issues than others, and every situation requires its own unique approach.

For a free review of your case, visit www.ccifree.com.  We will respond in 4 hours or less.

Sheila Danzig

Sheila Danzig is the director of CCI TheDegreePeople.com. Sheila specializes in overturning RFEs and Denials for work visas.

The secret is out.  Career and vocational colleges offer an affordable alternative to four-year universities and colleges.  These educational paths also offer a streamlined education to employment pipeline, with instructors who are also field professionals and skills training directly applicable to the workforce students will soon enter.  It’s not just US nationals who are making the educational shift.

20 percent of all international students in the United States attend career and vocational colleges, as of the 2022 school year.  An additional benefit for international students is the quick transition from school to workforce, which aligns with visa requirements to stay in the country.  These schools also carry less stringent US language requirements and accommodate nontraditional schedules.

The main problem international students run into when it comes to career and vocational college enrollment is the enrollment process itself.  While traditional four-year colleges and universities have departments dedicated to helping international students navigate admissions requirements and procedures, career and vocational colleges still largely lack these resources.  CCI TheDegreePeople.com conducted an informal online survey that discovered international students continue to face hurdles in navigating admissions for career and vocational colleges in the United States, even though the rate of enrollment continues to grow.

What do international students need to qualify?

The short answer is a high school diploma or GED.  The long answer is it depends on the structure of the educational system of the country of origin.  For some countries, this is a secondary education certificate or passing a government mandated exam.  In every case, international students have to explain the value of their foreign education in terms of US academic value as part of the admissions process to show the equivalency of a US high school diploma or GED.  This can get confusing, especially in tandem with cultural and language barriers.

“I founded this business to help those born outside of the US get educated here.  I am a first generation American and big supporter of the career and vocational college experience. It was my mother’s dream,” Sheila Danzig, founder and director of CCI TheDegreePeople.com, a premier credential evaluating agency explains. 

International students need to provide credential evaluations of their foreign secondary education credentials or government exam results.  CCI TheDegreePeople.com evaluates each credential uniquely to clearly show admissions departments the academic value of foreign secondary education credentials in terms of US academic value to prove admissions eligibility for career and vocational colleges.  This evaluation is delivered in the form of a PDF directly to the college official handling international student admissions, and offers no charge rush delivery options.  As international student body admissions grow in these institutions, they face a learning curve that requires guidance.  In addition to providing evaluations, CCI TheDegreePeople.com works directly with admissions departments, being available to answer questions, provide guidance, and troubleshoot. 

“We understand the vital role career and community colleges play in the US education system,” says Danzig.  “Many schools have told us that their international student enrollment has grown because CCI has made the admission process student friendly.”

For more information on how CCI TheDegreePeople.com can improve the admissions process for your international students contact Shelia Danzig via email at [email protected] or at 1.800.771.4723.

On May 3, 2023, Utah State Law SB35 took effect, giving foreign professionals who have earned a range of professional licenses outside of the United States the opportunity to be licensed and practice in the State.  This prevents internationally trained professionals from having to jump through regulatory hoops, repeat education and professional training, take redundant tests, and pay all associated fees and costs to practice.  For professions with license portability between states, this presents an opportunity even for those living outside of Utah.  In fact, applicants do not have to live in Utah to apply for licensure through this internationally-trained applicant legislation.

To qualify, applicants must demonstrate lawful presence in the United States, and carry a foreign license in one of the following eligible professions:

• Accountancy
• Acupuncture
• Architect
• Athlete Agent
• Athletic Trainer
• Audiology
• Building Inspector
• Burglar Alarm
• Certified Dietician
• Certified Nurse Midwife
• Chiropractic Physician
• Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• Contracting
• Controlled Substance
• Controlled Substance Database
• Controlled Substance Precursor
• Cosmetology
• Court Reporting
• Deception Detection
• Dentistry
• Direct-Entry Midwife
• Electrical
• Elevator Mechanic
• Engineering
• Environmental Health Science
• Factory Built Housing
• Funeral Service
• Genetic Counseling
• Geology
• Handyman
• Health Facility Administrator
• Hearing Instrument Specialist
• Hunting Guide/Outfitter
• Interior Design
• Landscape Architecture
• Land Surveying
• Massage Therapy
• Marriage and Family Therapy
• Medical Language Interpreter
• Music Therapy
• Naturopathy
• Nursing
• Occupational Therapy
• Online Prescribing
• Optometry
• Osteopathic Physician and Surgeon
• Pharmacy
• Physical Therapy
• Physician and Surgeon
• Physician Assistant
• Plumbing
• Podiatry
• Private Probation Provider
• Psychology
• Radiologic Technology
• Recreational Therapy
• Residence Lien Recovery Fund
• Respiratory Care
• Securities Companies and Guards
• Social Work
• Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
• Substance Use Disorder Counseling
• Uniform Building Codes
• Veterinary
• Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling

It is of note that a professional licenses is NOT a work permit.  While this legislation legally permits successful applications to practice in that profession, a work permit is also needed to work legally in the United States.  That means applicants still must obtain H-1B, Green Card, or other work permit status.

Over the next few years, we hope to see more states adopt similar legislation to address skilled worker shortages, strengthen professional industries, and remove redundancy barriers to work.

Sheila Danzig

Sheila Danzig is the director of CCI TheDegreePeople.com. Sheila specializes in overturning RFEs and Denials for work visas.

Every year, qualified H-1B beneficiaries with Three-Year Bachelor’s degrees from India are hit with education RFEs.  USCIS requires that H-1B beneficiaries hold a US Bachelor’s degree or higher, which typically takes four years to complete.  While the Indian Three-Year Bachelor’s degree has the same or greater classroom contact hours as the US Four-Year Bachelor’s degree, USCIS is hung up on the missing fourth year.

A 2022 client of ours exemplified this situation.  He came to us with an RFE for education even though he had a Bachelor’s degree in the exact field of his H-1B job.  The problem was, the degree was a Three-Year degree earned in India.  We got the RFE overturned.  Here’s how:

We asked about his past work experience.  USCIS accepts that three years of progressive work experience in the field of the H-1B job is the equivalency of one year of college credit in that major, so long as a professor with the authority to grant college credit for work experience writes the work experience conversion as part of a credential evaluation.  Progressive work experience is a period of employment in which education occurred on the job as evidenced by increased complexity and responsibility of work over the course of employment.  Our client worked for three years in the field for the same employer, and over the course of his employment was promoted twice.  This clearly showed that over the course of employment, he gained field-specific skills and knowledge.

One of our staff professors wrote the work experience conversion as part of a detailed credential evaluation that clearly showed USCIS that our client had the equivalency of a US Four-Year Bachelor’s degree.  The missing fourth year was accounted for with three years of progressive work experience as detailed in the evaluation.  Our client submitted the credential evaluation with his RFE response, the RFE was overturned, and he got right to work on October 1^st.

If you, or if your employee or client has received an education RFE for a Three-Year Bachelor’s degree, or any other reason, we can help.  Visit www.ccifree.com for a free review of your case.  We will respond in four hours or less.

Sheila Danzig

Sheila Danzig is the director of CCI TheDegreePeople.com. Sheila specializes in overturning RFEs and Denials for work visas.

There are many educational pathways that lead to skill attainment.  Some of them are entirely academic. Some begin in college and then end in the workplace rather than with degree completion.  Some are entirely experiential.  However, USCIS needs to see the US academic equivalency to circuitous educational journeys.

Last year, an H-1B beneficiary came to us with an education RFE for incomplete college.  They had the skills and understanding required for their specialty occupation, as evidenced by past work experience in the field.  While working in the field of the H-1B job, they had been promoted twice, showing applicable development of skill and understanding through the course of employment.  However, USCIS requires an H-1B beneficiary to hold a US bachelor’s degree or higher in the exact field of the H-1B job.  While our client had three years of college in an accredited institution in the United States and three years of progressive work experience, not having a full degree led to approval issues.

Here’s how we successfully got the RFE overturned:

We wrote a credential evaluation that took our client’s entire situation into account: the H-1B job, the education, the work experience, and USCIS approval trends (which we always keep an eye on).  Leveraging the three years of college credit, highlighting course content directly applicable to the field of the H-1B job, and including a work experience conversion, we were able to show USCIS that our client had the equivalency of a bachelor’s degree in the field of the H-1B job in terms of US academic value.

The work experience conversion was the key component to visa approval.  At CCI TheDegreePeople.com we work with professors authorized to grant college credit for work experience.  USCIS accepts that three years of progressive experience in a field is the equivalent of one year of college credit in that major.  The professor authorized this work experience conversion, which was included in the credential evaluation, showing that the education which occurred on the job – as evidenced by promotions – served as the equivalent of the missing fourth year of college credit.

This conversion can also work for three-year bachelor’s degrees, which are notorious for causing education issues for H-1B beneficiaries. 

If you, or if your employee or client has incomplete college, missing college, or a three-year bachelor’s degree, we recommend including a credential evaluation with a work experience conversion.  We can help.

For a free review of your case visit www.ccifree.com.  We will respond in four hours or less.

Sheila Danzig

Sheila Danzig is the director of CCI TheDegreePeople.com.  Sheila specializes in overturning RFEs and Denials for work visas.