P: 410.358.3588 | F: 443.450.1021 info@silvergateevaluations.com
Individual Application
Submitter Contact Information
Name of Contact*
Email Address(es) of Contact(s)*

You may enter a single email address, or multiple email addresses separated by semi-colons. For example,

myname@mycompany.com;myothername@mycompany.com

Phone Number of Contact*
Referring Attorney / Law Firm
(optional)
Type of Service
 

Academic: Diploma and transcripts or mark sheets

If you only have some of the required documents, or if you are not sure whether your documents are sufficient, it is possible that we can still complete a favorable evaluation, but please note in the application notes if you cannot provide all of the documents and advise as to why. Please send your documents for a free preliminary assessment and we will inform you before proceeding if further documentation is needed.

Employment verification letters showing job title, start and end dates, and a description of the job duties as well as preferably including evidence of the employee’s progression in responsibility over time, discussing the candidate’s expertise, and establishing that the experience was gained while working with peers who hold a Bachelor’s Degree in the pertinent field, or the equivalent.

If you only have some of the required documents, have a different type of documentation that demonstrates work experience history, or if you are not sure whether your documents are sufficient, it is possible that we can still complete a favorable evaluation. Please send your documents for a free preliminary assessment and we will inform you before proceeding if further documentation is needed.

  • Diploma and transcripts or mark sheets.
  • Employment verification letters showing job title, start and end dates, and a description of the job duties as well as preferably including evidence of the employee’s progression in responsibility over time, discussing the candidate’s expertise, and establishing that the experience was gained while working with peers who hold a Bachelor’s Degree in the pertinent field, or the equivalent.

If you only have some of the required documents, have a different type of documentation that demonstrates work experience history, or if you are not sure whether your documents are sufficient, it is possible that we can still complete a favorable evaluation. Please send your documents for a free preliminary assessment and we will inform you before proceeding if further documentation is needed.

Expert Opinion Letter Type*

Details

Select this option if you are unsure what type of expert letter you need, or if you need a specific type of expert letter not listed above.

Required Documents

  • A copy of the RFE, if you received one.
  • Any pertinent documentation depending on the needs of the Case.

Note: If unsure, indicate this in the application along with a clear description of what points you want the Expert Opinion Letter to establish. Then we will contact you by email to let you know what documents we would need to see in order to assess the Case.

If you only have some of the required documents, or if you are unsure whether your documents are sufficient, it is possible that we can still complete a favorable Expert Opinion Letter. Please send your documents for a free preliminary assessment and we will inform you before proceeding if further documentation is needed.

Details

In addition to establishing that the offered position is engaged in duties of an Executive or Supervisory character, or that it requires Special Qualifications, this expert letter also discusses the beneficiary’s academic and/or work experience credentials and endorses the suitability of the beneficiary for the offered position.

Required Documents

  • The employer’s support letter, including a description of the petitioner and a detailed list of the required job duties for the offered position.
  • For cases including discussion of academics: Diploma and transcripts or mark sheets of the candidate.
  • For cases including discussion of work experience: Employment verification letters showing job title, start and end dates, and a description of the job duties.
  • Please also include professional recommendation letters if available.

If you only have some of the required documents, or if you are unsure whether your documents are sufficient, it is possible that we can still complete a favorable Expert Opinion Letter. Please send your documents for a free preliminary assessment and we will inform you before proceeding if further documentation is needed.

Details

This expert letter assesses a foreign national’s accomplishments and qualifications, and describes how he or she has satisfied the USCIS requirements for classification as an Alien of Exceptional Ability. In addition to establishing that at least three of the evidentiary criteria have been met, this letter demonstrates that the beneficiary has a degree of expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered in the sciences, arts, or business, for the final merits determination.

Required Documents

  • The letter of support describing which of at least three evidentiary criteria the beneficiary fulfills.
  • Any pertinent exhibits that support the claims of the letter and the candidate’s Exceptional Ability.

Details

The USCIS frequently issues Requests for Additional Evidence (RFEs) asking for proof that an individual's work will benefit the national interest and that the individual may be considered “well-positioned” to advance a particular field and/or specific endeavor in the United States. An expert letter for this type of case will demonstrate that:

  • The proposed endeavor has both substantial merit and national importance;
  • The beneficiary is well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor; and
  • NEW It is critical to avoid delaying the proposed endeavor’s immediate benefits to the US National Interest."
  • Required Documents

    • Letter of support, business plan, and/or personal statement with detailed information on the proposed endeavor.
    • The beneficiary’s academic degrees and transcripts, resume, employment verification letters, reference letters, awards, publications, media coverage, work product sample, etc.

Details

The need for this type of letter arises when a foreign national is promoted from within a company that wishes to sponsor his/her green card. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) standard for using experience gained with the sponsoring employer is that the past position must not be “substantially comparable” to the new position. In this expert opinion letter, the expert provides a detailed comparison between the previous position and the offered position explaining how they are at least 50% different, therefore qualifying as not “substantially comparable”.

Required Documents

  • A description of the petitioner, the job titles for each position, detailed lists of the required job duties for both positions (including percentage of time spent on each duty), and the job requirements for each position.

Details

The expert letter establishes that a position qualifies under one of the categories of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). When requested, the expert can also evaluate the beneficiary’s academic credentials and/or discuss work experience history to endorse the beneficiary as suitable for the offered position.

Required Documents

  • The employer’s support letter including a description of the petitioner and a detailed list of the required job duties for the offered position.
  • For cases including evaluation of academics: Diploma and transcripts or mark sheets of the candidates.
  • For cases including discussion of work experience: Detailed employment verification letters and reference letters.

If you only have some of the required documents, or if you are unsure whether your documents are sufficient, it is possible that we can still complete a favorable Expert Opinion Letter. Please send your documents for a free preliminary assessment and we will inform you before proceeding if further documentation is needed.

Details

This expert letter establishes business necessity for an offered position and demonstrates that "the job duties and requirements bear a reasonable relationship to the occupation in the context of the employer's business, and are essential to perform the job in a reasonable manner", in accordance with regulations.

Required Documents

  • The ETA form 9089 (in the absence of this, a Microsoft Word document with a detailed list of the required job duties for the offered position and the employer’s stated requirement will suffice).
  • A description of the petitioner.

If you only have some of the required documents, or if you are unsure whether your documents are sufficient, it is possible that we can still complete a favorable Expert Opinion Letter. Please send your documents for a free preliminary assessment and we will inform you before proceeding if further documentation is needed.

Details

This expert letter assesses a foreign national’s accomplishments and qualifications, and describes how he or she has satisfied the USCIS requirements for classification as an Alien of Extraordinary Ability.

Required Documents

  • The employer’s support letter describing which of at least three evidentiary criteria the candidate fulfills.
  • Any pertinent exhibits that support the claims of the letter regarding the candidate’s Extraordinary Ability.

If you only have some of the required documents, or if you are unsure whether your documents are sufficient, it is possible that we can still complete a favorable Expert Opinion Letter. Please send your documents for a free preliminary assessment and we will inform you before proceeding if further documentation is needed.

Details

This expert letter assesses a foreign and/or US-based position's responsibilities, and establishes the position(s) as Executive and/or Managerial. Such letters are completed by a university professor in the field, and clearly describe how the responsibilities and characteristics of the position satisfy the requirements of the USCIS for an Executive or Managerial position.

Required Documents

  • The employer’s support letter including a description of the petitioner and a detailed list of the required job duties for the offered position.
  • Organizational charts for the foreign and US companies showing where the candidate stands in the corporate hierarchy.

If you only have some of the required documents, or if you are unsure whether your documents are sufficient, it is possible that we can still complete a favorable Expert Opinion Letter. Please send your documents for a free preliminary assessment and we will inform you before proceeding if further documentation is needed.

Details

This report includes an expert opinion letter from a professor in the field, who first performs an in-depth analysis of the company's processes and the knowledge acquired by the beneficiary. The professor then proceeds to establish that the beneficiary possesses Specialized Knowledge of the company's proprietary tools, processes, and methodologies based on his or her work experience for the company's foreign office.

Required Documents

  • The employer’s support letter including a description of the petitioner and a detailed list of the required job duties for the offered position.
  • Any internal training records the candidate has with the company.

If you only have some of the required documents, or if you are unsure whether your documents are sufficient, it is possible that we can still complete a favorable Expert Opinion Letter. Please send your documents for a free preliminary assessment and we will inform you before proceeding if further documentation is needed.

Details

The expert letter from a professional in the field demonstrates that "the degree requirement is common to the industry in parallel positions among similar organizations." The expert may also discuss the beneficiary’s academic credentials and/or work experience history in terms of their desirability for the offered position. This letter may be requested on its own, or as a supplement to a Specialty Occupation or Comprehensive expert opinion letter at a reduced cost. If you would like both services, please fill out the application for one service, but mention in the application notes that you would also like to request the second service and we will quote accordingly.

Required Documents

  • The employer’s support letter including a description of the petitioner, the requirement for the offered position that the petitioner has established, and a detailed list of the required job duties for the offered position.
  • For cases including discussion of education: Diploma and transcripts or mark sheets of the candidate.
  • For cases including discussion of work experience: Detailed employment verification letters and reference letters.
  • If you only have some of the required documents, have alternate documentation that demonstrates work experience history, or are unsure if your documents are sufficient, it is possible that we can still complete a favorable Expert Opinion Letter. Please send your documents for a free preliminary assessment and we will inform you before proceeding if further documentation is needed.

Details

An expert letter pertaining to CPT/OPT will demonstrate that the CPT (Curricular Practical Training) or OPT (Optional Practical Training) position is directly related to the beneficiary’s course of study at the US institution where he/she was enrolled.

Required Documents

  • Transcripts for the US program where the beneficiary was or is still currently enrolled.
  • An employment verification letter stating the start and end dates, job title, and job duties of the CPT or OPT position.
  • Description of the employer company where the beneficiary held the CPT or OPT position.

Details

This expert letter evaluates the beneficiary’s academic and/or work experience credentials as equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree or higher in a relevant field, and endorses the suitability of the beneficiary for the offered position based on a detailed discussion of his/her unique background and combination of credentials. Options to coordinate a phone call with the expert may be available, as well as the option to discuss beneficiary’s fulfillment of the standard of “recognition of expertise.”

Required Documents

  • The employer’s support letter, including a description of the petitioner and a detailed list of the required job duties for the offered position.
  • For cases including discussion of education: Diploma and transcripts or mark sheets of the candidate.
  • For cases including evaluation of work experience: Employment verification letters showing job title, start and end dates, and a description of the job duties as well as preferably including evidence of the employee’s progression in responsibility over time, discussing the candidate’s expertise, and establishing that the experience was gained while working with peers who hold a Bachelor’s Degree in the pertinent field, or the equivalent.
  • If you only have some of the required documents, or if you are unsure whether your documents are sufficient, it is possible that we can still complete a favorable Expert Opinion Letter. Please send your documents for a free preliminary assessment and we will inform you before proceeding if further documentation is needed.

Details

In addition to establishing the offered position as a Specialty Occupation, this expert letter also evaluates the beneficiary's academic and/or work experience credentials as equivalent to a Bachelor's in the required field, and endorses the suitability of the beneficiary for the offered position.

Required Documents

  • The employer’s support letter, including a description of the petitioner and a detailed list of the required job duties for the offered position.
  • For cases including evaluation of academics: Diploma and transcripts or mark sheets of the candidate.
  • For cases including evaluation of work experience: Employment verification letters showing job title, start and end dates, and a description of the job duties as well as preferably including evidence of the employee’s progression in responsibility over time, discussing the candidate’s expertise, and establishing that the experience was gained while working with peers who hold a Bachelor’s Degree in the pertinent field, or the equivalent.

If you only have some of the required documents, have a different type of documentation that demonstrates work experience history, or if you are unsure whether your documents are sufficient, it is possible that we can still complete a favorable Expert Opinion Letter. Please send your documents for a free preliminary assessment and we will inform you before proceeding if further documentation is needed.

Details

This expert letter establishes an offered H-1B position as a USCIS Specialty Occupation, which requires the minimum attainment of a Bachelor's Degree.

Required Documents

The employer’s support letter including a description of the petitioner and a detailed list of the required job duties for the offered position.

If you only have some of the required documents, or if you are unsure whether your documents are sufficient, it is possible that we can still complete a favorable Expert Opinion Letter. Please send your documents for a free preliminary assessment and we will inform you before proceeding if further documentation is needed.

Help
Help
Help
Help
Help
Help
Help
Help
Help
Help
Help
Help
Help
Help
Help
 
Expert Opinion Letter Add-on*Help
Phone Discussion with the Expert (~20 minutes) - $250 additional fee

Silvergate will facilitate a phone conversation between our expert and a hiring manager or the beneficiary’s supervisor speaking on behalf of the company. This exchange, lasting approximately twenty minutes, enables the expert to become better-versed in the company's business practices and services provided, as well as the beneficiary’s day to day job functions. This discussion will allow the expert to provide a more persuasive expert opinion letter based on the information gleaned from direct contact with a representative from the petitioning company.


Video Conferencing "Virtual Site Visit" with the Expert (~90 minutes) - $1,000 additional fee

The "Virtual Site Visit" service allows the expert to interview key personnel (e.g. the beneficiary, the beneficiary's supervisor, a member of the executive team, etc.) and to assess the work site via video conferencing software. This conference call will enable the expert to issue an expert opinion informed by a deeper understanding of the petitioner's business operations, and employee hierarchy, and the day-to-day job duties that the beneficiary will perform. Silvergate will coordinate the 60-90 minute session and assist at every step of the way. This highly persuasive add-on is an attractive option for companies with a need for multiple expert opinion letters, so that the expert’s experience and direct contact with the company and its representatives can be reiterated in each expert opinion letter thereon.


Expert On-Site Visit - Quoted on a case by case basis

For this most comprehensive service, the expert will physically travel to the company, validate the bona fides of the company, interview staff members, and if on-site, observe the beneficiary and/or colleagues’ work directly. The expert will then produce a more in-depth Expert Opinion Letter based on his/her firsthand knowledge and experiences with the company. This option ensures the highest chances of success possible and provides excellent value for companies with a need for multiple expert opinion letters. The expert’s first-hand contact with the company and its representatives may be described in future expert opinion letters from this expert.


Wage Level Discussion - $100 additional fee

The expert will include a discussion of why the chosen wage level is appropriate for the position based on the specific job duties and requirements.

 

With this option, the professor evaluator will opine that the beneficiary is considered to have achieved USCIS’s standard of “recognition of expertise” in the given specialty. Highly detailed employment letters will need to be submitted with the application.

Expert Opinion Letter Details*

With this option, the professor evaluator will opine that the beneficiary is considered to have achieved USCIS’s standard of “recognition of expertise” in the given specialty. Highly detailed employment letters will need to be submitted with the application.

Other Details*
Evaluation Beneficiary Information
The name, spelling, and gender will be written in the evaluation EXACTLY as you enter them. Please check your entries carefully.
Gender*
First and Middle Name(s)*

If the beneficiary does not have a first name, please type "FNU" or or "First Name Unknown."

Last Name*

If the beneficiary does not have a last name, please type "LNU" or or "Last Name Unknown."

Additional Associated Names
Documents Requiring Translation
Specify language (optional).
Source (Original) Language*
Target (Translated) Language*
Category
Requested Timeframe
Please note that business hours are 9AM – 5:30PM eastern time Monday through Friday, excluding major US holidays. Requests received outside business hours will be considered as having been received on the following business day.
Please note that in the case of Same Day Service requests submitted after 12PM eastern time, we may not be able to ensure receipt of the completed request by the end of the business day. We will be sure to advise on this as soon as possible.
Desired Area of Concentration of Equivalency

Please fill in your desired evaluation result. This should include the type of degree (i.e. High School Diploma, Associate's Degree, Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, PhD) in a specific field (i.e. Computer Science, Hospitality Management, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Biology etc.).

Your choice is not guaranteed, but we will process the evaluation with the desired equivalency in mind. If we need additional information to achieve your desired equivalency, or if the desired equivalency is not attainable, we will contact you before processing the evaluation.

Details*
Please Choose One

Choose Contact Me First if you would like us to provide a free Preliminary Assessment and/or Price Quote before proceeding.

Choose Proceed Immediately if you would like us to start processing this Equivalency immediately. Note that we offer free Preliminary Assessments and if we cannot grant an Evaluation with your desired Equivalency, we will contact you before proceeding.

Payment
 
Name on Card*
Amount Authorized*

If you are unsure of the amount, you may enter $0.00 as the authorized amount and we will get back to you with a quote.

Credit Card Number*
Credit Card*
 
Expires*
Security Code (CVV)*
Address Line 1*
Address Line 2
City*
State / Province
Postal Code*
Country*
I authorize Silvergate Evaluations Inc. to charge my credit card for the above amount.
Authorization Name*
Your credit card will not be charged until the evaluation is being processed with your desired equivalency. If we cannot provide an evaluation with your desired equivalency, we will contact you before processing the evaluation and your credit card will not be charged.
For translation requests, your credit card will be charged when both the translation and a word count are completed.
Supporting Documents

Select supporting documents pertinent to this Case to be uploaded.

You can attach multiple documents in a single folder by holding the Ctrl key as you select each one if you are using the latest version of Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Internet Explorer.

You may select supporting documents from up to five different folders. After you select documents from a folder, you will see a second button allowing you to upload files from an additional folder.


Additional Documents

If you have additional documents to send beyond the files you have already selected, check the I'll fax or email the documents checkbox. It is okay to select files to send with this application and also check the I'll fax or email the documents checkbox.


Required Documents

Academic: 1-Diploma(s)/Certificate(s) and 2-Grade Transcripts.

Work Experience: 1-Employment Letter(s) and 2-Resume/CV. Please note work experience documentation MUST include detailed responsibilities of each position along with the position title and dates worked.

If you only have one of the required documents, or if you are not sure whether your documents are sufficient, it is possible that we can still complete a favorable evaluation. Please send your documents for a free preliminary assessment and we will inform you before proceeding if further documentation is needed.
The instructions for Faxing or Emailing your documents will appear on the next page after you press the Submit button.
I will email or fax documents
Notes
*
Enter all notes or comments regarding this specific request. Write here all directions or requests that would usually be included in the body of an email or a cover page of a fax.
** Please note that hard copies are not issued. Translations and evaluations are provided in PDF format. **
* Required Field

Thank you for choosing Silvergate!