Do NOT Use SpanTran for Education Evaluation

[Mark11 36]

Hi VJ Community,

 

You may have a need for having foreign education credentials evaluated (for example for the I-944 self-sufficiency AOS form).  I recently used a NACES-listed company (the governing body for these type of companies) called "SpanTran" to evaluate my wife's Brazilian education credentials.   A terrible experience.  I paid $330 for the evaluation a month ago and still haven't received any work product.  Typically you can not speak with anyone without at least a 60-minute wait on hold (not exaggerating) and you have to press 2 on your phone every 24 seconds (literally) to stay on hold.  When someone finally does answer the phone, they only provide general information and will NOT allow you to speak with an evaluator.  Emails take at least 3 days to be answered, and the answer is always generic.

 

There are many NACES-listed companies available -- I strongly suggest you do NOT use SpanTran.

 

--Mark (and Sandra)

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

***Moved to Adjustment of Status discussion area.....Duplicate post removed from IR-1/CR-1 discussion area as the I-944 is not applicable to spousal visas****

[geowrian 22,337]

Do you know if the delays are due to staffing issues and/or institution delays due to COVID?

[Mark11 36]

Geowrian,

 

7 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Do you know if the delays are due to staffing issues and/or institution delays due to COVID?

 

According to the SpanTran phone representatives (when I finally reach them), no,  this is their normal business model -- i.e., not a covid problem.  They say they "prefer" email communication only, and they are just "very busy". 

 

--Mark

[millefleur 5,046]

I've had really bad experience with getting educational evaluations done as well. Another company to avoid is Foundation for International Services. Horrible customer service and has ridiculous requirements for authenticating documents. I had to dispute the charges with my bank because they refused to refund me for their poor service.

 

I've heard good things about Educational Perspectives. I know folks who have used them and had no issues.

[Liam2021 583]

I'm using SpanTran before to evaluated my spouse HS diploma for college admission, and it took them a week to get it done. I-944 just come out recently,  so be patient since the volume of these requests for evaluation can be  4-5 times than normal.

[Mark11 36]

1 hour ago, H&T said:

I'm using SpanTran before to evaluated my spouse HS diploma for college admission, and it took them a week to get it done. I-944 just come out recently,  so be patient since the volume of these requests for evaluation can be  4-5 times than normal.

H&T,

 

Yes, for a high school diploma SpanTran is probably adequate (at best), but if you try to use them for university or post-graduate credentials -- forget it.  Use someone else.

 

--Mark

[Mark11 36]

1 hour ago, millefleur said:

I've had really bad experience with getting educational evaluations done as well. Another company to avoid is Foundation for International Services. Horrible customer service and has ridiculous requirements for authenticating documents. I had to dispute the charges with my bank because they refused to refund me for their poor service.

 

I've heard good things about Educational Perspectives. I know folks who have used them and had no issues.

Millefleur,

 

Thank you for this valuable information.  I will take your advice on the companies you mentioned because we're going to have to go through the evaluation process again.  And I'll also have to try to dispute these SpanTran charges with my bank.  Joy.

 

--Mark

[Trese 174]

I used Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) and was pretty satisfied with their service. Took just 7 days from when they received my credentials to when the evaluation and original documents were delivered to our home.  

[Boiler 45,486]

I never had to go through this, but usually most people who do will do so for a specific purpose, employer for example and they will require you to use a specific organisation.

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

Here's a list of evaluation services that are members of the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc.:

https://aice-eval.org/endorsed-members/

[itscarly 114]

I recommend IEE, they were great. It took 7 days between sending my information and them sending me the evaluation by email, and 2 days later I received a printed copy by mail. It was $148.50 and they evaluated my high school diploma+transcripts and my college diploma+transcripts

[bradoony 54]

22 hours ago, Mark11 said:

Hi VJ Community,

 

You may have a need for having foreign education credentials evaluated (for example for the I-944 self-sufficiency AOS form).  I recently used a NACES-listed company (the governing body for these type of companies) called "SpanTran" to evaluate my wife's Brazilian education credentials.   A terrible experience.  I paid $330 for the evaluation a month ago and still haven't received any work product.  Typically you can not speak with anyone without at least a 60-minute wait on hold (not exaggerating) and you have to press 2 on your phone every 24 seconds (literally) to stay on hold.  When someone finally does answer the phone, they only provide general information and will NOT allow you to speak with an evaluator.  Emails take at least 3 days to be answered, and the answer is always generic.

 

There are many NACES-listed companies available -- I strongly suggest you do NOT use SpanTran.

 

--Mark (and Sandra)

Send them message in their Instagram page. They answered me immidiately there. But also they responded me on email really fast. I paid for general evaluation with express services. It was done for 2 days and i paid $240 total. I am sorry that have experienced that but usually people are happy with their services. Try to connect them any possible way because they might lost your case or something. 

[Glado 8]

I used IEE, they were fast despite covid19 and answered queries. Found them expensive compared to others i paid over $200 but they offered the services that I wanted.

[Mark11 36]

All,

 

For us (Sandra and I), the key problem is that my wife needs an evaluation for medical licensing (as a Speech-Language Pathologist).  For this, SpanTran has been incredibly UN-helpful and UN-responsive.  They certainly took the $330 quickly on May 29, but now won't answer questions regarding the evaluation and won't release the evaluation.  In general, my point is that if you have any complications with an evaluation which requires you to have a conversation with the evaluator, SpanTran will not accommodate you.  And you'll be lucky if you are able to SPEAK with anyone, let alone an evaluator.  I was specifically told (after waiting on hold for 64 minutes):  "No, you may not speak with the evaluator.  That is our policy.  You are welcome to email us, and we will forward your questions to an evaluator." [but you will NOT receive a direct email response from the evaluator].

 

--Mark