Education Evaluation — Foreign Academic Credential Evaluation for U.S. Immigration & Employment

When you earned your degree outside the United States, USCIS, employers, licensing boards, and educational institutions cannot directly assess its value against the U.S. system. An education evaluation — also called an academic credential evaluation or foreign degree evaluation — bridges that gap by providing a formal, expert assessment of what your foreign qualification is equivalent to in the U.S. educational framework.

At AAE Evaluations, we deliver USCIS-accepted education evaluations for a wide range of immigration petitions, employment purposes, and professional licensing needs. Our evaluations follow the AACRAO EDGE database — the gold-standard reference used by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers — ensuring that every equivalency determination is grounded in authoritative, recognized methodology.

With a $55 fee and a 2 business day turnaround, we provide one of the fastest and most affordable USCIS-compliant academic evaluations in the United States — without compromising on accuracy or acceptance rates.

USCIS-Accepted    AACRAO EDGE Methodology    $55 Fee    2 Business Day Turnaround    All Visa Types Covered

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What Is an Education Evaluation?

An education evaluation is a formal assessment conducted by a qualified credential evaluation agency that analyzes a foreign academic credential — a degree, diploma, certificate, or transcript — and determines its equivalent in the U.S. educational system.

For U.S. immigration purposes, USCIS relies on academic credential evaluations to determine whether a foreign national’s educational background satisfies the minimum degree requirements for the visa category being petitioned. USCIS officers are not academic specialists — they cannot independently evaluate the standing or equivalency of a degree from a foreign university system. A formal education evaluation from a recognized agency provides the authoritative equivalency determination they require.

Beyond immigration, foreign credential evaluations are used for:

• Professional employment — Employers verifying that a foreign-educated applicant meets the educational requirements for a position
• Professional licensing — Regulatory boards for nursing, engineering, teaching, and accounting requiring confirmation of foreign degree equivalency before granting a U.S. license
• Academic admissions — Universities and graduate programs evaluating foreign transcripts for admission or advanced standing decisions
• Salary and position benchmarking — HR departments establishing grade equivalency for foreign-educated employees

When Is an Education Evaluation Required for U.S. Immigration?

An academic credential evaluation is required or strongly recommended across a wide range of U.S. immigration petitions:

H-1B Visa — Why an Academic Evaluation Is Effectively Mandatory

The H-1B academic evaluation is one of the most frequently required credential evaluations in U.S. immigration. USCIS requires evidence that the H-1B beneficiary holds at minimum a U.S. bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in a field directly related to the specialty occupation. When the beneficiary holds a foreign degree, a formal education evaluation establishing this equivalency is essential.

USCIS will issue a Request for Evidence (RFE) if an academic evaluation is not submitted with the petition — specifically requesting evidence of the beneficiary’s U.S. degree equivalency, delaying adjudication and adding cost and uncertainty to the process.

Two scenarios our H-1B academic evaluations address:

Scenario 1 — Direct Foreign Degree Equivalency The beneficiary holds a three-year or four-year foreign degree. The evaluation analyzes the specific institution, program, level, and duration of study against the U.S. educational framework and determines whether it is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree in the relevant field.

Scenario 2 — Education Plus Work Experience (3-for-1 Rule) The beneficiary does not hold a four-year bachelor’s equivalent but has a combination of education and progressive professional experience. Under the USCIS-recognized 3-for-1 rule, three years of specialized relevant work experience equates to one year of university-level education. Our Work Experience Evaluation service → handles this component.

For H-1B cases where both the position and the beneficiary’s credentials are being contested, an education evaluation works alongside our H-1B Expert Opinion Letter → to build a complete, USCIS-compliant credential package.

Types of Education Evaluations We Offer

Document-by-Document Evaluation (Academic Evaluation)

A document-by-document evaluation provides an overall equivalency determination — what U.S. degree level your foreign credential is equivalent to, in which field, and at what level of study. This is the standard evaluation required for H-1B petitions, EB-2 and EB-3 immigrant petitions, PERM labor certifications, and most professional licensing applications.

What it includes:

• Verification of the institution’s accreditation and standing in the country of origin
• Assessment of the degree level, duration, and field of study
• A clear equivalency statement — e.g., “equivalent to a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from an accredited U.S. institution”
• The evaluator’s credentials and professional signature
• Equivalency determined following AACRAO EDGE methodology

See also our Course-by-Course Evaluation → for a detailed subject-level analysis when required by universities or specific licensing boards.

Combined Education and Work Experience Evaluation

For beneficiaries establishing degree equivalency through a combination of education and professional experience — most commonly for H-1B specialty occupation petitions under the 3-for-1 rule — a combined evaluation assesses both the academic credentials and the documented work history together, producing a single equivalency determination that accounts for both components. Our Work Experience Evaluation → supports this process.

Why the AACRAO EDGE Methodology Matters

AAE Evaluations follows the AACRAO EDGE (Electronic Database for Global Education) methodology when determining U.S. degree equivalencies. AACRAO — the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers — is the leading professional organization for credential evaluation in the United States, and its EDGE database is the most widely recognized reference standard for foreign credential assessment.

Using AACRAO EDGE means:

• Equivalency determinations are based on the most comprehensive and up-to-date comparative education database available
• The methodology is recognized and accepted by USCIS, U.S. universities, professional licensing boards, and employers
• Evaluations carry the credibility of an internationally recognized standard — not an agency-specific or proprietary framework

When USCIS adjudicators or reviewing institutions assess your education evaluation, the AACRAO EDGE methodology provides the authoritative foundation that lends the evaluation its credibility and acceptance rates.

Documents Required

To complete your education evaluation, submit the following as clear PDF copies:

1. Academic transcripts — from each institution attended, showing all courses completed and grades received
2. Degree certificate or diploma — confirming the degree was conferred, including the date of conferral and field of study
3. Certified English translations — required for all documents not originally issued in English. AAE Evaluations can assist with certified translations if needed.

Submit to Contact@aaeevaluations.com. Original documents are not required — PDFs are accepted.

For combined education plus work experience evaluations, work experience letters are also required — see our Work Experience Evaluation →.

Pricing and Turnaround

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Our Education Evaluation Process

1. Document Submission — Submit clear PDF copies of your transcripts, degree certificate, and certified English translations to Contact@aaeevaluations.com.
2. Institution Verification — We verify the awarding institution’s recognition and standing in the country of origin using the AACRAO EDGE database and other recognized reference sources.
3. Degree Level & Field Analysis — We analyze the level of study, program duration, and field of specialization to determine the closest U.S. educational equivalent.
4. Evaluation Report Preparation — A formal education evaluation report is prepared stating the U.S. equivalency determination with the evaluator’s professional signature and credentials.
5. Quality Review & Delivery — The completed report is reviewed for accuracy and USCIS compliance, then delivered as a signed PDF within 2 business days — ready for immediate use in your petition or professional application.

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Why Choose AAE Evaluations?

• USCIS-Accepted Reports — Prepared to meet USCIS adjudication standards and accepted for H-1B, EB-2, EB-3, PERM, and other immigration petition types
• AACRAO EDGE Methodology — Equivalency determinations follow the gold-standard reference database for foreign credential evaluation in the U.S.
• Fast 2 Business Day Turnaround — One of the fastest standard turnarounds available for a USCIS-compliant credential evaluation
• $55 Fee — Among the most competitive pricing for a recognized, USCIS-accepted academic evaluation
• All Foreign Degree Systems Covered — Credentials evaluated from institutions across Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and beyond
• Full Immigration Documentation Support — Pair your education evaluation with our H-1B Expert Opinion Letters, EB-2 NIW Expert Opinion Letters, Work Experience Evaluations, and expert opinion letters for a complete petition package

Related Services

• Course-by-Course Evaluation — Subject-level evaluation of foreign academic credentials for universities, licensing boards, and advanced standing determinations
• Work Experience Evaluation — Professional experience evaluations for the 3-for-1 degree equivalency rule and USCIS immigration petitions
• Position Evaluations — Role-by-role equivalency assessments for employment and immigration purposes
• H-1B Expert Opinion Letters — Specialty occupation and degree equivalency letters for H-1B petitions
• EB-2 NIW Expert Opinion Letters — National Interest Waiver letters for EB-2 self-petitions
• EB-1 Expert Opinion Letters — Extraordinary ability and outstanding researcher letters for EB-1 petitions
• L-1A and L-1B Expert Opinion Letters — Managerial and specialized knowledge letters for L-1 intracompany transfer petitions
• Expert Opinion Letter Hub — Overview of all expert opinion and recommendation letter services at AAE Evaluations

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an education evaluation?

An education evaluation — also called an academic credential evaluation or foreign degree evaluation — is a formal assessment by a qualified credential evaluation agency that analyzes a foreign academic credential and determines its U.S. equivalent. For immigration purposes, it provides USCIS with the authoritative equivalency determination needed to confirm a foreign national’s educational qualifications meet the minimum degree requirements of the petition category.

Is an education evaluation required for H-1B petitions?

Yes — an academic evaluation for H-1B is effectively mandatory for beneficiaries with foreign degrees. USCIS requires evidence that the beneficiary holds at minimum a U.S. bachelor’s degree equivalent in a field directly related to the specialty occupation. Without it, USCIS will issue an RFE specifically requesting degree equivalency evidence, delaying adjudication and adding cost and uncertainty.

What is the difference between a document-by-document and a course-by-course evaluation?

A document-by-document evaluation provides an overall equivalency determination — what U.S. degree level the foreign credential is equivalent to and in which field. This is the standard type required for most USCIS immigration petitions. A course-by-course evaluation → provides a detailed, subject-by-subject analysis of every course on the transcript including credit hours and grades — typically required by universities or specific professional licensing boards.

How long does an education evaluation take at AAE Evaluations?

Our standard turnaround for an academic credential evaluation is 2 business days from receipt of all required documents — one of the fastest USCIS-compliant evaluation turnarounds in the United States. Rush service is available for urgent filing deadlines. Contact us → for availability.

How much does an education evaluation cost?

AAE Evaluations’ standard document-by-document academic evaluation is $55 — among the most competitive pricing for a USCIS-accepted credential evaluation. View full pricing → for course-by-course and combined evaluation options.

What documents do I need to submit?

Submit clear PDF copies of your academic transcripts and your degree certificate or diploma. If documents are not in English, certified English translations are also required. Original documents are not needed. Send all files to Contact@aaeevaluations.com.

What methodology does AAE Evaluations use?

AAE Evaluations follows the AACRAO EDGE (Electronic Database for Global Education) methodology — the gold-standard reference database maintained by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. This is the most widely recognized and accepted methodology for foreign credential evaluation in the United States, accepted by USCIS, U.S. universities, and professional licensing boards.

Can a three-year foreign degree qualify as a U.S. bachelor’s degree?

It depends on the country, institution, and specific program. In some educational systems a three-year degree at a recognized institution in a specialized field may be equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree under AACRAO EDGE methodology. In others it may not. This determination is made on a case-by-case basis through the formal education evaluation process — and is one of the most critical findings for H-1B and EB-2 petitions.

Does an education evaluation expire?

Most academic credential evaluations do not have a formal expiration date — the foreign degree was earned when it was earned and the equivalency determination does not change over time. However, some USCIS petitions, licensing boards, or employers may prefer a recent evaluation, particularly if you are filing a new petition several years after a prior evaluation was prepared.

Can I use the same education evaluation for multiple purposes?

Sometimes — but verify the specific requirements of each receiving organization. A document-by-document education evaluation prepared for an H-1B petition may also satisfy requirements for an EB-2 or EB-3 I-140, a PERM labor certification, or a licensing application, depending on each institution’s or agency’s specific standards.

Can AAE Evaluations help with certified translations of my academic documents?

Yes. If your transcripts or degree certificates are not in English, certified English translations are required before the education evaluation can be completed. AAE Evaluations can assist with certified translations — contact us to discuss your specific documents.

Do I need an education evaluation if I have a U.S. degree?

No. Education evaluations are for foreign academic credentials only. If you earned your degree from an accredited U.S. institution, no equivalency determination is needed as the degree is already recognized within the U.S. system.

Get Your Education Evaluation in 2 Business Days. Apply Today.

A fast, accurate, USCIS-accepted education evaluation from AAE Evaluations gives your immigration petition, employment application, or licensing process the credential equivalency determination it needs — prepared following the AACRAO EDGE methodology that USCIS and U.S. institutions rely on.

At $55 with a 2 business day turnaround, we deliver one of the fastest and most affordable recognized academic credential evaluations available.

(+1) 813-816-3969    Contact@aaeevaluations.com

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