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foreign credential evaluation
Will Passing Immigration Reform Further Backlog USCIS Caseloads?
TheObama administration had made immigration reform a high priority issue. Will this increase in case load of the non-documented slow down processing for legal worker?
(EMAILWIRE.COM, November 05, 2009 ) Fort Lauderdale/Miami FL, The current presidential administration has declared immigration reform to be a high priority issue. At present, the administration has focused primarily on the country’s economics and the need for reform of the American healthcare system. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), however, is preparing for the eventual announcement that the President is turning his eyes to comprehensive immigration reform, commonly referred to as CIR. Once this reform has been initiated, USCIS expects a considerable increase in numbers of cases.
Prior to the most recent presidential election, Obama indicated his resolve to significantly reform the immigration process. He has made it clear that this reform will involve the large numbers of undocumented immigrants currently residing in the United States. In fact, part of the reform proposal is expected to contain a plan for status legalization for many of these people.
Sheila Danzig, executive director of a foreign degree evaluation agency Career Consulting International, has stated that America’s present economic condition makes it likely that legalization will be strongly opposed, and the current lack of jobs for legal residents and U.S. citizens makes opposition even more likely. Despite this, USCIS is aware that at least some cases will be presented to that agency for consideration, and this is likely to bog down an already backlogged immigration service even further.
At present, persons who apply for I-140 visas (which are also known as “green cards”) must wait up to one year after their petition is filed for an interview to be scheduled. The process can be complicated by documentation or education issues. Sometimes, the USCIS issues a Request for Evidence, or RFE, indicating that some aspect of the petitioner’s application – possibly the labor certificate or educational credentials – requires further investigation.
Many companies who employ legal residents, as well as workers residing in the U.S. on temporary work visas, such as H1B visas, are concerned that this anticipated increase in USCIS’s caseload will further slow the visa approval process. Many employers depend on highly trained or skilled workers who enter the country on employment-based visas, and could experience a shortage of trained employees if this potential problem does become a reality.
The USCIS caseload is already backlogged, and the H1B visa cap did not fill for 2009 as a consequence, in part, of the recession. If the economy does recover substantially, and visa applications do increase significantly in the coming year, USCIS will need to meet the usual demands of H1B visa season, as well as Obama’s proposed immigration reform.
Career Consulting International, other foreign credential evaluation agencies, immigration attorneys, and the American public will watch the reform proposals with interest. How they affect the USCIS remains to be seen, but an increased caseload is almost certain.
For more information about foreign credential educational evaluations for H1B or I-140 Visas, visit www.thedegreepeople.com or call 1-800-771-4723.]]>
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Legal Avenues to Work in the US
Based on NAFTA some Canadian and Mexican citizens qualify to work in the US on a temporary nonimmigrant basis. The TN Visa is available to them.
(EMAILWIRE.COM, November 17, 2009 ) Sunrise, FL On the basis of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), some Canadian and Mexican citizens qualify to work in the United States on a temporary basis under nonimmigrant TN status.
Given below are the terms and conditions that must be satisfied in order to become eligible for the TN Visa:
• The occupation should be on the NAFTA list.
• The foreign national must hold the required academic or training record for a specific occupation.
• The applicant’s proposed position must fall under the category of professional positions.
• It is mandatory for the applicant to work for a U.S. employer.
In the case of Canadian citizens, there’s no need for filing a petition for employment. All that needs to be done is to simply acquire TN status at a port of entry. On the other hand, applicants from Mexico must submit application at the U.S. consulate in Mexico.
In addition to the degrees, diplomas, or any kind of educational credentials granted by any foreign educational institution, the applicant must submit a foreign credential evaluation report prepared by a specialized credential evaluation service. One firm offering this credential evaluation service for the TN Visa is www.TheDegreePeople.com This foreign degree evaluation must be secured prior to crossin the border.]]>
Foreign High School Graduates – How To Gain Admission to US Colleges
Foreign high school graduates can qualify for U.S. college and university admissions when they understand the fundamentals of foreign credential evaluations (EMAILWIRE.COM, October 05, 2009). Many applicants seeking evaluation of academic credentials for bachelor’s or master’s degree purposes are unaware of the significant distinction between Ordinary Level and Advanced Level secondary examinations.
In several education systems, Advanced Level exams represent more than secondary education. In countries such as Norway, Spain, the United Kingdom, Ghana, Sri Lanka, and France, Ordinary Level exams are generally considered equivalent to U.S. high school graduation, while Advanced Level exams are comparable to an additional year of undergraduate study. Because of this structure, students from these systems can often demonstrate that their three-year bachelor’s degrees are equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree, both for further education and for H1B visa considerations.
In contrast, some countries, including parts of West Africa such as Cameroon, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, combine Ordinary and Advanced Level exams within the secondary education framework. In many of these cases, completion of Advanced Level exams is still regarded as high school completion rather than undergraduate-level study. This distinction is frequently misunderstood. Many applicants assume that a credential evaluation service will automatically account for these differences, even without supporting documentation.
According to Sheila Danzig, Executive Director of Career Consulting International, this assumption is incorrect. Applicants do not receive academic credit for Advanced Level education unless official examination results are submitted as part of the credential evaluation process. For students educated outside the United States who are preparing to obtain an academic evaluation, it is essential to submit a high school diploma along with documented results for both Ordinary and Advanced Level exams. Providing complete records helps ensure the most accurate assessment of education equivalency and allows applicants to receive the highest possible recognition for their academic credentials.
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