How to Find the Right Credential Evaluator
How to Find the Right Credential Evaluator Read More »
H1B visa
More H1B Visa Petitions Receive an RFE Today than Ever
Not even six years ago only 4% of H1B applications received an RFE. Today, over one in every four petitions are met with an RFE. These visas are in higher demand than ever before and rates of RFEs are higher than ever as well. One of the main reasons for this spike is that educational standards for H1B status have tightened.
H1B visa status is for foreign workers holding specialty occupations. The term specialty occupation used be understood by USCIS requirements as a job that requires a bachelor’s degree or other degree or certification or its equivalent in a related field. Now the USCIS is requiring petitioners’ degree to EXACTLY match the field.
If you receive in RFE regarding this and your degree does not exactly match the field of your specialty occupation, don’t panic! Certain credential evaluation agencies can covert work experience in your occupation’s field into college credit hours because they have the authority to do so. Before you order an evaluation to address this RFE by converting work experience, your want to make ABSOLUTELY sure the agency you are going through has the authority to do this. You only get one shot at responding to an RFE.
CCI only has professors with this authority conduct our evaluations. You can be sure the professor writing your evaluation has the ability to convert your work experience into classroom hours and bridge the gap between your degree in a related field and the field of your job.
Go to cciFree.com for a free review of your case if you have received an RFE for an education situation.
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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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The Truth About The Green Card Lottery for Prospective Lawful Permanent Residents
Getting a Green Card can be very difficult these days but the green card lottery offers hope for many. Learn how to get one here. (EMAILWIRE.COM, June 16, 2009 ) A Green Card is an official card issued by the United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) granting foreign nationals permanent residency in the US. Form I-551 as it is officially referred to, allows the holder to live, work and study in the US. This makes it superior to H1Bvisa or any other visa available. Basically, there are four sure ways to obtaining Green Card. They include: • Green Card Employment & Sponsorship. This way of securing a Green Card has very many advantages embedded in it. They include: • Your sponsor or employer in most cases is responsible for all application costs. The Employer or the company is then liable to pay for your relocation costs as well. • You do not have to undergo education evaluation since a college degree is not a requirement for qualifying for a green card. • For an employer or sponsor to file your Green Card supplication, you mustn’t be currently in the US borders. • You get a job waiting for you and a Green card simultaneously. • Winning a Green card in the Lottery There usually is an annual green card lottery which is referred to as the DV (Diversity Visa) Lottery. It avails 50,000 permanent visas to random people across the globe. The program gets its mandate from Section 203(c) of 1990’s US Immigration Act. It is an easy process to apply and is rarely subject to anycredential evaluation. • Green Card through a US Citizen Family Member For eligibility in this criterion, you must have immediate family currently in possession of a green card or is a US Citizen. For this (securing a Green Card on the basis of a relative being a US citizen), you have to undergo a rigorous, multi-faceted process. Your relative (sponsor) abroad has to undergo evaluation services e.g. Prove your relationship, prove support for you at 125% above poverty line et cetera. • Green Card Via Marriage By Marrying a US Citizen, you earn your citizenship. When the process is filed abroad (outside US) it takes a shorter duration of time usually within 6-8 months, to acquire the Green Card. While filed within the US, the individual applying, may work and live in the US immediately after filing but the process will take 12-18 months to actually secure the Green Card. This process is not subject to any documentation by the credential evaluators. Winning a Green Card rarely requires a credential evaluation. “We had one case of a Lottery Winner that needed an evaluations,” said Sheila Danzig, Executive Director of Career Consulting International, www.TheDegreePeople.com. “It was an unusual case and he had to show equivalence to a US High School diploma.”]]>
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The Truth About the H1b Visa
There are many misconceptions about the H1b Visa. People tend to confuse these legitimate workers with the undocumented workers (often referred to as illegals). They are very different. (EMAILWIRE.COM, June 17, 2009 ) It is a requirement for the US Citizen and Immigration Service that every foreign national to obtain a visa to legally work in the US borders. The H1B Visa is the most sought after official visa by people from all over the world wishing to temporarily relocate to live and work in the US – both professionals and students. This visa usually has a 6-year validity period and allows people to be employed by different employers. This ‘dream come true visa’ as seen by many seeking after it, was introduced by the United States Government to help the International Students as well as International Professionals, from all niches in the globe, secure an opportunity to live and at the same time work within the US borders. The greatest advantage of bearing this visa is that it bears dual intent meaning that you can still have it, apply and wait for a Green Card for permanent residency. To secure this visa, you have to find a H1B Sponsorship Job. After evaluation of foreign educational credentials by a foreign credential evaluation firm such aswww.TheDegreePeople.com, your prospective employer files your H1B visa application with the Immigration Bureau. This means that individuals cannot apply for this visa, it remains at the discretion of the Sponsoring Company or Employer. In other words you must have a sponsor and only the sponsor applies. To qualify for this visa, you have to have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree equivalency (from your country) or 12 years professional experience in your field. Another alternative is a hybrid of the two which entail a mix of higher education such as diploma equivalency mixing education and work experience. For example if you can combine two years of university level education with 6 years professional experience in the field to show an equivalency to a US bachelor’s degree. This can only be done by a credential evaluation agency with a professor with the proper credentials. Sheila Danzig, Executive Director of Career Consulting International a foreign credential evaluation agency stated, “It is very important to know that your education or education and work experience combination match the job offer. We often see people whose education does not match the job description and that simply won’t be approved by the Immigration Service.” The ‘specialty occupations’ that make people qualify for the visa include: Accounting, Advertising, Banking, Business, Computing, Engineering (all types), Finance, HealthCare/Medical, IT, Lawyers, Legal, Management and Hospitality, Marketing, Networking, PR, Recruiting, Teaching and Telecoms among others. Various reasons encourage Sponsoring companies or Employers to hire foreign national and seek H1B visas for them. These reasons include: • These workers help in boosting the US economy in diverse ways while bettering their future. • Help fill gaping holes in employment where there are shortages of highly skilled professionals in the field. Even now, during a recession, certain jobs need workers who of higher skill than are in our workforce. • They possess global competitive advantage by bringing cultural diversity into the workplaces. • They have strong work ethics as well as a great enthusiasm to work. For students who qualify for these visas, transcript evaluation has to be performed so as to ensure that they are qualified students seeking further education (Diplomas, Bachelors or Masters) as they seek a livelihood while working at the same time.]]>
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H1b Cap Still Not Filled: Academic Credentials Evaluations for H1B Visa Transfers
While the H1b Cap is well behind last years pace. H1B visa new, renewal and transfer applications will still being accepted for Fiscal Year 2010. A good evaluation can help with even the most complex academic credential evaluations.
(EMAILWIRE.COM, April 13, 2009 ) Academic Credentials Evaluations for H1B Visa Transfers
The most recent report issued by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) indicates that only 42,000 H1B Visa petitions have been received as of April 9, 2009. On that date, immigration authorities released statements that petitions would continue to be accepted until the cap of 65,000 petitions had been received by their office.
Additionally, USCIS officials will continue to allow persons currently holding H1B visas to apply for renewals and transfers to other sponsoring companies during this time. Unlike citizens or permanent residents, workers who reside in the United States on H1B visas must apply for government approval of their request to transfer their work visa to another approved job position.
Depending on the time frame and the job requirements, workers may have to have their educational credentials re-evaluated before the USCIS will consider the petition to transfer or renew their visa. Sometimes these credential evaluationsmay be very straightforward and easy to process. Others are very complex and require expert opinions or proof of work experience.
If you currently hold an H1B visa and are planning to transfer jobs, consult an immigration attorney to determine whether your academic credentials need to be re-evaluated before you apply for the transfer. If you do require a credentials evaluation, the cost and complexity of the evaluation will depend on several factors.
Are you applying for an identical position with another company? If your education is identical to the requirements listed on your H1B Visa, you will probably have little difficulty. For example, if your employer requires a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science, and you hold a four-year Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science, you will probably only need a short credentials evaluation called a document evaluation.
If, however, you have a three-year degree, or if your degree certificate does not specify a major in computer science, you may have to show proof of work experience to equal the needed educational credentials. Credential evaluation services such as Career Consulting International (CCI), owned and managed by Executive Director Sheila Danzig, specialize in complex evaluations involving three-year degrees and work experience evaluations.
If you need your academic credentials re-evaluated for visa application or transfer, visit CCI at www.thedegreepeople.com. Even if you receive a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Denial from the USCIS, their team of experts and professional evaluators is willing to examine your documents without charge to see if they can help. For more information, call their toll-free assistance line at 1-800-771-4723 today.
Choosing a good attorney and a reputable credential evaluation service may be the difference between acceptance and denial of your H1B visa application. Rely on experts you know you can trust. CCI’s credential evaluations have an approval rate of greater than 90 percent. Can you really afford not to choose them?]]>
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Foreign Degree Evaluations: EB visas, H1-B visas, and the Recession
U.S. economy is in a recession, or that that recession has affected financial markets worldwide. This in turn has seriously affected the number of people seeking foreign degree evaluations. More and more people are trying to ensure their job security or explore new employment options after cutbacks and mergers have left many without positions.
People with foreign education credentials, including foreign degrees from college or high school, are usually required to prove the U.S. equivalency of their degrees to potential employers in the United States. This is also true for people seeking work or employment-based (EB visas), as well as for those persons who want to go back to college to earn an advanced degree.
Additionally, the rate at which H1-B visa numbers are filled this year may be affected by the current economic state. Many companies are extremely dependent on the use of temporary foreign workers to meet their labor needs. Because H1-B visas are issued on a first-come, first-serve basis to qualified applicants with sponsors, it is possible that those companies most depended on this source of labor may decide to start filing as soon as possible.
There has been discussion of increasing the cap on the number of H1-B visas issued. Moreover, persons such as Janet Napolitano, whom President Obama has nominated for a cabinet post, are in favor of increasing the number of H1-B visas offered each year. Due to the recession, however, proposals such as these may face a lot of resistance as Americans increasingly protest the presence of foreign workers when U.S. jobs are in short supply and high demand.
These protestors, though, need to remember that employment-based visas such as the EB visas and H1-B visas are offered to foreign workers who fill American jobs that cannot be filled by U.S. workers. These people either have specialized education or experience that U.S. employers require and cannot find in this country. American workers are not in fact being denied jobs because of these non-immigration visas; they lack the qualifications to fill these jobs.
It’s impossible to predict what will happen as President Obama takes office and begins to enact his planned policies. The effect of these policies on EB and H1-B visas remains to be seen. Hopefully, he will introduce policies that increase the availability of U.S. jobs, while maximizing the availability of temporary employment to American companies. The citizens of this country are waiting anxiously to see what will happen.]]>
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