Credential evaluation document preparation (WES, ECE), H-1B and STEM OPT strategy, professional licensing, and the document preparation (apostille + certified translation) often required by US employers and licensing boards. For internationally educated professionals navigating the US job market.
Step 1 of 4
What is your current immigration/work authorization status in the US?
Foreign-educated professionals often spend months applying without knowing their degree is not recognized in their field without a credential evaluation. We help you prepare, translate, and — where required — apostille your documents for credential evaluation and for US employer or licensing board requirements.
Internationally trained physicians, nurses, and pharmacists face rigorous state licensing board requirements. Each board sets its own document requirements for foreign diplomas, transcripts, and certifications, which can include apostilles and translations. We prepare the complete document package.
Technology professionals in the US on OPT or seeking H-1B sponsorship need to demonstrate their foreign degree equivalent. Credential evaluations and properly prepared academic records are the foundation of strong H-1B petitions.
| Document | Issuing authority | Estimated time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign academic credentials for evaluation | University or educational institution in origin country | Originals or certified copies for credential evaluation | US employers and licensing boards typically require a credential evaluation from a NACES-member organization (WES, ECE, Josef Silny, etc.) for foreign degrees. The evaluation compares your degree to the US equivalent. Check the evaluator's required-document instructions for your country of study — many evaluators require official records sent directly from the institution, and apostille requirements vary. |
| Official academic transcripts and diploma (apostilled where required by the evaluator) | Apostille authority of the origin country + university registrar | 5–15 business days depending on origin country | Check the evaluator's country-specific required-document instructions. WES may require direct institutional submission; apostilles are not universally required. We coordinate the apostille of your academic documents when the evaluator requires them. |
| Certified English translation of academic documents | Certified translator (USCIS-standard Certificate of Accuracy) | 24–48 hours | All foreign academic documents submitted to US employers, licensing boards, and credential evaluators must be accompanied by a certified English translation. This is different from a "sworn translation" — it requires a Certificate of Accuracy signed by the translator. |
| Work authorization documentation (EAD, H-1B approval, green card, etc.) | USCIS | Current and valid | US employers are legally required to verify work authorization for all new employees (Form I-9). Ensure your work authorization document is current. If your authorization is tied to employer sponsorship (H-1B), the job search process must account for the visa transfer process. |
The first step for any internationally educated professional in the US is understanding how their foreign degree compares to US credentials. A credential evaluation from a NACES-member agency (WES, ECE, Josef Silny) provides a formal assessment. We help you prepare the translated documents and coordinate submission according to the evaluation agency's required-document instructions.
Some professions require US state licensing (medicine, nursing, law, teaching, and accounting are the most common; certain engineering and architecture roles also require it). State-specific licensing boards evaluate foreign credentials separately from general academic credentials, and requirements vary significantly by state and profession. We provide the document preparation — apostille, certified translation — that licensing boards require.
International professionals often face two simultaneous challenges: proving their credentials are equivalent to US degrees AND finding an employer willing to sponsor a work visa if needed. We advise on industries and employers with strong international hiring records, and how to position a foreign credential in a US resume.
If you need employer sponsorship, we advise on the main work visa categories (H-1B for specialty occupations, O-1 for extraordinary ability, EB-3 for skilled workers, TN for Mexican and Canadian professionals) and what documentation is typically required. We coordinate the document preparation side — the legal advice comes from a licensed immigration attorney.
Illustrative examples based on common situations; names and details are changed.
Information on this page is based on procedures from recognized government and intergovernmental bodies — not third-party estimates.
Reviewed by
Laura ChenLegal Document Expert
Specialist in documents for the English-speaking market with a focus on fast and secure processing.
A credential evaluation is an official assessment by a NACES-member agency (like WES or ECE) that compares your foreign degree to its US equivalent. You need one if: you are applying to US graduate schools, seeking professional licensing in a regulated field (medicine, engineering, nursing, law), applying for H-1B sponsorship (the petition must demonstrate degree equivalency), or when a US employer specifically requests it. For most private-sector jobs that do not require a license, a credential evaluation is optional but can strengthen your application.
Not always. Check the evaluator's country-specific required-document instructions. WES, for example, may require official records sent directly from your institution, and apostilles are not universally required. We coordinate your document package so it meets the specific requirements of the evaluator you choose.
OPT (Optional Practical Training) is a 12-month work authorization period for F-1 student visa holders after graduation. STEM OPT is a 24-month extension available to graduates of STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) — bringing the total to 36 months. H-1B is an employer-sponsored specialty occupation visa for a maximum of 6 years (with possibility of extension while a green card is pending). H-1B requires employer sponsorship, is subject to an annual cap, and is no longer filled by a simple random lottery: USCIS selects from electronic registrations using a wage-weighted selection process, first used for the FY 2027 cap season. Entry restrictions under the September 2025 Presidential Proclamation — extended through 21 September 2027 — apply to certain new H-1B petitions, with exemptions; check current USCIS/DHS guidance before planning a petition. Most international graduates use OPT/STEM OPT to work while their employer sponsors an H-1B.
For an H-1B petition, the employer's immigration attorney typically needs: your foreign degree diploma, official transcripts, certified English translations of all foreign documents, and any professional licenses or certifications from your home country. We prepare the full document package — certified translation and, where required, apostille — so you can focus on the job offer and the legal petition.
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