I paid for a credential evaluation and it says I have a ‘U.S. master’s degree equivalency’. Is that enough?

A credential evaluation recognizing your U.S. master’s degree equivalency is a solid starting point, but it is rarely sufficient on its own in an EB-2 NIW petition. It shows that your academic background meets the U.S. standard, which is helpful, yet it only satisfies one part of what the category requires.

That is because EB-2 NIW does not rest on the degree alone. The central requirement is demonstrating that your work has merit and national importance to the extent that it justifies a waiver of the job offer and labor certification. In other words, the academic degree opens the door, but the impact of your work is what sustains the petition.

In practice, it is worth gathering evidence beyond the credential evaluation, such as:

• Professional achievements and concrete results from your work.
• Publications, awards, or recognition in your field.
• Letters from experts explaining the significance of your contributions.

Each case is evaluated individually by the relevant authority. Before filing, verify the current requirements with USCIS and consider reviewing your full profile with an immigration specialist.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

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.