Guidance on Incomplete Degrees and H-1B Applications

The California Service Center (CSC) has issued guidance on what kind of documentation is satisfactory to show that an H-1B beneficiary has completed his or her degree requirements.  It is important to note that an H-1B visa application must be filed only after all degree requirements are met, even if the diploma has not been awarded yet.  The H-1B filing window opens on April 1 and will likely remain open only for a few days, in effect making it impossible for most May graduates to apply for H-1B because of failure to complete all coursework and meet all requirements as of the H-1B filing date.

However, in cases where the requirements are met prior to filing but the diploma is not yet awarded, CSC has advised that it would accept the following:

• a final transcript; or
• a letter from the Registrar; or
• a letter executed by the person in charge of the records of the educational institution where the degree was or will be  awarded (with proper documentation that such person is in fact authorized to issue such letters).