Bachelor equivalence

[alanparson]

Hi all,

I have 2 (French) degrees amounting to 4 years of studies in the IT field, and the visa attorney field of my employer insists this wouldn't qualify for a EB-2 processing. They think that according to DOL and USCIS, one should get either:

1. One *4-year* foreign degree (not a combination of degrees) = a 4-year U.S. Bachelor's Degree.
OR
2. A total of 6 years of foreign degrees combined culminating in a Master's Degree (3-year Bachelor's plus 3-year Master's ) = U.S. Master's Degree

Is that correct? I'm unable to find those requirements anywhere on the web.

As far as I'm aware, in Europe at least, straight 4-year degrees are very rare. Furthermore, the new Bologna process established a progression of 1/License in 3 years and 2/Master in 2 years, which still wouldn't qualify with the rule above, which states 3-year Master's.

What is your experience in the domain?

Thanks!
G

[kabkaba]

You will have to get an educational evaluation done.
Also, for EB2 the job has to require not only a Bachelor's degree but in addition a progressive experience (I think 5 years) obtained after the education and before the current job.

[alanparson]

You will have to get an educational evaluation done.
Also, for EB2 the job has to require not only a Bachelor's degree but in addition a progressive experience (I think 5 years) obtained after the education and before the current job.

Dear Kabkaba, thank you so much for your answer.

Indeed the visa attorney firm has had my educational evaluation done by another specialized firm. Here's the summary of the evaluation:

"It is the judgement of <firm name> that <my name> has the equivalent of a bachelor's degree, with a major in computer science (...), from a regionally accredited institution in the United States".

Still the visa firm itself is adding the additional requirement that my degree should have been obtained as one single degree in 4 years straight, instead as 2 degrees that I have (2 years + 2 years), which is more customary where I'm coming from (France).

They say it won't be accepted by the USCIS. Would you have an opinion on the subject?

Thanks!
G

[kabkaba]

If they have plenty of experience in filing immigrant petitions, they would know better. Try to need to convince them.

[nicoeppersma]

Dear Kabkaba, thank you so much for your answer.

Indeed the visa attorney firm has had my educational evaluation done by another specialized firm. Here's the summary of the evaluation:

"It is the judgement of <firm name> that <my name> has the equivalent of a bachelor's degree, with a major in computer science (...), from a regionally accredited institution in the United States".

Still the visa firm itself is adding the additional requirement that my degree should have been obtained as one single degree in 4 years straight, instead as 2 degrees that I have (2 years + 2 years), which is more customary where I'm coming from (France).

They say it won't be accepted by the USCIS. Would you have an opinion on the subject?

As kabkaba mentions, do you have the 5 years of progressive experience? This means that you need 5 years of work experience in your field, after completing your second degree.

Alternatively, you could consider obtaining a U.S. Master's degree. You will generally be admitted by U.S. universities, assuming the evaluation has been done by an accredited evaluator. Also, the admission to a graduate program (which usually requires a Bachelor's degree) by itself could be sufficient for the law firm, provided that you meet the requirements of 5 years work experience in your field.