Understanding Document Verification: A Key Step in Credential Evaluation

When applying to U.S. universities or seeking employment that requires credential evaluation, verifying the authenticity of your academic documents is a critical process. Document verification ensures that the academic records you submit are genuine and accurate. Let’s explore what verification is, why it’s necessary, which credentials require verification, and how The Evaluation Company can assist you with this important step.

What is Document Verification?

Verification is the process of authenticating your academic documents to ensure they are valid and not altered in any way. This is a crucial step in the overall process of credential evaluation, particularly when dealing with foreign academic credentials.

At The Evaluation Company, document verification is straightforward but thorough. To verify your documents, we require your academic institution abroad to send us your official academic transcripts or diplomas directly. This can be done via mail or email, and these documents must come directly from the institution to The Evaluation Company to ensure authenticity. We then compare the official documents we receive with the copies you have provided. This two-step process is what ensures that the documents are authentic and match the originals, allowing us to move forward with evaluating them according to the U.S. educational system.

Why is Document Verification Necessary?

In an increasingly globalized world, academic credentials from around the world are crucial for individuals looking to study or work in different countries. Unfortunately, along with the growing exchange of global academic records, there has also been an increase in the submission of fraudulent documents. To maintain the integrity of the credential evaluation process, document verification is necessary.

Verification protects both the applicant and the institution receiving the credentials. For applicants, verified documents ensure that their academic records are taken seriously and treated as legitimate. For universities, employers, and other U.S. institutions, document verification ensures that they are receiving accurate and truthful representations of the applicant’s educational background.

At The Evaluation Company, we occasionally encounter clients who unintentionally or deliberately submit fraudulent documents. By requiring direct communication with the foreign institution, we can verify that the documents are legitimate and protect the applicant from delays or rejection due to suspected fraud. Ensuring your documents are verified is a safeguard for your future educational or career opportunities in the U.S.

Which Credentials Require Verification?

Not all academic credentials require verification, but there are specific guidelines that The Evaluation Company follows to determine which documents must be authenticated. Generally, verification is required for the highest post-secondary degree or credential that you have obtained in each country.

For instance, if you hold both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from India, The Evaluation Company will only require verification for the master’s degree, as it is the highest post-secondary credential. However, if your bachelor’s degree is from India and your master’s degree is from England, then verification will be required for both degrees, since they were obtained from institutions in two different countries.

This process ensures that the most significant academic achievements relevant to your educational or career path are verified, minimizing unnecessary verification costs while ensuring the authenticity of critical documents.

Do I Need to Verify My Secondary School or High School Credentials?

If you are submitting secondary and post-secondary credentials, verification is never required for secondary school credentials.  If, however, you are only submitting secondary school credentials for evaluation, there are certain countries where we do require verification.  These countries include:

• Haiti
• Dominican Republic
• Nigeria
• Liberia
• The Gambia
• Ghana
• Sierra Leone
• Vietnam

If your secondary school or high school credentials are from one of these countries and you are not submitting any post-secondary study, verification is necessary for your secondary school credential. For other countries, however, secondary credentials do not need to be verified.

Can The Evaluation Company Verify My Academic Credentials for Me?

Yes! At The Evaluation Company, we offer a Document Verification Service to assist with the verification process. This service is especially helpful if you are unsure of how to get in touch with your academic institution abroad or need assistance navigating the verification requirements. Our team handles the task of contacting your foreign institution to verify your documents on your behalf.

The cost of this service varies by country; you will be provided with a quote for the cost of your verification while filling out your application. While The Evaluation Company’s verification team handles the communication and verification, it’s important to understand that this service does not include document retrieval—more on that in the next section.

Can The Evaluation Company Retrieve My Documents for Me?

Although we provide a Document Verification Service, The Evaluation Company does not offer document retrieval services. Document verification involves confirming the authenticity of the documents that you send us. It does not involve physically obtaining your documents on your behalf from the institution.  Applicants are responsible for providing their academic documents to The Evaluation Company during the application.

The Difference Between Verification and Evaluation

A common question many applicants have is why they need to pay for both verification and evaluation services. Understanding the distinction between these two processes is important:

• Verification: This is the process of authenticating your academic documents. It ensures that the documents are genuine and have not been tampered with. Verification protects against fraud and provides confidence to U.S. institutions that the documents represent your true academic achievements.
• Evaluation: While we are awaiting the verification to be completed, we can still evaluate your documents in the meantime. This involves determining how your foreign educational credentials compare to the U.S. educational system. An academic evaluation creates an equivalency of your academic achievements into the U.S. system, helping universities and employers understand your qualifications.

While verification is a crucial step to ensure the integrity of your documents, evaluation is necessary to make your foreign credentials meaningful within the U.S. educational and professional context. Paying for both services ensures that your documents are accurate, legitimate, and properly equated to U.S. standards.

Conclusion

Verification is an essential part of the credential evaluation process for anyone seeking to study or work in the U.S. with foreign academic qualifications. Ensuring that your documents are verified protects you from the risk of being disqualified due to fraudulent or altered transcripts and gives U.S. institutions confidence in your academic background. Whether you’re verifying your bachelor’s degree from India or your high school diploma from Nigeria, The Evaluation Company’s services make the process easier by contacting your foreign institution on your behalf. Just remember that verification and evaluation are two distinct services that work hand in hand to provide a clear and accurate picture of your academic achievements.