Stay up to date on the most recent news and requirements for visas
This year, we are seeing RFEs that raise several concerns at once, including specialty occupation, wage level, and education issues. When USCIS identifies one problem with a petition, additional questions can follow, creating an RFE that may be difficult to answer. If you, your employee, or your client receives this
Immigration policies continue to change, and several recent developments could have a significant effect on individuals, families, employers, and foreign nationals planning to live or work in the United States. Effective August 5, 2026, USCIS has restored greater discretion for officers to deny certain immigration benefit requests without first issuing
A credential evaluation for H-1B immigration purposes typically takes three to seven business days under standard processing, from the time the evaluation agency receives all required documents. Expedited options can reduce this to one to two business days at most agencies. The total time from starting the process to having
Both EB-2 and EB-3 employment-based immigrant visa petitions may require a credential evaluation when the qualifying education was earned outside the United States, but the analytical requirements differ significantly between the two categories. EB-2 advanced degree cases require the evaluation to establish a higher degree equivalency, and for foreign nationals
A single source degree is a single academic credential, one degree from one institution, that on its own establishes the educational equivalency required for an employment-based immigrant visa petition. For I-140 petitions, particularly EB-2 advanced degree cases, USCIS applies this standard in a way that differs significantly from how educational
Yes, a rejected H-1B petition based on a three-year Indian degree can often be addressed through a motion to reopen, a new petition filing, or an RFE response with stronger credential documentation. The outcome depends on what specifically was found insufficient and whether the documentation gap can be closed with
When USCIS issues a Request for Evidence questioning your educational qualifications in an H-1B case, you have a defined window to respond with additional documentation. The RFE is not a denial. It is a formal request for clarification, and a well-prepared response that directly addresses the officer’s stated concerns gives
When an H-1B petition is denied, you still have recognized pathways available depending on the specific grounds stated in the denial notice. For Indian professionals and other foreign nationals currently in the United States, the first practical step is reading the denial notice carefully, the reason USCIS cited determines which
A 3-year Indian bachelor’s degree does not automatically qualify as the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree for H-1B purposes. Whether it qualifies depends on the specific degree, the institution, the field of study, and how the case is documented and evaluated. The answer is not the same for every
Under U.S. immigration rules, an H-1B applicant who does not hold a traditional four-year degree may still qualify through a combination of education and work experience. USCIS allows three years of specialized, progressive work experience to substitute for one year of U.S. college-level education. This pathway is real, but it
