What to Do When USCIS Challenges Your Foreign Degree

If you're here, you probably already know what an RFE is. But just in case—an RFE (Request for Evidence) is a notice from USCIS asking for more documentation before deciding on your visa petition. Think of it as a way for USCIS to say, “We’re not quite convinced yet. Can you show us a bit more?”

One of the most common triggers for an RFE is confusion around foreign academic credentials. Even if you have a strong academic background, if it doesn’t check all the right boxes from a U.S. perspective, you might get an RFE. But don’t worry—this is something you can prepare for.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most common reasons foreign degrees get flagged, how to avoid these issues, and how MotaWord can help you respond confidently and correctly.

Why USCIS Questions Foreign Degrees

The U.S. immigration system is strict about academic equivalency. USCIS officers reviewing visa petitions must determine whether your foreign education meets U.S. standards for the visa you’re applying for. That sounds simple, but it's not always straightforward.

There are several common areas where things tend to go wrong—let’s break them down.

“Too Short” Degrees: Program Duration Challenges

One of the most frequent issues USCIS raises involves the length of the program. Many countries offer Bachelor’s degrees that take three years to complete. This is standard in places like:

• The United Kingdom
• Germany
• Australia
• India (via “lateral entry”)

Unfortunately, USCIS often assumes that anything shorter than four years is not equivalent to a U.S. Bachelor’s degree. What they sometimes miss is that these degrees often require more rigorous entry requirements, and their three-year programs pack in the same amount of academic content.

For example, Indian students who complete a diploma after high school may be eligible to jump directly into the second year of a Bachelor’s program. That’s called lateral entry—and it’s common in India’s engineering and technical schools. The result? A legitimate four-year degree, completed in three years.

MotaWord’s role: We understand these unique structures. Our evaluations include explanations about entry requirements, academic rigor, and the broader context that USCIS often overlooks. That’s how we help you avoid unnecessary RFEs.

Degrees from Non-University Institutions

Another common problem? When your credential is from a recognized body, but not technically a university.

Let’s take India as an example again. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) grants credentials equivalent to a U.S. Bachelor’s in Accounting—but since ICAI isn’t a university, USCIS might question its legitimacy.

Other Indian institutions with similar issues include:

• Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI)
• Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI)
• Institution of Engineers (IEI)
• Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE)
• Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMEI)
• Aeronautical Society of India

In the UK, credentials from professional bodies like ACCA, CIMA, and ICAEW are widely respected and often equivalent to Bachelor’s degrees—but USCIS won’t take them at face value.

The takeaway? If your credential comes from a professional institute (even a prestigious one), you’ll need an evaluation that clearly shows how and why it matches a U.S. degree in terms of content, learning outcomes, and recognition.

Vague or Weak Evaluation Reports

Not all credential evaluations are created equal.

Some evaluation services simply say, “This is equivalent to a U.S. Bachelor’s,” without explaining how they came to that conclusion. That’s a problem.

USCIS is looking for evidence and justification, not just an opinion. Evaluations that skip the reasoning or fail to cite sources are much more likely to be ignored or rejected.

That’s why MotaWord takes a different approach. We write every evaluation with a USCIS officer in mind. That means:

• Citing authoritative databases like AACRAO EDGE
• Explaining how the foreign system compares to the U.S.
• Describing program structure, admission criteria, and duration
• Listing all documents reviewed
• Highlighting any unusual situations (such as accelerated graduation or lateral entry)

The goal is simple: make the officer’s job easy and give them no reason to issue an RFE.

Missing Transcripts or Incomplete Documentation

This one’s an easy fix—and a very common mistake.

Let’s say you only submit your diploma, but not the transcripts or marksheets. Even if the degree title sounds impressive, USCIS wants to see your actual coursework to confirm the field of study and level of education.

Here’s what we recommend:

• Always provide transcripts, even if they’re not required.
• Make sure they’re clear, complete, and translated into English if necessary.
• Include certified translations alongside the originals.
• Submit both to MotaWord for evaluation and to USCIS with your petition.

Bonus tip: When you send us your transcripts, we’ll mention in our report that we reviewed them. That tells USCIS your evaluation was thorough, reducing their incentive to challenge it.

Name Doesn’t Match? Fix It Before USCIS Asks

It might seem small, but mismatched names between documents can raise big questions.

Let’s say your diploma says “R. Kumar,” but your passport says “Rajesh Kumar.” USCIS may issue an RFE asking if this is the same person.

This is especially common in:

• Countries where initials are used instead of full names (like India)
• Situations involving name changes after marriage or divorce
• Documents with inconsistent spellings or abbreviations

Here’s how to prevent an issue:

• Include all relevant name-change documents (e.g., marriage certificates, court orders)
• Let us know which version of your name you prefer to use in the evaluation
• We’ll list every name variant we see and explain why they all belong to the same person

A little transparency goes a long way in avoiding delays.

What If You Already Got an RFE?

Let’s say it’s too late—you’ve already received an RFE. Don’t panic.

If the RFE is related to your foreign academic credentials, here’s what you can do:

1. Read the RFE carefully. Identify exactly what USCIS is asking for. Are they questioning the duration, the institution, the field of study, or the degree level?

2. Gather all relevant documentation. This might include transcripts, course syllabi, credential explanations from the awarding institution, or prior evaluations.

3. Order a detailed evaluation from MotaWord. Tell us about the RFE and send us everything you have. We’ll tailor the evaluation to directly address USCIS’s concerns.

4. Submit your response before the deadline. USCIS won’t give extensions unless there are rare exceptions, so timing is everything.

MotaWord has helped countless applicants turn things around with strong, targeted evaluations that speak the officer’s language and answer their exact questions.

Get Ahead of the Problem with MotaWord

RFEs don’t mean your case is doomed, but they do mean USCIS needs more convincing.

By understanding the most common academic credential issues and proactively working with an experienced evaluator like MotaWord, you can put yourself in the best possible position to succeed.

Whether you’re preparing to file or need to respond to an RFE already in hand, we’ve got you covered.

Need help now?
[Reach out to MotaWord for expert credential evaluations written specifically for USCIS review. Fast, affordable, and backed by a team that knows immigration inside and out.

Mark Rogers - Head of Evaluation Services at MotaWord

Mark is a credentials evaluator expert with over five years of experience in the industry. Throughout his career, Mark has demonstrated a keen attention to detail and a thorough understanding of international education systems, contributing to his reputation as a trusted authority in the field of credentials evaluation.