Foreign Credential Evaluation in the United States: Part 4

By Holly O’Neill West      

What Happens if You Don't Agree With the Evaluation

While customer satisfaction is a number one priority of most evaluation services, there is no guarantee that you will agree with the results of your evaluation.  This might seem unfair, but consider the fact that foreign credential evaluation can be a very subjective process.   You (the applicant) have certain goals that you want to accomplish with the evaluation, and if for whatever reason the evaluation report does not facilitate these goals, it's natural to assume that you will want retribution (whether that be a refund of fees paid or a change in the evaluation).  However, if an evaluation service issued refunds to every applicant who was disappointed with the results of their evaluation, they would be bankrupt.  This is not because the quality of the work is substandard.  The reasons for dissatisfaction vary, but often it's because of misunderstandings about the methodology of foreign credential evaluation, unrealistic expectations, or simply a difference of opinion of the level of education. 

Refunds are rarely given for dissatisfaction.  In cases where a rush fee is paid and the evaluation is not completed on time, a refund may be issued.  However, refunds are almost never given in situations where an applicant does not agree with the results of the evaluation, and most evaluation services clearly state this in their terms and conditions of service.

If you believe that your evaluation report is in error, all complaints must usually be put into writing.  When writing to the service, be as specific as possible and if necessary, give facts to back up your claims.  Ask questions about anything you find confusing or incorrect, and ask for a detailed explanation in return.  Contact the service within five days of sending your inquiry and ask when you can expect a reply.

Be prepared:  Evaluations are generally not retracted or changed except in the case of error. However, you have the right to an explanation of evaluation policy and in extreme cases, policies are changed when an applicant challenges a specific issue.

Useful Resources

College Admissions
Chronicle of Higher Education
EAIE:  European Association for International Educators
NAFSA:  Association of International Educators
National Association of Credentials Evaluation Services
TOEFL Online - Test of English as a Foreign Language
US Department of Postsecondary Education

Holly O’Neill West worked as a foreign credential evaluator for a Los Angeles-based credential evaluation service for almost ten years. During that time, she wrote monographs on the educational systems of Afghanistan, Sudan, and Zambia, and contributed to “A Guide to Educational Systems Around the World” by co-writing the profile on Brazil. Her experience as an evaluator and her marriage to a British national have convinced her that immigration to the U.S. can be an inconvenient process at best and heartbreaking at worst. Her hope is that the work she did as a foreign credential evaluator helped to make the road a bit easier for at least some immigrants to this country. She is now employed as a web designer.