NACES Credential Evaluation for EB-2: What You Need and Which Agency to Use

If you attended a university outside the United States, you cannot simply submit your foreign degree to USCIS and expect them to accept it at face value. To use a foreign credential as the basis for EB-2 eligibility, you need a formal evaluation from a recognized credential evaluation service that certifies what the foreign degree is equivalent to in U.S. academic terms.

This evaluation matters more than it might seem. USCIS has specific standards for what a foreign credential must demonstrate, and the agency conducting the evaluation must be credible in USCIS's eyes. Getting this wrong — using the wrong evaluator or submitting an evaluation that does not address the right questions — is a common source of RFEs and denials.

Who Must Conduct the Evaluation

USCIS accepts credential evaluations from agencies that are members of recognized professional organizations. The two accepted bodies are:

NACES — National Association of Credential Evaluation Services
NACES is the most widely referenced standard in immigration cases. It is the professional membership organization for credential evaluation services, and its members follow standardized professional practices. USCIS adjudicators recognize NACES membership as a baseline indicator of credibility.

AICE — Association of International Credential Evaluators
AICE is a smaller, alternative professional body. USCIS also accepts evaluations from AICE member agencies.

Evaluations from agencies that are not members of NACES or AICE carry more risk. They can still be accepted in some cases, but they invite scrutiny and RFEs. Using a NACES member agency is the standard practice.

Well-established NACES member agencies commonly used for EB-2 cases:

• World Education Services (WES) — the largest and most recognized; accepted across virtually all immigration and academic contexts
• Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
• SpanTran (The Education Evaluations Company)
• Foundation for International Services (FIS)
• Josef Silny & Associates

There is no single "official" NACES agency. The specific evaluator you choose affects neither acceptance nor outcome, provided they are a legitimate NACES or AICE member. Choose based on turnaround time, cost, and whether they offer course-by-course or document-by-document evaluation.

What the Evaluation Must Show for EB-2

The evaluation must address two things: (1) the equivalent U.S. credential level, and (2) the field of study.

For EB-2A (advanced degree professional), the evaluation must confirm that the foreign degree is equivalent to a U.S. master's degree or higher. If you are using the "bachelor's plus five years" alternative, the evaluation must confirm that the foreign bachelor's is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree — which, as described below, is where many applicants run into problems.

For exceptional ability (EB-2B), the evaluation typically addresses the academic credential as one of six criteria — usually confirming the relevant field of study and degree level.

The evaluator must also confirm the field of study is relevant to the position and supports the nexus requirement — particularly important for EB-2A cases where the advanced degree must relate to the sponsored occupation.

The Three-Year Degree Problem

This is the most significant credential evaluation issue for Indian applicants — and it affects a large number of EB-2 cases.

USCIS uses the AACRAO EDGE database as its reference for foreign educational equivalencies. The USCIS standard: a foreign bachelor's degree must represent four years of post-secondary study to be considered equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree.

A standard Indian three-year undergraduate degree — B.Sc., B.Com., B.A., even many B.E./B.Tech. programs structured at three years — typically does not meet this requirement. USCIS evaluates these as representing only two to three years of U.S. undergraduate credit.

This has direct consequences:

• A three-year Indian B.Sc. is not equivalent to a U.S. B.S.
• Therefore, a three-year Indian B.Sc. + master's degree may not cleanly establish the "bachelor's plus five years" path
• The master's itself may be sufficient for advanced degree eligibility — but the evaluation must specifically state that the combined credential is equivalent to a U.S. master's degree or higher

The common workaround that often fails: Combining a three-year undergraduate degree with a one-year postgraduate diploma (PGD) to simulate a four-year degree. USCIS's Policy Manual states that "foreign equivalent degree" means a single degree, not an amalgamation of multiple credentials. An evaluator may certify that the combined credentials equal a four-year program — but USCIS officers often apply the single-credential standard and decline to accept the combination.

The cleaner solution: If your bachelor's is a full four-year Indian B.E./B.Tech. or a master's degree is held, the evaluation can directly address equivalency to the appropriate U.S. credential level. If the only graduate credential is a one-year PGD without a qualifying undergraduate degree underneath it, a U.S. master's application is needed — the PGD alone is generally insufficient for EB-2 advanced degree eligibility.

Document-by-Document vs. General Evaluation

Credential evaluation services offer two types of reports:

General/document-by-document evaluation: Assesses your highest credential and provides an equivalency statement (e.g., "equivalent to a U.S. master's degree in Computer Science"). This is the minimum required for most immigration purposes.

Course-by-course evaluation: Provides a detailed breakdown of all coursework and credit hour equivalencies. This is sometimes requested for cases where the field-of-study nexus is disputed or where the evaluator's general assessment is questioned. Course-by-course evaluations are more expensive and time-consuming but provide a more detailed record.

For most EB-2 cases, a general evaluation is sufficient — but if your case involves a three-year degree, an unusual field combination, or a highly specialized credential that USCIS is likely to question, the additional detail of a course-by-course evaluation may preempt an RFE.

Practical Steps

1. Gather your original degree certificates, transcripts, and any mark sheets from your foreign institution
2. Have them officially translated if they are not in English (translation must be certified)
3. Submit to a NACES or AICE member agency with instructions for an immigration credential evaluation
4. Request that the evaluation explicitly state the U.S. equivalency (degree level and field) — not just describe your credentials
5. Request a copy in PDF for your records; the official copy is typically sent directly to you or your attorney

Processing times vary by agency: WES typically takes 7 to 10 business days for standard processing; rush options exist at higher cost.

The US EB-2 Employment-Based Green Card Guide covers credential evaluation in detail — including a checklist for what the evaluation letter must include, how to handle three-year degree situations, and how to respond to USCIS RFEs related to educational qualifications.