Thread: Russian couple moving to the USA - any advise from others that did it?

Hey Scott,

I wrote a reply this morning and apparently it didn't post... grrr.. let me try it again.

I'm not certain you are understanding exactly what I am getting at about the importance of GED and College here in the US. Most HR people here (and companies) don't care about overseas degrees. They don't have the time or knowledge to research them or the ability to verify that a candidate actually went. Additionally, with it being a Russian college, it will be even harder. Unless it's like Cambridge or Oxford, most people will not have heard of schools outside the US.

I can give you direct example of what I am talking about.

My hubby came to the US with a degree in electromechanical engineering and he was already working in his field. When he got here, no one cared. The Unions would not give him credit for his college or work experience. The jobs he was being offered were "helper" and "apprentice" jobs at under $10 per hour. This was AFTER he had completed his GED here in the States, was speaking English pretty well and he was legally allowed to be here and work here.

After five rounds of interviews and a hands on test, he got a job with the state; but, they made it clear that they were taking a big chance with him because they really liked him. It was the reason they gave him the hands on test, so he could prove he knew the work and how he would go about doing an assignment in an area he had never been challenged in before. They wanted to see how he thought and if he would get along with the team.

Because of a loop hole in the law here, as a state employee, he was then allowed to take either the Journeyman or Master's test (the Union wouldn't even allow him to take the journeyman). He took the Masters and passed the first time and it was in English. Now, his boss is not Masters, only Journeyman. However, his boss has a college degree... a requirement for that position and the state does not recognize his overseas degree.

When a company places creates a job description, they have the qualifications listed and if it states, GED, College Degree, or even College Degree from an Accredited College...then they MUST hire someone with those qualifications or be subject to lawsuits. If it states, GED or equivalent or College Degree or equivalent experience, then there is some wiggle room.

Your friends need to get American GEDs and then American college credit to be able to get ahead. IF the Russian college is as good and well known as you say, they might be able to obtain credit for some or all of the classes they took there. It is a long process but is better than starting all over.

This is the policy from Minnesota State University:

Non-U.S. Colleges and Universities
Credit Potential from Non-U.S. (Overseas) College/Universities
In terms of any coursework from a non-U.S. college or university, we require all students who are hoping to transfer courses from a university outside of the U.S. to have their coursework evaluated by a professional credit evaluation agency. There are several agencies in the U.S., but we use ECE. The rates for all of the agencies are about the same. For more information go to the Educational Credential Evaluators website.


They also provide an online application for credit evaluation.


Which ECE evaluation you provide to us depends on what major you will be studying here. Computer science, other sciences, engineering and math majors should request the "subject analysis". All other majors should request the "course-by-course" evaluation. Since the purpose of the ECE evaluation is potential transfer of credit, it does not need to be submitted as part of the application review process. It can be submitted later. However, any post-secondary work you successfully completed at a non-U.S. college or university will be considered by MSU only upon receipt of the official ECE evaluation.

Here is the one from Sacramento State:

International Transfer Students


The CSU must assess the academic preparation of foreign students. For this purpose, "foreign students" include those who hold U.S. visas as students, exchange visitors, or in other nonimmigrant classifications.


The CSU uses separate requirements and application filing dates in the admission of "foreign students." Verification of English proficiency* for undergraduate applicants, financial resources, and academic performance are each important considerations for admission. Academic records from foreign institutions must be on file at least eight weeks before registration for the first term and, if not in English, must be accompanied by certified English translations.


Priority in admission is given to residents of California. Undergraduate international and non-California resident students are not admitted to impacted programs.


International transfer students must have completed at least two years (60 semester units or the equivalent) of college work with a 2.4 grade point average. An exception to the two-year requirement may be made for foreign visa students whose secondary school preparation is equivalent to that of eligible California high school graduates.


*See TOEFL Requirement.

Hello Rockzmom,
I passed along your post.

Thank you!

Scott

Originally Posted by rockzmom

Hey Scott,

I wrote a reply this morning and apparently it didn't post... grrr.. let me try it again.

I'm not certain you are understanding exactly what I am getting at about the importance of GED and College here in the US. Most HR people here (and companies) don't care about overseas degrees. They don't have the time or knowledge to research them or the ability to verify that a candidate actually went. Additionally, with it being a Russian college, it will be even harder. Unless it's like Cambridge or Oxford, most people will not have heard of schools outside the US.

I can give you direct example of what I am talking about.

My hubby came to the US with a degree in electromechanical engineering and he was already working in his field. When he got here, no one cared. The Unions would not give him credit for his college or work experience. The jobs he was being offered were "helper" and "apprentice" jobs at under $10 per hour. This was AFTER he had completed his GED here in the States, was speaking English pretty well and he was legally allowed to be here and work here.

After five rounds of interviews and a hands on test, he got a job with the state; but, they made it clear that they were taking a big chance with him because they really liked him. It was the reason they gave him the hands on test, so he could prove he knew the work and how he would go about doing an assignment in an area he had never been challenged in before. They wanted to see how he thought and if he would get along with the team.

Because of a loop hole in the law here, as a state employee, he was then allowed to take either the Journeyman or Master's test (the Union wouldn't even allow him to take the journeyman). He took the Masters and passed the first time and it was in English. Now, his boss is not Masters, only Journeyman. However, his boss has a college degree... a requirement for that position and the state does not recognize his overseas degree.

When a company places creates a job description, they have the qualifications listed and if it states, GED, College Degree, or even College Degree from an Accredited College...then they MUST hire someone with those qualifications or be subject to lawsuits. If it states, GED or equivalent or College Degree or equivalent experience, then there is some wiggle room.

Your friends need to get American GEDs and then American college credit to be able to get ahead. IF the Russian college is as good and well known as you say, they might be able to obtain credit for some or all of the classes they took there. It is a long process but is better than starting all over.

This is the policy from Minnesota State University:

Non-U.S. Colleges and Universities
Credit Potential from Non-U.S. (Overseas) College/Universities
In terms of any coursework from a non-U.S. college or university, we require all students who are hoping to transfer courses from a university outside of the U.S. to have their coursework evaluated by a professional credit evaluation agency. There are several agencies in the U.S., but we use ECE. The rates for all of the agencies are about the same. For more information go to the Educational Credential Evaluators website.


They also provide an online application for credit evaluation.


Which ECE evaluation you provide to us depends on what major you will be studying here. Computer science, other sciences, engineering and math majors should request the "subject analysis". All other majors should request the "course-by-course" evaluation. Since the purpose of the ECE evaluation is potential transfer of credit, it does not need to be submitted as part of the application review process. It can be submitted later. However, any post-secondary work you successfully completed at a non-U.S. college or university will be considered by MSU only upon receipt of the official ECE evaluation.

Here is the one from Sacramento State:

International Transfer Students


The CSU must assess the academic preparation of foreign students. For this purpose, "foreign students" include those who hold U.S. visas as students, exchange visitors, or in other nonimmigrant classifications.


The CSU uses separate requirements and application filing dates in the admission of "foreign students." Verification of English proficiency* for undergraduate applicants, financial resources, and academic performance are each important considerations for admission. Academic records from foreign institutions must be on file at least eight weeks before registration for the first term and, if not in English, must be accompanied by certified English translations.


Priority in admission is given to residents of California. Undergraduate international and non-California resident students are not admitted to impacted programs.


International transfer students must have completed at least two years (60 semester units or the equivalent) of college work with a 2.4 grade point average. An exception to the two-year requirement may be made for foreign visa students whose secondary school preparation is equivalent to that of eligible California high school graduates.


*See TOEFL Requirement.