Proof of Education

[doodlebug 3]

There are a few jobs that we are looking at for my husband and all require a bachelors degree. I know for me that whenever I've applied for a job they have never actually called to verify that I indeed earned my degree but I'm thinking that a foreign applicant may be treated differently.

I know there was mention here earlier about a process by which the immigrants can get their educational achievements certified somehow so that the US will recognize them but I can't find the thread. Does anyone here have advice? If its something he can more easily do while still in Egypt I'd rather he get it all done now while we wait for AR.

Also, maybe this should be in a different thread but does he have to wait for EAD in order to get his license? it may take him that long just to learn how to drive since he's never driven before but I was just curious how soon we can get that ball rolling as well since a drivers license is also key for these specific sales jobs.

Thanks!

[Henia 11]

Esalaam Doodle.

There is a company out there, who can convert international degrees. But unfortunately not all of them. And most of the ones they do convert are higher positions. And most of them coming from Europe ... not MENA.

We tried to get my husband a position in the international company he currently works for (here in DZ) but unforunately that requires way too much hassle and approvals across the board. But we are still trying. If he could get a position within his company, it would be awesome! But we thinking realistically thou.

It would seem for many when coming here, people have to start a new... with a new profession or going back to school to earn a degree here. I know we tried to see if my husband's MBA would be worth anything here... buuuut unfortunately while some countries in Europe recognise it...the US does not. =(

So it unforunate but many of us do have face the fact of our SOs starting over... many at minium wage jobs. =(

[Henia 11]

But getting your husband a DL is not difficult at all. All he needs is birth cert, passport, prove he is legal and residence. You can pay for him to attend a driving school, which in many states is required for new drivers. He will take a written test, pay the fee and after 30 day premit.... do the road test.

[doodlebug 3]

So like someone who is a doctor in Egypt would have to start from scratch then? Don't get me wrong...lol...he's not a doctor, but it makes no sense that his bachelors there wouldn't be recognized here.

I think I'll have to do some searching around the universities in my area to see what they do, for example, when an international student from Egypt wants to enroll in their MBA or doctorate programs. They must have some mechanism for recognizing their education that they've already achieved.

Worse comes to worse maybe they wont' even check and they'll just go by the work experience that he has along with references and past sales achievements at his old company that he used to work for but I'd rather have all the ducks in a row before he gets here just in case....

That's good news about the DL though. It is super easy to get around here without driving but I think most of these specific jobs require a car since he'd be going from client to client and it won't always be in the city where he has access to the mbta.

[CoCo1020 0]

Hi,

you can try WES

http://www.wes.org/

[m&n 0]

Graduates from MENA do not HAVE to start all over again.....unless they want to or unless they can't find a job.......for example a pharmacist would take the US licensing exam for pharmacy and if he or she passes the exam & the TOEFL they can get their license to practice pharmacy......a doctor would take US Medical Licensing Exams to qualify to practice medicine in the US......accountants also have equivalency exams......

However, college graduates from overseas can have their degrees recognized in the US if they have their diplomas & transcripts go through credential evaluation. The World Education Services is one such evaluating agency and this is their website if you're interested.....

http://www.wes.org/

It is difficult though for graduates of certain fields to be able to find work simply because the course of study is different in MENA and the US.....for example.....lawyers in MENA study Islamic law and not US law so there is no equivaleny test for them to take to become licensed.

So like someone who is a doctor in Egypt would have to start from scratch then? Don't get me wrong...lol...he's not a doctor, but it makes no sense that his bachelors there wouldn't be recognized here.

I think I'll have to do some searching around the universities in my area to see what they do, for example, when an international student from Egypt wants to enroll in their MBA or doctorate programs. They must have some mechanism for recognizing their education that they've already achieved.

Worse comes to worse maybe they wont' even check and they'll just go by the work experience that he has along with references and past sales achievements at his old company that he used to work for but I'd rather have all the ducks in a row before he gets here just in case....

That's good news about the DL though. It is super easy to get around here without driving but I think most of these specific jobs require a car since he'd be going from client to client and it won't always be in the city where he has access to the mbta.

[Henia 11]

Well they told me at my local uni (in USA) that my husband's MBA and 2 degrees (accouting and finance) would not comvert. I did ask about equivalency exams, but they told it is not possible. Thank MN for posting that... I will continue to look into this matter. This saves us alot of time and money wasted.

[Nicole_Michel2007 0]

Hi,

you can try WES

http://www.wes.org/

WES - WORLD EDUCATION SERVICES - is the place to go - they will evaluate the degree and convert to something comparable in the US - i know someone who was a lawyer in Egypt and came to the US - went to WES and he was just a few classes short and then just needed to take the BAR -

Then I also have a friend who had a Bachelors in Accounting and went to US - they gave him a Bachelors in Economics.

They are helpful.

Good luck!

[♥JP♥ 5]

I think it depends on the company. The company I work for did a full background check which included verifying my education and work history. That was the first time it happened to me though.

[deadbird 2]

Hi,

you can try WES

http://www.wes.org/

Would this be accepted for all types of degrees? My fiance is a pharmacist and everywhere I looked for the different exams they were looking to charge him $700 for one test, and then he would still have to take more tests than that. If we have to pay $700 we'll pay it but with the new AOS fees and etc I have no idea how we're supposed to be able to afford it.

[m&n 0]

Yep.....that sounds about right......equivalency & licensing exams are pretty costly.

Hi,

you can try WES

http://www.wes.org/

Would this be accepted for all types of degrees? My fiance is a pharmacist and everywhere I looked for the different exams they were looking to charge him $700 for one test, and then he would still have to take more tests than that. If we have to pay $700 we'll pay it but with the new AOS fees and etc I have no idea how we're supposed to be able to afford it.

[ya falaha! 0]

I know an Egyptian gas station attendant here that was a doctor in Egypt. His degree didn't transfer so he has to have additional schooling here. Sometimes it depends on the university/college they attend in Egypt.

So like someone who is a doctor in Egypt would have to start from scratch then? Don't get me wrong...lol...he's not a doctor, but it makes no sense that his bachelors there wouldn't be recognized here.

I think I'll have to do some searching around the universities in my area to see what they do, for example, when an international student from Egypt wants to enroll in their MBA or doctorate programs. They must have some mechanism for recognizing their education that they've already achieved.

Worse comes to worse maybe they wont' even check and they'll just go by the work experience that he has along with references and past sales achievements at his old company that he used to work for but I'd rather have all the ducks in a row before he gets here just in case....

That's good news about the DL though. It is super easy to get around here without driving but I think most of these specific jobs require a car since he'd be going from client to client and it won't always be in the city where he has access to the mbta.

[doodlebug 3]

Thanks for the links!

I can see having to take a test to be a doctor/pharmacist, etc. but hopefully his degree with transfer for this purpose.

[peezey 0]

I think it depends on the company. The company I work for did a full background check which included verifying my education and work history. That was the first time it happened to me though.

I've had this happen to me a couple times, too. It's not worth the risk to do anything but tell the truth.

[peezey 0]

Thanks for the links!

I can see having to take a test to be a doctor/pharmacist, etc. but hopefully his degree with transfer for this purpose.

You have to have the degree certified by an organization like WES first, though. You can't just take transcripts from a foreign university in to the admissions office of your local school.