Do the costs of academic evaluations count as value in your EB-2 NIW case?

It is important to clear up the premise of this question: in the EB-2 NIW, the USCIS does not consider how much you spent on academic evaluations as part of the value of your case. The money invested in credential assessments is your personal expense, not a merit argument.

What truly matters is the content of the evaluation: what it demonstrates about the level and equivalency of your education. A well-prepared evaluation adds value because it proves your qualifications, not because it was expensive.

So, instead of trying to turn costs into an argument, focus on:

• Ensuring the evaluation is conducted by a recognized and credible organization.
• Clearly showing the equivalency of your degrees to the U.S. standard.
• Connecting your qualifications to the merit and national importance of your work.

Keep receipts and invoices for your own records, but do not present them as value in the case. Since each profile is assessed individually, it is worth reviewing the USCIS updated guidelines and discussing strategy with a specialist.

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Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

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As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.