Student, USCIS Visa & Professional Licensing Resource Hub
Prepared by DIGIT’s Senior Academic Evaluators in alignment with UNESCO WHED, AACRAO EDGE, and U.S. federal immigration regulations (`8 CFR § 214.2`). Use these guides, country checklists, and electronic transcript instructions to prepare a flawless application.
Official Required Documents by Country of Education
Select your country to verify which degree certificates, semester marksheets, and graduation diplomas are required for an official DIGIT evaluation.
📄 1. Required Academic Certificates & Transcripts
- Final or Provisional Degree Certificate: Issued directly by the degree-granting University (autonomous college certificates alone are not sufficient).
- Individual Semester / Annual Marksheets: Complete university-issued statement of marks covering all semesters and all examination attempts.
- Consolidated Transcript (Optional Supplement): Accepted alongside individual semester marksheets or official Controller of Examinations transcript.
🔐 2. Accepted Electronic & Official Delivery Channels
- Applicant High-Resolution PDF Upload: Upload color scans of original certificates in Step 4 for immediate 5-layer AI forensic & cryptographic inspection.
- NAD / Government of India DigiLocker: Verified digital credentials with embedded PKCS#7 / X.509 signatures are accepted for instant cryptographic validation.
- Direct Registrar / TrueCopy / Worldwide Transcripts: Electronic transmission directly from the University Controller of Examinations.
🌐 3. Language, Translation & Name-Order Rules
- English Medium Standard: Most Indian university transcripts are issued in English and require no translation.
- Bilingual / Regional Script: If the diploma is solely in Hindi or a regional script, upload a Certified Word-for-Word English Translation alongside the original PDF.
- Initials & Patronymic Names: DIGIT automatically reconciles abbreviated initials against passport/application records.
⚖️ 4. U.S. Equivalency & 3-Year / 4-Year Policy
- 4-Year Degrees (B.Tech, B.E., B.Pharm, B.Arch): Direct equivalency to a four-year U.S. Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- 3-Year Degrees (B.Com, B.Sc, B.A, BCA): Automatically routed to a Senior Evaluator with NAAC accreditation & Bologna/UNESCO equivalency annotations.
- Postgraduate (M.Tech, M.Sc, MBA, MCA): Evaluated as equivalent to a U.S. Master's degree.
USCIS H-1B, EB-2 NIW, PERM & RFE Credential Evaluation Guide
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) enforces strict statutory standards when adjudicating foreign degrees for employment-based petitions. Here is how DIGIT ensures your evaluation withstands scrutiny.
1. H-1B Specialty Occupation & The "3-for-1" Experience Rule
To qualify for an H-1B visa, the beneficiary must hold the equivalent of a four-year U.S. Bachelor's degree in a specific specialty field directly related to the offered position.
- Direct 4-Year Foreign Degrees: A 4-year accredited degree (e.g., B.Tech, B.Eng, 4-year Licenciatura, or 4-year Honours) satisfies the educational requirement via a Document-by-Document (`DXD`, $150) evaluation.
- 3-Year Foreign Bachelor's + Post-Graduate Study: A 3-year Bachelor's degree (such as an Indian `B.Com`/`B.Sc` or UK 3-year `B.Sc`) combined with a 1-year or 2-year accredited Post-Graduate Diploma or Master's degree establishes full 4-year U.S. equivalency.
- Academic + Progressive Work Experience: Where a beneficiary holds a 3-year degree plus 3+ years of progressive specialty experience (`3 years experience = 1 year university training`), DIGIT documents the academic credit foundation so immigration counsel can pair it with expert experience opinions.
2. EB-2 Advanced Degree, NIW & The "Single-Source Rule"
Unlike H-1B petitions, EB-2 (Advanced Degree Professional) and PERM Labor Certifications prohibit combining multiple lesser degrees to equal a single U.S. Bachelor's degree unless explicitly permitted by the ETA-9089 charter.
- Single-Source Attestation: Every DIGIT evaluation explicitly states whether the U.S. Bachelor's or Master's equivalency is derived from a single foreign educational credential as mandated by the USCIS Policy Manual (Vol. 6, Part F, Chapter 5).
- UNESCO WHED Charter Verification: USCIS frequently issues RFEs questioning whether a foreign university was officially accredited at the date of conferral. DIGIT embeds the institution's UNESCO WHED ID and national Ministry charter history directly on the certificate.
- RFE Priority Response (48-Hour Rush): If you have received a USCIS Request for Evidence questioning GPA calculation or course specialization, select our Course-by-Course (`CXC`, $195) + 48-Hour Rush SLA.
How International Credits, ECTS & Honours Convert to the U.S. 4.0 Scale
Understanding how DIGIT converts credit hours, grading rigor, and 3-year vs. 4-year degree structures for North American university admissions.
| International Credit / Degree System | DIGIT Standardized U.S. Conversion Rule | Typical Annual Full-Time Load |
|---|---|---|
| European Credit Transfer System (`ECTS`) 49 Bologna Process Countries (EU/EEA, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine) |
1.0 ECTS Credit = 0.50 U.S. Semester Credit |
60 ECTS = 30.0 U.S. Semester Credits / Year |
| UK Credit Accumulation & Transfer Scheme (`CATS`) England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland |
4.0 CATS Credits = 1.00 U.S. Semester Credit |
120 CATS = 30.0 U.S. Semester Credits / Year |
| Latin American Classroom Clock Hours (`Carga Horária`) Brazil (MEC), Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Peru |
15 Lecture Hours (or 30 Lab Hours) = 1.00 U.S. Credit |
450–540 Hours = 30.0–36.0 U.S. Credits / Year |
| Australian / New Zealand EFTSL & Units AQF Level 7 & Level 8 Honours Universities |
1.00 EFTSL (Full Annual Load) = 30.0 U.S. Semester Credits |
8 Standard Courses (4 per Semester) = 30.0 U.S. Credits |
| Indian CBCS (Choice Based Credit System) UGC / AICTE Semester Credit Systems |
Normalized proportionally so full annual load = 30.0–36.0 U.S. Credits |
40–48 CBCS Credits = 30.0–36.0 U.S. Credits / Year |
Accepted Global Electronic Transcript & Government Portals
DIGIT’s `pyHanko` cryptographic verification engine inspects PKCS#7 / X.509 digital signatures directly from official national clearinghouses—saving you international courier fees and weeks of postal transit.
CHSI / CSSD (学信网)
Request the English Online Verification Report of Higher Education Degree Certificate and Verification Report of China Higher Education Student's Academic Transcript from chsi.com.cn and upload the official CHSI PDF with its 12–16 digit Online Verification Code.
NAD / DigiLocker & TrueCopy
Download your digitally signed degree certificate or marksheet PDF directly from the Government of India’s National Academic Depository (NAD) / DigiLocker or route official e-transcripts via TrueCopy / Worldwide Transcripts. Do not print-to-PDF so the embedded PKCS#7 digital signature remains intact.
Digitary CORE & Gradintelligence
Share your official electronic HEAR (Higher Education Achievement Report), Diploma Supplement, or e-Transcript via Digitary or Gradintelligence, or download the cryptographically certified Adobe Blue-Ribbon PDF and upload it directly in Step 4.
My eQuals Official Network
Australian and New Zealand universities issue cryptographically signed AHEGS (Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement) and official academic transcripts via My eQuals. Upload the original signed PDF or share the secure My eQuals verification link.
Parchment, NSC & MyCreds
DIGIT accepts direct electronic transcript delivery and certified PDFs from Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), and Canada’s MyCreds / MesCertif network with instant X.509 certificate chain validation.
ETX-NG & Registrar Direct
Nigerian and Ghanaian applicants may upload high-resolution color scans of original degree certificates and student/official transcripts for immediate AI forensic verification, or route institutional e-transcripts via ETX-NG or official University Registrar email.
The DIGIT Applicant Bill of Rights & Quality Guarantee
International students and professionals deserve transparency, fairness, and academic respect. Every DIGIT evaluation is governed by four binding commitments:
1. Zero Penalty for Rigorous Foreign Grading
We never apply naive linear percentage cuts to severe grading systems (such as French 0–20, UK 70%+ First Class Honours, or Indian 60%+ First Division). Every grade is mapped using country-specific percentile and division benchmarks.
2. Human Senior Evaluator Oversight on Complex Degrees
While our AI engine accelerates extraction and forensic verification, no applicant is ever auto-rejected by an algorithm. Complex credentials (such as 3-year Bachelor's degrees or historical transcripts) are always reviewed by a Senior Evaluator.
3. 100% Transparent Pricing & SLA Accountability
Our pricing is published openly ($150 DXD / $195 CXC, with 1st university delivery included free). If a 48-Hour Priority Rush order ever exceeds its SLA due to internal processing, the $95 rush fee is automatically refunded.
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