Why Transcripts Matter in Academic Evaluations
By Howard Borenstein As a credential evaluator, I occasionally receive this very reasonable question from our clients: If a diploma clearly states someone earned a degree, and that degree is widely recognized as equivalent to a U.S. credential, why is it necessary for Park to also review the individual’s transcripts? In my experience, there are two primary reasons. The first reason is based on my nearly twenty-five years of experience as a Senior Credential Evaluator. During this time, I’ve reviewed thousands of RFEs and have been called upon to defend my equivalency determinations to USCIS on numerous occasions. One trend has become clear: USCIS has increasingly emphasized the importance of reviewing and providing complete academic documentation, including transcripts, as part of the immigration process. Sometimes, the request is simply for completeness, requiring applicants to submit their entire academic record, ...