Think you need a college degree to qualify for an H-1B visa? Think again. While a U.S. bachelor’s degree or its equivalent is the traditional path, there’s an alternative that many overlook: relevant work experience. If you’re an immigration attorney or an employer sponsoring international talent, it’s crucial to understand how experience-based evaluations can help meet USCIS requirements—even without a formal degree.
At International Evaluations, we help attorneys and employers navigate these complex cases with detailed Work Experience Evaluations—custom-written by credentialed experts and fully compliant with USCIS standards. For individuals with extensive, progressive experience in a specialized field, this can be the key to unlocking H-1B eligibility.
The H-1B Specialty Occupation Requirement
To qualify for an H-1B visa, USCIS requires the job to meet the definition of a “specialty occupation”, which typically means:
- The position requires a bachelor’s degree or higher in a specific field.
- The beneficiary holds the equivalent of that U.S. bachelor’s degree.
But what if the individual doesn’t have a degree—or has a degree in an unrelated field?
That’s where work experience comes in. Under USCIS guidelines, three years of relevant, progressive work experience can be considered equivalent to one year of college-level education in the specialty field. This means:
12 years of experience in a relevant field can be evaluated as the equivalent of a 4-year bachelor’s degree.
Who Can Benefit from a Work Experience Evaluation?
This path is especially useful for:
- Skilled professionals who entered the workforce early without finishing formal education.
- Individuals with unrelated degrees (e.g., a bachelor’s in literature working as a software engineer).
- Self-taught professionals with certifications and years of hands-on experience.
- Entrepreneurs or consultants with a verifiable work history in the relevant field.
We’ve helped attorneys and employers successfully file H-1B petitions for software developers, IT consultants, marketing analysts, mechanical engineers, and more—even when the candidate lacked a traditional degree.
What Is a Work Experience Evaluation?
A Work Experience Evaluation is a detailed report prepared by a university professor or subject matter expert. It evaluates the beneficiary’s work history to determine whether their experience is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree in a specific field.
At International Evaluations, our process includes:
- Reviewing resume, letters of experience, and job descriptions
- Assessing the depth and progression of the individual’s roles
- Analyzing the relevance of experience to the proposed H-1B position
- Matching experience to academic standards based on AACRAO and USCIS guidelines
- Issuing a formal equivalency statement, signed by an academic expert
All evaluations are USCIS-compliant, include expert credentials, and are formatted per USCIS submission standards.
What Evidence Is Required?
To support a work experience-based H-1B petition, USCIS expects substantial documentation. Our team will guide you or your legal counsel on what’s needed, including:
- Detailed employment verification letters from past employers
- A resume or CV outlining roles and responsibilities
- Project details, certifications, or work samples (if available)
- A clear job offer letter describing the specialty occupation
All letters should be on company letterhead, signed by someone with authority, and outline job title, duties, duration of employment, and technologies/tools used.
When to Use a Work Experience Evaluation
Work experience evaluations are often used in:
H-1B Petitions Without a Degree
A candidate with 12+ years of experience and no degree can still qualify for an H-1B if the role and experience align.
Degree Mismatch Cases
If the beneficiary holds a degree in an unrelated field, we can combine education + experience to establish equivalency in the field of the job.
RFEs or Denials
If USCIS has issued an RFE or denial questioning the beneficiary’s qualifications, a properly structured expert evaluation may provide the clarity needed for approval or refiling.
Why Attorneys and Employers Trust International Evaluations
We specialize in helping non-traditional candidates qualify for H-1B and other employment-based visas. What sets us apart:
- Access to 170+ credentialed experts across STEM, business, healthcare, and social sciences who can assess and validate your experience.
- Fast, customized evaluations that translate your years of practical work into U.S. degree equivalency for H-1B purposes.
- Expertise in USCIS-compliant formatting and terminology, ensuring your case meets strict petition requirements.
- Proven track record of approvals, including successful conversions from Requests for Evidence (RFEs) to visa grants.
Our goal is to provide documentation that not only meets requirements—but also stands up to scrutiny under today’s increasingly rigorous USCIS review standards.
Final Thoughts: No Degree Doesn’t Mean No Opportunity
The U.S. immigration system recognizes that real-world experience matters—especially in fast-evolving fields like IT, engineering, and business. With a professional work experience evaluation, candidates who lack formal degrees can still meet H-1B requirements and pursue their American dream.
At International Evaluations, we help attorneys and employers uncover every qualifying angle for their candidates—education or experience-based.
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