Current Average Processing Times*

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3 days or less

Course-by-Course (CxC)

8 days or less

Educational Credential Assessment (ECA for IRCC Canada)

6 days or less

*Processing times may vary. Processing starts once all documents have been received, reviewed, and accepted by WES and payment has been made in full.

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Immigrant Youth in Canada’s Labour Market

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Rutgers University

Rutgers University - Camden

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Shawnee State University

Shawnee State University

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Richard Bland College of William & Mary

Richard Bland College of William & Mary

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Bethel University (MN)

Bethel University (MN)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University

Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Golden Gate University

Golden Gate University

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WES Mariam Assefa Fund Launches Initiative to Elevate Migrant Leadership and Build Inclusive Futures

New funding opportunity seeks to support organizations elevating the voices and influence of immigrants and refugees in United States communities.

NEW YORK, NY—(January 23, 2024) The World Education Services (WES) Mariam Assefa Fund today announced a new grantmaking initiative. Elevating Migrant Leadership: Building Inclusive Futures will support U.S. organizations that are working to strengthen immigrant and refugee voices and leadership.

Seven awardees will each receive two-year $100,000 grants. In addition to funding, each successful applicant organization will also have access to programming that supports capacity building and peer-learning and provides access to a large network of like-minded organizations and activists. The goal is to equip those with lived experience with the civic leadership skills and connections to influence programs and policies that support their success in improving the communities where they live.

“The voices of immigrants and refugees should be loudest when it comes to decisions that affect their lives,” said Léa Tienou-Gustafson, senior director of the WES Mariam Assefa Fund. “Too often they are not. As a social enterprise that supports the economic and civic inclusion of immigrants, refugees, and international students, WES seeks to ensure that those who are closest to barriers to progress have the tools to design effective solutions and opportunities to build influence. The Elevating Migrant Leaders initiative is one way to provide those tools.”

To design the initiative, WES partnered closely with an advisory committee of leaders with immigrant and refugee experience and deep expertise in the field. This committee co-developed the initiative’s goals, focus areas, and grantee selection criteria. To ensure that the relevant perspective stays centered throughout the selection process, the advisory committee will be involved in every step.

The initial application process is open now through March 25, 2024, after which selected organizations will be invited to submit a full proposal. Successful proposals will focus on civic leadership and advocacy programs for immigrants and refugees from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.

For more information and to apply for Elevating Migrant Leadership, visit this webpage.

“When immigrant and refugee needs are being discussed and policies and programs that impact them are being developed, it is crucial that immigrants and refugees have a seat at the table and the confidence to make themselves heard,” said Karla Gregorio, senior program manager of the WES Mariam Assefa Fund.

“It is exciting to have a funder such as the WES Mariam Assefa Fund listen to the recommendations of movement representatives, demonstrate its profound commitment to inclusion regardless of where someone is born, and prioritize impacted immigrant and refugee leaders,” said Ivy O. Suriyopas, advisory committee member and vice president of programs at Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees.

There is a growing need for programs that engage immigrants and displaced people, including refugees, in civic discourse. In 2023, immigration drove U.S. population growth for the second year running: more than two thirds of last year’s 1.6 million new Americans arrived via international migration. With over 45 million individuals now living in the U.S. who were born in other countries, immigrant and refugee representation in leadership positions remains disproportionately low. This leaves the voices of those most impacted too often absent from organizational and political discussions of what is most needed in their own communities.

Elevating Migrant Leadership will build up immigrant and refugee leaders to bridge these gaps through narrative building, experiential learning, and mentorship.

The initiative will also leverage the power of networking to influence advocacy efforts, at both the individual and the organizational cohort levels. The advisory committee has identified the vital importance of network building among the grantees as a way of strengthening the overall ecosystem of immigrant and refugee leadership. Partnering with peers will provide organizations with greater insight into national implications and a broader strategic view, strengthening organizational capacity and creating a unified front to more effectively uplift migrant voices; and the immigrants and refugees participating in awardees’ programming will benefit similarly from connections to their collective networks.

“Immigrant and refugee leadership is increasingly shaping the vision for movement building in our local communities. This initiative aims to uplift the innovative efforts of community-based, non-profit organizations with a long-term commitment to ensuring that migrants’ voices drive movements for inclusivity,” said Andrea Plaza, advisory committee member and founder of Encuentro. “Community-based organizations are best positioned to understand the opportunities and challenges of fueling migrant leadership development, and this initiative will strengthen their capacity to inform the advancement of best practices for migrant-driven civic leadership.”

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About World Education Services

Founded in 1974, WES is a 501(c)3 non-profit social enterprise that supports the educational, economic, and social inclusion of immigrants, refugees, and international students. From evaluating academic credentials to shaping policy, designing programs, and providing philanthropic funding, we partner with a diverse set of organizations, leaders, and networks to uplift individuals and drive systems change.

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U.S. Funding Opportunity: Elevating Migrant Leadership

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Personnel Security Screening Office, BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General

Personnel Security Screening Office, BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General

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US CA Credential Evaluation | World Education Services

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Intrax

Intrax

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AccessWES Admin Change Request

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AccessWES User Change Request

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WES U.S. Policy Tracker Map Page

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IEHP Provincial Scan Page

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NZQA Next Steps and Fees

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Help Center

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Contact Us | NZQA Report

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FAQ

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nzqa

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for International Teachers University

International Teachers University

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Institutional Professionals

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Southern Utah University

Southern Utah University

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Skilled Immigrant Integration Program

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the The University of Akron

The University of Akron

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for University of New Brunswick

University of New Brunswick

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The University of Utah, David Eccles School of Business, Graduate Programs in Business

The University of Utah, David Eccles School of Business, Graduate Programs in Business

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Three Organizations Selected for World Education Services’ SIIP Demonstration Opportunity to Promote Equitable Teaching Pathways

NEW YORK, NY—(July 21, 2023) Today, World Education Services (WES) and WES Global Talent Bridge announced the selection of this year’s three organizations that will participate in the third cohort of the Skilled Immigrant Integration Program (SIIP) Demonstration Opportunity. This iteration of the opportunity will focus on developing innovative practices that create pathways to teaching for internationally trained immigrants and refugees.

The selected participants for the Promoting Equitable Teaching Pathways cohort are Asian Community & Cultural Center in Lincoln, Nebraska; the Mayor’s Office of Resilience and Equity, Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Richard J. Daley College in Chicago, Illinois.

WES Global Talent Bridge works to help immigrants and refugees with international credentials fully utilize their training and experience to advance their education and careers in the United States. The SIIP Demonstration Opportunity was launched in 2022 to offer advanced technical assistance, program development, and financial support to partner organizations in the SIIP network which includes 40 communities across the U.S. The two previous cohorts focused on bridging initiatives for internationally trained health care workers and programs that leverage immigrant and refugee professional networks to promote workforce inclusion.

“We are excited to build on the success of the SIIP Demonstration Opportunity and extend support to initiatives that promote the inclusion of immigrants and refugees in the teacher workforce,” said Katherine Gebremedhin, Director of State and Local Initiatives at WES Global Talent Bridge. “This is such a critical area of need in our local communities, and the SIIP Demonstration Opportunity will bolster programs that seek to strengthen U.S. classrooms by creating and developing pathways to teaching.”

For several decades, U.S. school districts have faced teacher workforce shortages, particularly in in-demand subjects like STEM fields, English language learning, and special education. Simultaneously, despite extensive research demonstrating the benefits of culturally and racially diverse educators on the academic performance of all students, the current teacher workforce does not reflect the diversity of the student bodies it serves. Internationally trained immigrants and refugees are well-positioned to help address employment gaps in the teacher workforce, offering in-demand skills, multilingual abilities, and multicultural perspectives. This includes both individuals trained as teachers and those with other relevant subject matter expertise.

Although internationally trained immigrants and refugees are ready to contribute their experience and training to the U.S. teacher workforce, more than a third of those with education degrees from abroad do not practice their profession due to complex and costly requirements to obtain a license or certification in the U.S., a lack of existing teacher preparation programs that build on international education and experience, and a need for increased awareness of how schools hire and support teachers.

Recognizing the need to expand the K-12 educator workforce and building from the work of WES Global Talent Bridge’s Teacher Bridge Project, the SIIP Demonstration Opportunity’s Promoting Equitable Pathways to Teaching cohort seeks to advance more inclusive and equitable teacher workforce opportunities for immigrants and refugees with international experience and education.

The Asian Community & Cultural Center’s CareerLadder program connects skilled immigrants and refugees to career pathways, digital resources, and a professional network while fostering economic opportunity and restoring dignity through work. In partnership with Lincoln Literacy, a community-based organization, CareerLadder hopes to use this opportunity to expand its programming and services for immigrant educators as they navigate their professional paths toward licensure and employment in Nebraska. Furthermore, they hope to expand their programming in Lincoln to support internationally trained immigrants and refugees in South Sioux City.

The Mayor’s Office of Resilience and Equity in the City of Tulsa launched Flourish Tulsa with a multisector network to support internationally trained immigrants and refugees’ entry into careers that more closely align with their previous education, career experience, and expertise. Armed with a newly published Education Career Pathways guide, Tulsa will test innovative approaches to make these pathways a reality for immigrant and refugees hoping to enter the teaching profession in Tulsa. In partnership with local public and charter schools, and many other community-based organizations, the city hopes to pilot more holistic programming that will encompass support and best practices from organizations such as the Tulsa Teacher Corps as well as other wrap around services including contextualized ELL courses to assist participants in reaching their goals.

Richard J. Daley College empowers its diverse community to achieve goals through innovative education and programming in a supportive, inclusive, and equitable environment for lifelong learning. The college is home to the Center for Equity in Immigrant Integration and recently opened the Chicago Welcome Back Center. The Chicago Welcome Back Center  will widen its focus beyond health care careers to include internationally educated immigrants asylum-seekers, and refugees hoping to return to or enter the teaching profession. In this new education pathway program, the center will provide training and wraparound services to participants and hopes to create an employment pipeline to the Archdioceses of Chicago’s Catholic K-12 education system, the Chicago Public School system. and Options Schools among others.

“As communities across the U.S. face deepening teacher workforce shortages, we must invest in promising solutions that address these gaps and reflect our increasingly diverse classrooms,” said Esther Benjamin, CEO and Executive Director of WES. “Through this year’s cohort of the SIIP Demonstration Opportunity, WES is reinforcing our support of workforce inclusion strategies by focusing on this area of need. And we are looking to classrooms as a place to advance our mission of helping society recognize the value of people’s education and experience.”

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About World Education Services

World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise that supports the educational, economic, and social inclusion of immigrants, refugees, and international students. For nearly 50 years, WES has set the standard for international academic credential evaluation, supporting millions of people as they seek to achieve their academic and professional goals. Through decades of experience as a leader in global education, WES has developed a wide range of tools to pursue social impact at scale. From evaluating academic credentials to shaping policy, designing programs, and providing philanthropic funding, we partner with a diverse set of organizations, leaders, and networks to uplift individuals and drive systems change. Together with its partners, WES enables people to learn, work, and thrive in new places.

About the Skilled Immigrant Integration Program

The Skilled Immigrant Integration Program (SIIP) offers communities an opportunity to leverage technical assistance from WES and its national partners, and to join a network of communities to further their state and local immigrant economic integration initiatives. The SIIP network consists of 40 member communities from cities, states, and regions across the United States. The current member communities are Atlanta, Georgia; Anchorage, Alaska; Northwest Arkansas; Boise and Twin Falls, Idaho and Salt Lake City, Utah; Boston, Massachusetts; Brattleboro, Vermont; Buffalo, New York; Chicago, Illinois; Cincinnati, Ohio; Colorado; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Des Moines, Iowa; Eugene, Oregon; Indiana; Lincoln, Nebraska; Louisville, Kentucky; Howard County, Maryland; Maryland; Michigan; Minnesota; Nevada; New Jersey; New York, New York; Northwest Arkansas; Ohio; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Portland, Maine; Portland, Oregon; Salem, Oregon; San Diego, California; Santa Clara, California; Seattle, Washington; South Bend, Indiana; St. Louis, Missouri; Texas; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Utah; and Virginia.

 

For more information contact Mikaela Santos, Senior Program Manager, World Education Services Global Talent Bridge at [email protected].

 

 

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Harvard Medical School

Harvard Medical School

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for The University of Arizona Global Campus

The University of Arizona Global Campus

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Professional Engineers Ontario

Professional Engineers Ontario

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Tarleton State University

Tarleton State University

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for SUNY Oswego

SUNY Oswego

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WES Annual Report

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Ohio Northern University

Ohio Northern University

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for University of Maryland Eastern Shore

University of Maryland Eastern Shore

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Pathways Submissions

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Rice University, Jones Graduate School of Business

Rice University, Jones Graduate School of Business

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WES Global Talent Bridge Canada

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White House Reinstates Task Force on New Americans Demonstrating Commitment to Immigrant and Refugee Inclusion

NEW YORK, NY—(December 14, 2022) World Education Services (WES) applauds the reinstatement of the White House Task Force on New Americans. In a briefing yesterday the Biden administration provided details about its plan to reconvene the task force, which will be led by the Domestic Policy Council (DPC). The focus of the task force includes workforce training, language learning, financial access, education, and health. The task force will coordinate the federal government’s efforts to welcome immigrants and refugees and seek to further catalyze innovative policy and programmatic responses at the state and local level. Its recommendations will be released next year.

The White House Task Force on New Americans will provide a vital opportunity for states and localities to share best practices and develop initiatives that promote equity and inclusion. The federal task force’s mandate complements ongoing work at WES, which partners with the American Immigration Council to foster the development of a growing Office of New Americans (ONA) network comprising 17 states across the nation. The ONA network provides a forum for state policy leaders to drive positive change that supports immigrant and refugee inclusion, and it will work with the task force to identify gaps in services and advance promising models.

“In collaboration with a broad coalition of groups led by the National Partnership for New Americans and Welcoming America, WES joins our partners in commending the Biden administration for restarting the task force and for its commitment to a more equitable and inclusive workforce,” said WES CEO and Executive Director Esther Benjamin yesterday. “We look forward to opportunities to engage with the DPC in this effort.”

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Adelphi University

Adelphi University

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WES Affiliate Program

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WES Policy Submissions

Written Submission for the Federal Pre-Budget Consultations 2024
August 9, 2023 — Written submission from World Education Services (WES) including three core recommendations to (1) invest in projects and settlement services to build immigrant-inclusive economies and communities, (2) rebuild the health care workforce by ensuring the professional integration of immigrant health professionals, and (3) address the needs of international students and Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders.

Written submission to Global Affairs Canada on International Students Strategy Renewal
July 28, 2023 — Written submission from World Education Services (WES) including recommendations to ensure clear and accessible information is provided to international students pre and post arrival, improve accountability to both promote and protect Canada’s reputation, and develop a regulatory framework for education agents.
Review a two-page summary of our recommendations here.
Review a two-page summary of our recommendations in French here.

Written Submission for the Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act Consultations
May 11, 2023 — Written submission from World Education Services (WES) focusing on the implications of the Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act for internationally educated teachers (IETs). Recommendations include enhancing the effectiveness of the licensing process for IETs and providing them with commensurate employment opportunities.

World Education Services (WES) and Internationally Trained Physicians Access Coalition (ITPAC) Recommendations Regarding Practice Ready Assessment Ontario
April 2023 — Policy brief from WES and ITPAC with recommendations relevant to Ontario’s Practice Ready Assessment (PRA) program so that its design can be efficient, fair, equitable for all internationally trained physicians, and that program eligibility criteria are free of systemic barriers.

World Education Services (WES) and Internationally Trained Physicians Access Coalition (ITPAC): Recommendations Regarding Investments to Medical Residency Seats in Ontario
April 2023 — WES and ITPAC written response to the Ontario government’s announcement to increase the number of medical residency seats in the province with recommendations to improve equity of access to residency training for internationally trained physicians.

WES Letter to Ontario Blue-Ribbon Panel
April 25, 2023 — Letter from World Education Services (WES) to the Blue Ribbon Panel that is tasked to provide advice and recommendations to the Minister of Colleges and Universities to help keep the postsecondary education sector financially strong and focused on providing the best student experience possible. This WES letter includes recommendations addressing the challenging situation facing international students in Ontario.

Written Submission for the Future of Canada’s Immigration System Consultations
April 21, 2023 — Written submission from World Education Services (WES) focusing on three main topics – the future vision for Canada’s immigration system, building on existing strengths, and fundamental principles of immigration policy.

World Education Services (WES) and Internationally Trained Physicians Access Coalition (ITPAC) Recommendations to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) Regarding Proposed Regulation Change: Emergency Circumstances Practice Class of Registration
March 2023 — WES and ITPAC joint submission to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario with specific recommendations in response to the College’s proposed amendments to the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA), which sets out a new Emergency Circumstances Practice class of registration for physicians in Ontario.

2023 Ontario Pre-Budget Consultations
February 8, 2023 — Written Submission from World Education Services (WES) including general and immigration status-based recommendations to help shape the preparation of a provincial budget that is responsive to the needs of newcomers, including immigrants, refugees, and international students.

Recommendations to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet Ministers
January 2023 — Written recommendations from World Education Services (WES) were sent to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet Ministers who gathered at a retreat to discuss “ongoing efforts to make life more affordable and build an economy that works for all Canadians.” The letters were sent to:

Prime Minister of Canada
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Minister of Health

2023 City of Toronto Budget Consultations
January 19, 2023 — Written Submission from World Education Services (WES) with a focus on preparing an equity-based budget and three key priority areas: (1) targeted skills training and workforce development, (2) employment and social services delivery, and (3) creating a welcoming and inclusive city.

Enhancing Express Entry through Category-Based Selection Consultation
January 6, 2023 — Written Submission from World Education Services (WES) including general and category-based recommendations to help shape the category-based selection process in Express Entry.

Temporary Help Agencies and Recruiters Licensing Framework Consultations
December 6, 2022 — Written Submission from World Education Services (WES) including recommendations regarding the proposed licensing framework for help agencies and recruiters in the temporary help sector to improve compliance with the Employment Standards Act, 2000.

WES Letter to Health Ministers Regarding Internationally Educated Health Professionals
November 2022 — Letter from World Education Services (WES) to provincial Ministers of Health following the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Health Ministers meeting on November 7, 2022. This WES letter calls for Internationally Educated Health Professionals (IEHPs) to be considered as a part of the solution to the health human resources crisis in Canada.

Written Submission for the Federal Pre-Budget Consultations 2023
October 2022 — Written Submission from World Education Services (WES) including priority recommendations to build an immigrant-inclusive economy, rebuild the health care workforce by ending the underutilization of immigrant health professionals, address the needs of international students and temporary work permit holders, and more.

Letter to Minister Fraser in support of Regularization Program
October 3, 2022 — A letter from World Education Services (WES) to The Honourable Sean Fraser, M.P., Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship in support of regularizing status for undocumented migrants who are contributing to many Canadian communities.

WES Response to Ontario Government and Health Regulators on Internationally Educated Health Professionals
September 2022 — Letter from World Education Services (WES) regarding the August 2022 Ontario Government directive to Health Regulators regarding Internationally Educated Health Professionals (IEHPs). This letter makes recommendations to improve registration processes for IEHPs in the province.

Agriculture & Agri-food Canada: National Agriculture Labour Strategy Consultation
September 2022 — Written Submission from World Education Services (WES) including recommendations to establish and expand existing economic immigration pathways to include a pathway to permanent residency for work permit holders primarily in the agricultural sector, and recognize and address systemic inequities faced by marginalized groups within the agricultural workforce.

Submission to Regulatory proposal under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA)
June 2022 — Written Submission from World Education Services (WES) addressing registration barriers for internationally educated health professionals and recommending policy options to remove the barriers.

Employment Equity Act Review Consultation
April 2022 — Written Submission from World Education Services (WES) including recommendations that immigrants and refugees be added as a designated group under the Employment Equity Act; for updating the definitional understanding of the 4 historically identified designated groups to better reflect contemporary realities; and more.

Federal Pre-Budget Consultations 2022
February 2022 — Written Submission from World Education Services (WES) including recommendations for building an immigrant-inclusive economy as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic; rebuilding the health care workforce by ending the underutilization of immigrant health professionals; addressing the needs of international students and temporary work permit holders; and more.

Submission to FARPACTA Regulations Consultation – Working for Workers Act 2021
January 19, 2022 — Written Submission from World Education Services (WES) including recommendations around amending Canadian experience and language proficiency requirements for internationally educated physicians, and more.

2022 Ontario Pre-Budget Consultations
January 2022 — Written Submission from World Education Services (WES) including general and specific recommendations for Jobs & the Economy, Health Care, and Education in the evolving pandemic context.

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the University of Michigan-Flint

University of Michigan-Flint

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the Carolina University

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus

University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus

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Resources required documents

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Congress Passes the Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act

New York, NY—(September 21, 2022)—This week Congress passed the Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act.

This bipartisan legislation calls on the U.S. Department of Labor to study systemic barriers to employment that impact immigrants and refugees who hold credentials obtained in another country, and to issue recommendations for reform. The bill now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

This legislation will strengthen the workforce by making progress to ensure immigrant and refugee workers’ economic mobility. At least two million college-educated immigrants and refugees are currently unemployed or underemployed in the United States; 60 percent hold credentials earned in another country, according to the Migration Policy Institute. The Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act seeks to study the factors driving this underemployment, including limited recognition of credentials, barriers to occupational licensing, and uneven access to adult education and workforce development programs.

“As the U.S. welcomes people seeking safety from around the world and faces labor shortages in critical sectors like health care, now is the time to ensure that everyone can reach their educational and career goals in the U.S. This historic legislation will catalyze policy reforms to promote a more equitable and inclusive economy,” said Esther Benjamin, CEO and Executive Director of World Education Services (WES). “WES is proud to have worked with our partners to support the passage of the Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act.”

As part of the Untapped Talent campaign coordinated by IMPRINT, a coalition based at WES, more than 200 institutions representing the non-profit, higher education, philanthropic, and government sectors came together to support this legislation.

“I am a U.S. citizen. I spent 12 years of my life receiving an excellent education and dedicated myself after graduation to serving people as a physician and doing research as a scientist. Yet, my training, skills, and experience have been undervalued in the U.S.,” said Lubab Al-Quraishi, a delegate to Refugee Congress. “There are hundreds of thousands of people like me—immigrants and refugees with international education, training, and experience—who are ready to use our credentials and get to work in our communities across the U.S. It’s time for internationally trained immigrants and refugees to be treated with dignity and have fair access to work opportunities in the U.S.”

“Three years ago, I heard from Interfaith Works of Central New York about immigrants in our community who have valuable professional backgrounds but consistently experience underemployment or unemployment due to arbitrary barriers,” said Rep. John Katko, (NY24), lead sponsor of the bill in the House. “This trend puts the American Dream out of reach for countless families and has a detrimental impact on our economy, costing billions of dollars in unrealized wages each year. That’s why I was proud to introduce the Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act, and I am excited to see it pass the House and head to the President’s desk. This bill will enable new Americans to fully utilize their skillsets and is especially important in the midst of a nationwide workforce crisis.”

“With two decades of experience in supporting immigrants and refugees in rejoining their careers in the U.S., we understand the potential of internationally trained workers to contribute to local workforces, the complexity of the systemic barriers that keep them from doing so, and the promise of this legislation to catalyze long-needed federal action on this issue,” said Jina Krause-Vilmar, President and CEO of Upwardly Global. “As we support thousands of Afghan and Ukrainian newcomers with career coaching, we see the urgency of advancing this critical study and implementing long-needed reform.”

“The bipartisan passage of the Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act highlights the enormous potential for immigrants and refugees to strengthen the American workforce and bolster the economy. More than 2 million college-educated immigrants in the United States are unemployed, or underemployed in jobs that fail to draw on their education and expertise, according to the Migration Policy Institute. This bill is a first step toward addressing the barriers these immigrants and their would-be employers face,” said Dan Kosten, Assistant Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at the National Immigration Forum.

Watch a recording of the press conference, held on 9/21/2022.

About World Education Services (WES):

World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to helping international students, immigrants, and refugees achieve their educational and career goals in the United States and Canada. For more than 45 years, WES has set the standard of excellence in the field of international academic credential evaluation. Through WES Global Talent Bridge, the organization joins with institutional partners, community-based organizations, and policymakers to help immigrants and refugees who hold international credentials fully utilize their talents and education to achieve their academic and professional goals. Through its grantmaking, impact investing, and partnerships, the WES Mariam Assefa Fund seeks to advance economic and social inclusion for immigrants and refugees.

About the IMPRINT Coalition:

Based at WES, the IMPRINT Coalition advances public policy and promising models that support the economic inclusion of immigrants and refugees who hold international credentials in the U.S. Based at WES, the IMPRINT Coalition advances public policy and promising models that support immigrants and refugees who hold credentials earned abroad. The IMPRINT Coalition envisions a United States that values the education, skills, and experience of immigrants and refugees and ensures equitable access to pathways for success. In September 2021, the IMPRINT Coalition launched the #UntappedTalent: Inclusive Economies for All campaign to promote policies that offer opportunity so that everyone has a fairer chance of reaching their educational and career goals. Learn more about the #UntappedTalent campaign.

About the National Immigration Forum:
Founded in 1982, the National Immigration Forum (the Forum) is a nonpartisan advocacy organization that builds trusted relationships to create a shared vision for immigration. The Forum works across the political spectrum to convene different perspectives, bring new allies into the conversation, and advance constructive and compassionate immigration policies that serve America’s interests.

About Upwardly Global:
Upwardly Global is a national nonprofit whose mission is to eliminate employment barriers for immigrant and refugee professionals and advance the inclusion of their skills into the U.S. economy.

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Career Pathways Interactive Guide

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Career Pathways

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Your Pathways Profile

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the Moreland University

Moreland University

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Waterloo Region Playbook

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National

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Durham Region Playbook

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Employer Playbook

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Greater Moncton

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Columbia University – School of International and Public Affairs

Columbia University - School of International and Public Affairs

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Test Engage With Us

If you are from an organization that would like to learn more about our work or partner with WES Global Talent Bridge, contact us by submitting the form below.

 

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Research and Reports on Internationally Educated Health Professionals

A wealth of literature has been published analyzing the sociopolitical, economic, and health contexts shaping the workforce integration of internationally educated health professionals (IEHPs) in Canada. Below, find a curated short-list of publications that have been assessed for methodological rigour, recency, relevance, and potential to inform further research, policy, or programmatic work advocating for improved employment outcomes for IEHPs.

Internationally Trained Physicians

Retention of Visa-Trainee Post-Graduate Residents in Canada: A Retrospective Cohort Study (Mathews et al. 2021)

Professional Integration of Immigrant Medical Professionals Through Alternative Career Pathways: An Internet Scan to Synthesize the Current Landscape (Tanvir C Turin et al. 2021)

What do We Know and Not Know About the Professional Integration of International Medical Graduates (IMGs) in Canada? (Neiterman et al. 2017)

Conceptualizing Professional Diaspora: International Medical Graduates in Canada (Neiterman and Bourgeault 2017)

Doctors with Borders: Occupational Licensing as an Implicit Barrier to High Skill Migration (Brenton D. Peterson et al. 2014) (Note: U.S.-focused)

 

Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs)

Assessing the Contribution of Immigrants to Canada’s Nursing and Health Care Support Occupations: A Multi Scalar Analysis (Rafael Harun and Walton-Roberts Margaret 2021)

Does Care Count for Less? Tracing the Income Trajectories of Low Status Female Immigrant Workers in Canada, 1993–2015 (Naomi Lightman 2021)

Insights on Canadian Society: Profile of immigrants in Nursing and Health Care Support Occupations (Louis Cornelisson 2021)

Diversifying the Health Workforce: A Mixed Methods Analysis of an Employment Integration Strategy (Andrea Baumann et al. 2021)

Surviving the Employment Gap: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Internationally Educated Nurses (Christine L Covell et al. 2021)

Internationally Educated Nurses in Canada: Predictors of Workforce Integration (Christine L. Covell et al. 2017)

Strategic Practices for Hiring, Integrating and Retaining Internationally Educated Nurses: Employment Manual (Baumann A et al. 2017)

Migrant Nurses and Federal Caregiver Programs in Canada: Migration and Health Human Resources Paradox (Bukola Salami 2016)

 

Internationally Educated Health Professionals (General, All Professions/Multiple Professions)

Improving the Attraction and Retention of Internationally Educated Healthcare Professionals in Small and Rural Communities (Melissa Kelly et al. 2022)

(Re)Producing “Whiteness” in Health Care: A Spatial Analysis of the Critical Literature on the Integration of Internationally Educated Health Care Professionals in the Canadian Workforce (Timothy O Mickleborough and Maria Athina Tina Martimianakis 2021)

Health Inequities Between Immigrant and Canadian-Born Labour Force Participants: A Cross-Sectional Study (Farah N. Mawani et al. 2021)

The Shield of Professional Status: Comparing Internationally Educated Nurses’ and International Medical Graduates’ Experiences of Discrimination (Neiterman and Bourgeault 2015)

Professional Integration as a Process of Professional Resocialization: Internationally Educated Health Professionals in Canada (Neiterman and Bourgeault 2015)

 

IEHPs and Health Human Resources Policy

Help Wanted: How to Address Labour Shortages in Healthcare and Improve Patient Access (Rosalie Wyonch 2021)

Internationally Educated Health Professionals in Canada: Navigating Three Policy Subsystems Along the Pathway to Practice (Robert Paul et al. 2017)

Occupational Regulation and Foreign Qualification Recognition: An Overview (Arthur Sweetman et al. 2015)

Employment Match Rates in the Regulated Professions: Trends and Policy Implications (Hon. Jean Augustine 2015)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the University of Central Florida

College of Graduate Studies, University of Central Florida

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The IMPRINT Coalition Welcomes Ten New Members 

NEW YORK, NY—(July 12, 2022) The IMPRINT Coalition is expanding its impact across the U.S. as it welcomes 10 new member organizations. IMPRINT is also pleased to announce the election of existing member Washington Academy for International Medical Graduates (WAIMG) to the coalition’s steering committee.

Launched at World Education Services (WES) in 2011 with five members, IMPRINT is committed to advancing public policies and promising models that address barriers to the economic mobility of immigrants and refugees who hold international credentials.

The new IMPRINT member organizations are:

With the addition of these 10 new organizations, IMPRINT now comprises 29 members unified by the common goal of promoting equitable pathways to employment for immigrants and refugees in the U.S.

Esther Benjamin, CEO & Executive Director of WES, noted: “The work of the IMPRINT Coalition is deeply aligned with WES’ mission and values. IMPRINT helps WES fulfill its commitment to building more inclusive, equitable communities where immigrants and refugees can thrive. IMPRINT’s expansion is a testament to the power of a mobilized and dedicated network to propel reforms.”

“We’re excited about the growth of the IMPRINT Coalition, which is driving change nationwide. We’re also encouraged by the strong bipartisan support for reform among state and federal policymakers and within communities,” said Jacki Esposito, director of the IMPRINT Coalition. “We plan to leverage this momentum and scale reforms across the U.S.”

Read more about IMPRINT’s membership expansion on the WES Global Talent Bridge Partner Blog.

About World Education Services (WES)

World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to helping international students, immigrants, and refugees achieve their educational and career goals in the United States and Canada. For more than 45 years, WES has set the standard of excellence in the field of international academic credential evaluation. Through WES Global Talent Bridge, the organization joins with institutional partners, community-based organizations, and policymakers to help immigrants and refugees who hold international credentials fully utilize their talents and education to achieve their academic and professional goals. Its philanthropic arm, the WES Mariam Assefa Fund, supports catalytic leaders and organizations working to build inclusive economies and to ensure that immigrants and refugees can achieve their aspirations and thrive.

About the IMPRINT Coalition

Based at WES, the IMPRINT Coalition advances public policy and promising models that support the economic inclusion of immigrants and refugees who hold international credentials in the U.S. The IMPRINT Coalition envisions a United States that values the education, skills, and experience of immigrants and refugees and ensures equitable access to pathways for success. In September 2021 the Coalition launched the #UntappedTalent: Inclusive Economies for All campaign to advance policies that are inclusive of all workers and open pathways so that everyone has a fair chance of reaching their educational and career goals. Learn more about the #UntappedTalent campaign.

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GTB Canada Engage With Us

WES Global Talent Bridge works with community-based organizations, policymakers, employers, and institutional partners to help immigrants use their talents and skills, leverage their training, and achieve their academic and professional goals. WES Global Talent Bridge promotes workforce inclusion and the economic mobility of internationally trained immigrants and refugees through its innovative programs, networks, events, and resources.
If we are to succeed in our mission, your input is essential, your engagement is invaluable.

If you are from an organization that would like to learn more about our work or partner with WES Global Talent Bridge, contact us by submitting the form below.

 

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Media Archive: Integrating Internationally Educated Health Professionals into Canada’s Health Systems

Health Care Providers to Canadian Governments: This is our Prescription for Hope (Canadian Medical Association, November 4, 2022) 

Doctors, Nurses, Health Care Advocates Provide ‘Prescription for Hope’ to Governments (The Globe and Mail, November 4, 2022) 

Employers are Rushing to Fill Jobs With Temporary Foreign Workers (The Globe and Mail, October 31, 2022) 

Nurses leaving Canada doubled in the last five years amid health-care crisis (CTV News, October 26, 2022) 

N.L.’s Premier Asked Doctors to Contact Him Directly About Working in the Province. They Had a Lot to Say (CBC News, October 19, 2022) 

Filling the Gaps: Where Universities Stand in Addressing the Nursing Shortage (University Affairs, October 18, 2022) 

Foreign Doctors Should be Part of Solution to Health Care Crisis (Toronto Star, October 18, 2022) 

Proposed Reg Changes Will Get More Nurses Registered (CNO, September 29, 2022) 

New Brunswick Expanding Navigator Program in Bid to Add International Health-Care Workers (Global News, September 27, 2022) 

Ontario has Promised to put Immigrant Nurses to Work Faster. That Change is Long Overdue (CBC News, September 20, 2022) 

Ontario Gives OK for Nursing College to Expedite International Nurse Registration (Toronto Star, September 7, 2022) 

Saskatchewan Government Releases Action Plan for Health-Care Workers (Global News, September 7, 2022) 

Nova Scotia Looking to Fast Track Licensing Process for Ukrainian Health Workers (Global News, August 25, 2022) 

Singh Warns Against Boosting Private Health Services: ‘We Can’t Allow That to Happen’ (Global News, August 24, 2022) 

Provincial Funding Aims to Speed up Licensing for Internationally Educated Nurses (CBC News, August 23, 2022) 

How Immigrants are Overcoming Obstacles to Build Careers in Canada (The Globe and Mail, August 23, 2022) 

Internationally Educated Nurses Could Help Home Care Relieve Strain on Hospitals (Toronto Star, August 20, 2022) 

Ontario to Fund More Private Clinic Surgeries, Send Patients to Temporary LTCs to Ease Health-Care Pressures (CBC News, August 18, 2022) 

Here are the Changes Coming to Ontario’s Publicly Funded Health-Care System (Toronto Star, August 18, 2022) 

Canada’s Health Care System Needs a Shakeup as the Status Quo is Failing (Opinion) (The Globe and Mail, August 18, 2022) 

Ontario Nursing College Proposes to Temporarily Register International Nurses (Global News, August 18, 2022) 

Hundreds of Nursing Home Beds Sit Vacant Because of Staff Shortages (CBC News, August 15, 2022) 

Foreign-Educated Nurse Allowed to Work in Manitoba After Appeal Panel Ruling (CBC News, August 15, 2022) 

Nursing Certification Rollback Welcomed by Advocates Amid Staffing Shortage (Global News, August 14, 2022) 

As Ontario Sees Staffing Shortages Amid a Health-Care Crisis, London’s Emergency Services are no Different (CBC News, August 12, 2022) 

Manitoba Orders Regulator to Remove Barrier That Prevented Some Internationally Trained Nurses From Working (CBC News, August 12, 2022) 

Why Financial Incentives Aren’t Enough to Deal With Health-Care Staffing Shortages (CBC News, August 12, 2022) 

Podcast: Internationally Trained Medical Staff Could Help Ontario Hospitals but Can’t (Toronto Star, August 11, 2022) 

National System for Tracking Health-Care Staff Needed to Address Future Challenges: CMA President (CTV News, August 11, 2022) 

Ontario Health Minister Says Health-Care Access Through OHIP Won’t Change (Global News, August 11, 2022) 

5 Things Experts Say Could Ease Pressures on Ontario’s Health-Care System (CBC News, August 11, 2022) 

Ontario Health Minister Won’t Rule Out Privatization as Option to Help ER Crisis (Global News, August 10, 2022) 

Would Changing How Doctors in Canada are Licensed Help Reduce the Physician Shortage? This MP Feels it Could (CBC News, August 9, 2022) 

Hospital in Southwestern Ontario to Temporarily Close ER Once Again Due to Ongoing Staff Shortages (The Globe and Mail, August 9, 2022) 

Helping Foreign-Trained Doctors, Nurses (Toronto Star, August 9, 2022) 

Hospitals are Under ‘Unprecedented’ Strain From Staff Shortages, Says Ontario Health VP (CBC Radio, August 8, 2022) 

Health Care Advocates Plead for Action as Ontario Legislature Summer Session Starts (The Globe and Mail, August 8, 2022) 

Ontario’s Health Care System in Need of Major Surgery (Toronto Star, August 8, 2022) 

‘Unprecedented’: Halton Hospital Emergency Departments Under Extreme Pressure Due to High Patient Volumes and Staff Shortage (Toronto Star, August 8, 2022) 

Montfort Hospital Latest to Temporarily Close Emergency Department Because of Staff Shortages (The Globe and Mail, August 7, 2022) 

Ontario Has a Doctor Shortage. So Why Isn’t the Ford Government Licensing More Internationally Trained Physicians Living Here? (Toronto Star, August 7, 2022) 

Ontario Health Care Unions Call on Province to Enact Measures to Fix Hospital Staffing Crisis (The Globe and Mail, August 5, 2022) 

Hospital Staffing Strain ‘Unprecedented,’ Could Peak Soon: Ontario Health Exec (Global News, August 5, 2022) 

Ontario’s Hospital Staffing Crunch is Short Term, the Real Problems in Health Care Run Deep (Toronto Sun, August 5, 2022) 

As Staffing Crunch Looms, Small Northern Hospitals Turning to Private Nurses (CBC News, August 5, 2022) 

Major Immigration Backlog in Canada Leaving Thousands of Trained Health-Care Professionals on the Sidelines (CTV News, August 5, 2022) 

Waterloo Region Hospitals Continue to Face Staffing Shortages and More Patients (CBC News, August 4, 2022) 

Jagmeet Singh Calls on Trudeau to Address Staffing Shortages, ER Closures (CTV News, August 4, 2022) 

Ontario Health Minister Urges Faster Approval of Foreign-Trained Nurses and Doctors (Toronto Star, August 4, 2022) 

‘We’ve Got to Find Ways to Keep Them’: CEO of Ontario Lab Workers Assoc. Says Members are Experiencing Burnout (CP24, August 4, 2022) 

Doug Ford says Ontario is Working to Fix the Health Crisis as Problems Grow in Key Toronto Hospitals (Toronto Star, August 3, 2022) 

Ontario’s Health Care System Faces a Knockout Punch Unless Immediate Action is Taken (Opinion) (Toronto Star, August 3, 2022) 

Despite Health-Care ‘Crisis,’ Internationally-Trained Doctors, Nurses Face Barriers to Work (Global News, July 13, 2022) 

Need for National Consensus on Professional Accreditation: CMA President (New Canadian Media, June 9, 2022) 

Helping Skilled Immigrants Get Jobs in Their Fields Must be Bigger Priority for Parties, Advocates Say (CBC, May 29, 2022) 

Expert Insight: How rural Canada can attract and retain international health-care providers (Western News, May 11, 2022) 

The Long History (and Scary Future) of Our Broken Health Care System (The Local, April 26, 2022) 

Ontario Investing $1 Billion More to Expand Home Care (Government of Ontario, April 25, 2022) 

British Columbia Plans to Tackle Nursing Shortage by Recruiting Overseas (The Globe and Mail, April 19, 2022) 

A Plan to Stay Open (Government of Ontario, April 14, 2022) 

Deputy Prime Minister Highlights Budget 2022 Investments in Health Care (Government of Canada, April 12, 2022) 

Health Care Leaders Gather to Discuss Strategy to Integrate Internationally Educated Health Professionals to Help Meet Ontario’s Health Care Needs (National Post, April 11, 2022) 

Health Care Leaders Gather to Discuss Strategy to Integrate Internationally Educated Health Professionals to Help Meet Ontario’s Health Care Needs (Yahoo, April 11, 2022) 

Quebec Investing $65M to Recruit Nurses From Francophone Countries (Immigration.Ca, February 28, 2022) 

$1.5 Million Funding Boost for University-Led Consortium to Address Ontario’s Ongoing Demand for Registered Nurses (PTBO Canada, February 25, 2022) 

This Initiative is Opening Doors for Hundreds of Ontario’s Internationally-Educated Nurses (Toronto Star, February 13, 2022) 

Ontario Launches Program to Increase Hands-On Training Opportunities for More PSWs and Nurses (Government Of Ontario News Release, February 10, 2022) 

Ontario’s Nursing Shortage Is Worse Than Ever. How Did We Get Here? (Toronto Star, February 3, 2022) 

(Video) How Can Nurses Trained Abroad Help? | The Agenda (The Agenda With Steve Paikin, February 2, 2022) 

Nursing Shortage? There’s a Solution Right in Front Of Us (Toronto Star, January 24, 2022) 

Daphne Bramham: Canada Needs a Better Plan to Solve Health-Care Shortages (Vancouver Sun, January 22, 2022) 

‘A Comedy Show’: RNAO Reacts to What it Says was Another News Conference With No News From Health Minister (City News Kitchener, January 19, 2022) 

New Toronto Program Helps Internationally Educated Nurses Get Ontario Licenses (CTV News Toronto, January 19, 2022) 

Daphne Bramham: Canada Risks Losing the Global Competition for Foreign Nurses (Vancouver Sun, January 16, 2022) 

Newcomer Doctor Duo on Deployment (Red Cross Talks, January 14, 2022) 

Foreign-Trained Doctors on the Sidelines as COVID Exhausts Alberta Hospitals (Calgary Herald, January 14, 2022) 

Daphne Bramham: Political Will Needed to Break Licensing Logjam so Qualified, Foreign Nurses Can Work  (Vancouver Sun, January 12, 2022) 

Ontario to Deploy Internationally Trained Nurses to Hospitals as COVID-19 ICU Admissions Hit 477 (CBC News, January 11, 2022) 

Today’s Coronavirus News: Ontario Preparing to Deploy More Internationally Trained Nurses to Deal With the Omicron Surge (Toronto Star, January 11, 2022) 

Ontario Will Deploy Internationally Educated Nurses to Hospitals Dealing With Staffing Shortages (CTV News, January 11, 2022) 

‘We Can Help’: Internationally Trained Nurses in Canada Eager to Work (CTV News, January 11, 2022) 

Daphne Bramham: B.C. Fights to Maintain the Barriers That Keep Foreign-Trained Doctors From Working (Vancouver Sun, January 7, 2022) 

Province Helping People Start Healthcare Careers in Northern Ontario (Government Of Ontario News Release, January 6, 2022) 

Daphne Bramham: In a Pandemic, Why are Foreign-Trained Doctors Still on the Sidelines? (Vancouver Sun, January 6, 2022) 

Sask. Turns to Philippines to Address Health-Care Labour Shortage (Saskatoon StarPhoenix, January 5, 2022) 

Opinion: If Immigrants are Fit, Willing and Able, Let’s Certify Them (Financial Post, January 5, 2022) 

Ending Ontario’s Nursing Crisis Begins With the Repeal of Bill 124 (Globe & Mail, December 31, 2021) 

Saskatchewan Launches New International Healthcare Worker EOI Pool (CIC News, December 20, 2021) 

Doctor Shortage in Lethbridge, Alta., Continues to Impact Residents as Province Looks for Answers (CBC, December 16, 2021) 

Why Canada Needs to Ease Up on Barriers for Nurses Trained Abroad (Omny.Fm, November 29, 2021) 

Canada Desperately Needs Nurses. So Why Does it Take so Long for Internationally Trained Nurses to Get Licensed? (Toronto Star, November 28, 2021) 

As COVID-19 Strains Nurses, Singh Says Feds Must Ease Barriers for Those Trained Abroad (Global News, November 28, 2021) 

‘Disconnect’: Sask. Eyes Getting More Foreign-Trained Docs in Practice (The Star Phoenix, November 22, 2021) 

Foreign Doctors Anxious to Help on Front Lines in Ontario (Global News, November 16, 2021) 

More Than 3,800 Dead, Nurses Quitting and Inhumane Conditions: Ontario’s Long-Term-Care System is Broken (The Star, November 9, 2021) 

Ontario Expands Career Growth Opportunities for Psws and Nurses in Long-Term Care (Government Of Ontario News Release, October 27, 2021) 

Ontario Aims to Add 2,000 More Nurses in Long-Term Care Sector (CBC, October 27, 2021) 

Canada Has a Big-Time Nursing Shortage. So Why Can’t These Two Fully Certified Nurses Get the OK to Practise? (Toronto Star, October 26, 2021) 

Systemic Barriers Keeping Foreign Nurses From Filling Shortages (New Canadian Media, October 25, 2021) 

Despite Nursing Shortage Crisis, Ford Leaves Out Healthcare Workers From Proposed Foreign Labour Legislation (Green Party Of Ontario, October 21, 2021) 

‘Immediate Action is Required’: Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Philips Calls for Action Plan to Address Doctor Shortage (CTV Calgary, September 28, 2021) 

Immigrant Nurses in B.C. Say Language Proficiency Tests a Barrier to Practice (CBC, September 26, 2021) 

Forced to Sit Out During Pandemic, Nurse Calls for Changes to Ontario’s Registration Process (CBC, September 27, 2021) 

An Ontario Nursing Shortage Has Been Predicted for Years. Now, it’s Turned Into a ‘Mega Crisis (The Star, September 26, 2021) 

Internationally Educated Health Workers Must be a Post-Election Priority (First Policy Response, September 17, 2021) 

Open Letter Urges Federal Leaders to Improve Job Access for Internationally Trained Physicians (National Post, September 16, 2021) 

‘Getting Dangerous’: Calls Grow for Federal Action Amid Canada’s Nurse Shortage (Global News, September 15, 2021) 

A Tale of Two Internationally Trained Medical Doctors in Canada (Opinion) (IPS News Agency, September 9, 2021)  

Nursing Schools Can’t Accommodate Increase in Demand at Time When Profession Faces Shortage (Globe & Mail, September 6, 2021) 

Internationally Trained Medical Doctors are Part of the Solution in Post-Covid-19 Canadian Healthcare System (Opinion) (IPS News Agency, September 3, 2021) 

Doctor, Nurse Shortages Causing ER Closures, Impact on Services in Cape Breton (Saltwire, August 30, 2021) 

High Rates of COVID-19 Burnout Could Lead to Shortage of Health-Care Workers (The Conversation, August 29, 2021) 

Systemic Barriers Exist in Canadian Healthcare for Immigrant Health Professionals (Opinion) (IPS News Agency, August 27, 2021) 

Ontario Health-Care Workers Warn of ‘Brutal’ Nurse Shortage as Hospitals Brace for 4th Wave (CBC, August 24, 2021) 

Foreign Doctors Needed, but Quality is Key (The Star, August 20, 2021) 

Internationally Trained Medical Doctors Sidelined in Canada (Opinion) (IPS News Agency, August 20, 2021) 

Physician Mission: B.C. Pressed to Recognize Qualifications of Foreign-Trained Doctors (Vancouver Sun, August 20, 2021) 

Are Newfoundland and Labrador’s Licensing Standards Keeping Foreign Doctors Away? (Saltwire, August 19, 2021) 

Doctor Shortage: The International Factor (The Star, August 16, 2021)  

High Job Vacancies in Health Care and Food Services in Canada (CIC News, August 2, 2021) 

We Must Address the Human Resources Side of Health Care Before the Next Pandemic (IRPP Policy Options, July 30, 2021) 

Burned Out and Demoralized: Some Alberta Nurses Look to Leave Amid Province’s Bid to Cut Pay (CBC, July 26, 2021) 

‘An Alarming Exodus’: Ontario Nursing Sector Slammed With Staffing Shortage as Many Rethink Careers (CTV Toronto, July 25, 2021)  

Ontario Nursing Groups Fear Mass Exodus From Workforce Following Pandemic Burnout (CBC, July 24, 2021) 

The Tories Say They’ll Recruit Doctors Differently. How Different is Their Plan From the Status Quo? (CBC Nova Scotia, July 24, 2021) 

Internationally Educated Nurses Rush for Chance to be Licensed in Manitoba (Winnipeg Sun, July 19, 2021) 

Resolving Nova Scotia’s Doctor Shortage: More Recruitment and Changing Models of Delivery (Halifax Examiner, July 16, 2021)  

Nurse Shortage Forces Summertime Closures, Service Cuts at 8 Nunavut Health Centres (Nunatsiaq News, July 16, 2021) 

Canadian Nurses are Leaving in Droves, Worn Down by 16 Merciless Months on the Front Lines of COVID-19 (Globe & Mail, July 16, 2021) 

Another Greater Victoria Medical Clinic Set to Close Amid Doctor Shortage (Times Colonist, July 11, 2021) 

Doctors Manitoba Renews Call for Action as Surgery Backlog Grows in Province (CBC, July 8, 2021) 

Province Offers Funding to Help Internationally Trained Nurses Get Manitoba Certification (CBC, July 8, 2021)  

Manitoba to Increase Nursing Grads by 50 Per Cent, Offer Support to Internationally Trained Nurses (Global News, July 8, 2021) 

Need for Locum Doctors in Rural Alberta Hospitals Jumped in 2021 (Calgary Herald, July 7, 2021) 

First-Generation Immigrant Defies Odds to Fill Inclusive Dental Care Gap in Halifax (Saltwire, July 3, 2021) 

Give An #Equalchance to Internationally Trained Doctors (Canadian Immigrant, June 30, 2021) 

New Report Gives Immigrant Health-Care Aides Platform to Speak Out on COVID Working Conditions (CBC, June 29, 2021) 

Developing Country Health Professionals Sidelined in Canadian Healthcare (Opinion) (IPS News Agency, June 15, 2021) 

Even During a Pandemic, Immigrant Doctors Struggle to Find Work (The Walrus, June 8, 2021) 

Job VaCancies in Canadian Health Care Reach All-Time High Amid Pandemic (CIC News, June 7, 2021) 

Internationally Trained Health-Care Professionals Unable to Help in COVID-19 Fight. Here’s Why (Global News, May 20, 2021) 

New Campaign Aims to Break Down Barriers for Internationally Trained Medical Doctors (Itmds) in Canada (Newswire, May 19, 2021) 

Don’t Leave Foreign-Trained Doctors on the Sidelines in COVID Battle (Toronto Star, May 17, 2021) 

‘People are Dying’: Internationally Trained Doctors Forced to Sit on the Sidelines as Ontario Battles Pandemic’s Third Wave (Toronto Star, May 11, 2021) 

Foreign-Trained Doctors Face Barriers To Work On The Frontlines Of The Pandemic In Canada (Global News, May 7, 2021) 

‘They’re Good Doctors’: International Medical Graduates Unable to Help on Canada’s Front Lines Due to Licensing Setbacks (CTV News, April 28, 2021) 

National Medical Licences Could Help Speed Redeployment of Doctors, Nurses to Where They’re Needed Most(CBC, April 26, 2021) 

As Med Students, we’ve Seen How Ontario’s Lack of Paid Sick Days Has Hurt Low-Income, Racialized Workers. More Than 600 of us Demand Change (Toronto Star, April 15, 2021) 

More International Doctors Moving to Nova Scotia (Government Of Nova Scotia Press Release, April 13, 2021) 

Record Number of Ontario Nurses May Leave the Profession After COVID-19: Survey (Toronto Star, March 31, 2021) 

Will COVID-19 Finally Force us to Address the Devaluation of Long-Term Care Workers? (IRPP Policy Options, March 18, 2021) 

Quebec Turns to Nurses Abroad to Fill Shortages (CIC News, March 6, 2021) 

Canada’s Prime Minister Makes Bringing in Healthcare Workers a Top Priority (Mondaq, January 20, 2021) 

Calgary Researcher Shines Light on Immigrant Long-Term Care Workers (CBC, January 19, 2021) 

Quebec to Fast-Track Permits for Some Foreign-Trained Nurses to Give Vaccines and COVID-19 Tests (CTV News, January 18, 2021) 

‘It is Frustrating’: U.S-Educated Nurse From Ottawa Hits Barriers to Getting Licensed in Ontario (Ottawa Citizen, January 16, 2021) 

UM to Help Foreign-Trained Health Professionals Qualify for Manitoba Practice (University Of Manitoba News, December 21, 2020) 

‘So Stressful’: Internationally Educated Nurses Say They’re Frustrated, Discouraged by Licensing Process  (CBC, December 2, 2020) 

Special Designation to be Granted for International Nurses Waiting on English Tests: Friesen (CBC, November 19, 2020) 

NDP MLA Asks Province to Remove ‘Red Tape’ tor International Nurses to Work During Pandemic (CBC, November 19, 2020) 

Manitoba Improving Credential Recognition for Internationally Trained AppliCants (CIC News, November 10, 2020) 

How Immigrant Nurses Answered the Call to Respond to Canada’s COVID-19 Pandemic (The Strand, October 13, 2020) 

Foreign-Trained Nurses Could Join Fight Against COVID, if Ontario Helped Certify Them (Ipolitics, September 30, 2020) 

COVID-19 Has Taken ‘Heavy Toll’ on Female Immigrants Working in Health Care, Report Says (CBC, September 10, 2020) 

Foreign Doctors’ Hopes for Fast-Track Pandemic Licenses in Canada Fading (Reuters, July 12, 2020) 

My Cabbie is a Doctor: The Problem of Skill-Waste in Canada  (Sprawl Alberta, July 2, 2020) 

Daphne Bramham: Rights Tribunal Asked to Finally End Discrimination Against Foreign-Trained Doctors (Vancouver Sun, June 25, 2020) 

Calgary Program Expands to Train More Foreign Nurses as COVID-19 Pandemic Continues (Global News Calgary, June 18, 2020) 

Foreign-Trained Doctors are Untapped Resource in Pandemic Fight (Open Democracy, June 10, 2020) 

Research Shows Canada Has Overlooked Immigrant Doctors (New Canadian Media, May 11, 2020) 

Internationally Trained Doctors in Quebec Want to Help in Coronavirus Crisis (Global News, May 3, 2020) 

Internationally Trained Doctors Sidelined as Pandemic Strikes (The Tyee, April 20, 2020) 

Red Tape Pushes Hamilton’s Foreign-Trained Doctors to the Sidelines Amid COVID-19 (CBC, April 16, 2020) 

Thousands of Immigrant Doctors Can’t Fight Coronavirus in Canada (VICE News, April 15, 2020) 

Foreign-Trained Medics Just Want to ‘Serve the Community During Crisis, Says Doctor (CBC, April 9, 2020) 

Brampton Mayor ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ After Province Calls on Foreign-Trained Health-Care Workers for COVID-19 Help (Brampton Guardian, April 8, 2020) 

Internationally Trained Doctors Have Role to Play in the Health Care System During Pandemic: Elliott (CP24, April 7, 2020) 

Daphne Bramham: Even in a Pandemic, Foreign Doctors Face a System Rigged Against Them (Vancouver Sun, April 5, 2020) 

Some Internationally Trained Doctors Can Apply for 30-Day Ontario Licence to Fight COVID-19 (CBC, April 3, 2020) 

‘We Want to Join This Fight’: Immigrant Physicians Make Plea to Serve on Front Lines of COVID-19 (CTV Calgary, April 3, 2020) 

Foreign-Trained Doctors Plead to Join Canada’s COVID-19 Fight(CP24, April 2, 2020) 

Daphne Bramham: It’s Absurd to Ignore Foreign-Trained Doctors’ Offers to Help With the COVID Crisis (Vancouver Sun, April 2, 2020) 

Doctors Trained Abroad Want to Join Front Lines of COVID-19 Fight in Canada (National Post, April 2, 2020) 

Lift Barriers to Accredit Foreign-Educated Doctors Quickly, Report’s Author Urges (CBC Calgary, March 30, 2020) 

Four Internationally Trained Doctors Cleared to Work in Nova Scotia (Saltwire, February 18, 2020) 

How to Get Foreign Doctors to Come to P.E.I. (And Stay) (CBC, January 30, 2020) 

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the Miami International University of Art & Design

Miami International University of Art & Design

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WES Evaluations

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

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WES Applauds Passage of Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act in U.S. Senate, Calls on House to Pass Critical Workforce Legislation 

NEW YORK, NY—(June 24, 2022) Yesterday the U.S. Senate passed the Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act, S.3157, bipartisan legislation that calls on the U.S. Department of Labor to study the systemic barriers that impact internationally trained immigrants’ and refugees’ employment opportunities and issue recommendations for reform. The measure received strong bipartisan support as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022 (NDAA) in September 2021, but after a compromise was reached that removed many amendments from the NDAA Congress passed a revised version of the defense spending bill that did not include the study. The bill now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives.

At least two million college-educated immigrants and refugees are currently underemployed or unemployed in the U.S.; sixty percent hold international credentials, according to the Migration Policy Institute. This historic legislation makes progress toward strengthening the U.S. workforce and promoting the economic mobility of internationally trained immigrant and refugee workers.

“The Senate’s passage of the Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act is a recognition of the critical need to address systemic barriers that prevent immigrants and refugees who hold international credentials from restarting their careers in the U.S.,” said Esther Benjamin, CEO and Executive Director of World Education Services (WES). “Several states across the country have implemented reforms to open pathways to ensure that everyone can reach their educational and career goals in the U.S. Now Congress must do its part to promote economic justice and more inclusive, equitable workforces.”

About World Education Services (WES)

World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to helping international students, immigrants, and refugees achieve their educational and career goals in the United States and Canada. For more than 45 years, WES has set the standard of excellence in the field of international academic credential evaluation. Through WES Global Talent Bridge, the organization joins with institutional partners, community-based organizations, and policymakers to help immigrants and refugees who hold international credentials fully utilize their talents and education to achieve their academic and professional goals. Its philanthropic arm, the WES Mariam Assefa Fund, supports catalytic leaders and organizations working to build inclusive economies and to ensure that immigrants and refugees can achieve their aspirations and thrive.

About the IMPRINT Coalition

Based at WES, the IMPRINT Coalition advances public policy and promising models that support the economic inclusion of immigrants and refugees who hold international credentials in the U.S. The IMPRINT Coalition envisions a United States that values the education, skills, and experience of immigrants and refugees and ensures equitable access to pathways for success. In September 2021 the Coalition launched the #UntappedTalent: Inclusive Economies for All campaign to advance policies that are inclusive of all workers and open pathways so that everyone has a fair chance of reaching their educational and career goals. Learn more about the #UntappedTalent campaign.

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Grantee and Investee Partners

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IMPRINT Engage

Questions? Suggestions? Interested in learning more about one of our policy and advocacy efforts? Let us know your thoughts.

 

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Fellowship Opportunity: Racial Equity and Immigrant Justice

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The Teacher Bridge Project

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IEHP – Internationally Educated Health Professionals – World Education Services

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WES Global Talent Bridge Resources

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World Education Services Applauds Biden-Harris Administration Efforts to Attract and Support International Students

NEW YORK, NY—(January 26, 2022) Last week, the Biden-Harris administration announced efforts to expand opportunities for international students to gain practical experience and contribute their education and skills to the U.S. workforce. Building on the Joint Statement of Principles in Support of International Education issued by the U.S. Department of State and Department of Education in July 2021, these reforms include a new program to facilitate the research, training, and education of early-career exchange visitors; the addition of 22 new fields of study to the STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program; and the removal of barriers for eligible international STEM students to remain in the U.S. post-graduation.  

World Education Services (WES) welcomes these steps to strengthen opportunities for international STEM students and reaffirms its recommendations to create more accessible pathways for international students to apply their education and training in the U.S.—including pathways to permanent residency for all international students. 

“The new policies announced by the Biden-Harris administration send a clear message to international students that their talents and contributions are recognized and valued,” said Esther Benjamin, CEO and Executive Director of WES. “We commend the administration for responding to our calls for more welcoming policies that promote the U.S. as a leader in international education and hope to see the U.S. continue to demonstrate leadership by creating and advancing inclusive policies that benefit all international students.”  

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Global Talent Leadership Network

World Education Services (WES) Global Talent Bridge is dedicated to helping immigrants and refugees who hold international credentials fully utilize their skills, leverage their training, and achieve their academic and professional goals in the United States. WES Global Talent Bridge recognizes the integral role of organizations that are run for immigrants by immigrants in fostering pathways that enable success and advancing programs and policies that promote equity and economic inclusion. The Global Talent Leadership Network (GTLN), a recent initiative of WES Global Talent Bridge, serves as a hub for immigrant- and refugee-led organizations in the U.S., channeling the power and potential of networks to amplify the efforts of immigrant and refugee leaders.

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NACES Member

Working with WES is simple and requires no contract or commitment. Academic institutions, employers and other organizations refer their candidates to WES for credential evaluation services just as they would for admissions testing or other external services. Candidates then work directly with us and designate your organization as the recipient of WES Evaluation Reports.

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South African Qualifications Authority and World Education Services Partner to Facilitate Qualifications Recognition for Refugees and Displaced People in South Africa

OTTAWA, ON—(Nov. 12, 2021) Last night, at the Groningen Declaration Network annual meeting, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and World Education Services (WES) signed a partnership agreement that will ensure eligible refugees and displaced individuals can have their qualifications assessed and recognized in South Africa.

A significant number of individuals seeking SAQA’s foreign evaluation services are refugees and those who have been forcibly displaced. They often face challenges in meeting SAQA’s application criteria to have their qualifications assessed for recognition.

WES will serve as a collaborative partner to SAQA in developing a pilot initiative in line with its Recognition Model for Refugees and Asylum Seekers to assess and recognize the credentials of those with incomplete or partial documentation. The one-year pilot will begin in 2022 to develop a customized model for South Africa that incorporates global best practices–including the methodology developed by WES through its Gateway Program, the UNESCO Qualifications Passport, as well as practices from the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT). This unique pilot in South Africa will build on established practices and expand into the principles of RPL (recognition of prior learning)-informed documentation process used by WES in its assessment of credentials and qualifications of refugees and displaced individuals.

WES developed a recognized model for evaluating incomplete or partial documentary evidence in 2016. Canada was welcoming thousands of Syrian refugees who were educated and skilled but left their home with little to nothing. They faced challenges in proving their academic qualifications which was preventing them from being able to continue their education or find employment in Canada. After a successful pilot, the program scaled to what is now the WES Gateway Program that assesses the educational credentials of individuals in the U.S. and Canada who have been displaced due to adverse circumstances in their country of education and have limited proof of academic achievements.

“There are millions of people across the globe who are being forcibly displaced. It is imperative that there are appropriate systems in place to ensure that education and skills are recognized—no matter where someone lands. WES is honored to work with SAQA in building and testing a method that works for South Africa,” says WES’ CEO and Executive Director, Esther T. Benjamin.

In her statement, SAQA CEO, Dr Julie Reddy added, “SAQA is committed to providing lifelong learning opportunities, and enabling access to meaningful and sustainable livelihood opportunities to all people who live in South Africa. We welcome this opportunity to work with WES on this exciting and innovative project to validate and recognise the qualification achievements of the refugee community in South Africa.”

About WES

WES is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to helping international students, immigrants, and refugees to achieve their educational and career goals in the United States and Canada. For more than 45 years, WES has set the standard of excellence in the field of international academic credential evaluation. Through WES Global Talent Bridge, the organization joins with institutional partners, community-based organizations, and policymakers to help immigrants and refugees who hold international credentials fully to utilize their talents and education to achieve their academic and professional goals. Its philanthropic arm, the WES Mariam Assefa Fund, supports catalytic leaders and organizations working to build inclusive economies and to ensure that immigrants and refugees can achieve their aspirations and thrive.

About SAQA

SAQA is a statutory entity that was established over 25 years ago to design and implement a transformative National Qualifications Framework to reform and integrate a fractured education and training system. It is the only entity mandated by the South African National Qualifications Framework (NQF) to provide an evaluation and advisory service to recognise the foreign qualifications of its citizens and foreign persons who seek to pursue further studies and work opportunities in South Africa. SAQA is a key player in the implementation of the Addis Ababa Convention which provides a framework for the recognition of academic qualifications throughout Africa and has a special clause on creating a special dispensation for the recognition of qualifications of refugees, asylum seekers, and other displaced persons.

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World Education Services Applauds Introduction of Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act in the U.S. Senate

NEW YORK, NY—(November 4, 2021) Yesterday the Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate, following its passage out of the U.S. House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support in September. As the U.S. welcomes Afghan evacuees, this legislation takes a critical step toward addressing the systemic barriers that limit the employment opportunities of immigrants and refugees with international education and experience, filling worker gaps in essential industries, and ensuring an inclusive economic recovery.

The Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act calls upon the U.S. Department of Labor to study the factors that limit the employment opportunities of immigrants and refugees who hold international credentials. More than 120 national and local organizations have signed a letter urging Congress to support the legislation.

“There are at least 2 million immigrants and refugees with college degrees who are unemployed or underemployed in the U.S.; 60 percent hold international degrees. This underutilization of talent harms workers, communities, and the economy,” said WES CEO and Executive Director Esther Benjamin. “As the nation works to develop inclusive and diverse workforces, policymakers can seize this opportunity to tackle the systemic barriers that prevent immigrants and refugees from advancing their careers in the U.S.”

About World Education Services (WES)
World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to helping international students, immigrants, and refugees achieve their educational and career goals in the United States and Canada. For more than 45 years, WES has set the standard of excellence in the field of international academic credential evaluation. Through WES Global Talent Bridge, the organization joins with institutional partners, community-based organizations, and policymakers to help immigrants and refugees who hold international credentials fully utilize their talents and education to achieve their academic and professional goals. Its philanthropic arm, the WES Mariam Assefa Fund, supports catalytic leaders and organizations working to build inclusive economies and to ensure that immigrants and refugees can achieve their aspirations and thrive.

About IMPRINT
Based at WES, IMPRINT is a national coalition working to advance public policy and promising models that support the economic inclusion of immigrants and refugees with international credentials in the U.S. IMPRINT envisions a United States that values the education, skills, and experience of immigrants and refugees and ensures equitable access to pathways for success. Join the IMPRINT Coalition’s #UntappedTalent: Inclusive Economies for All campaign to advance policies that are inclusive of all workers and to open pathways so that everyone has a fair chance of reaching their educational and career goals.

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Impact Investing

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Western University – Undergraduate Admissions

Western University - Undergraduate Admissions

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Legislation Promoting Economic Inclusion Passes U.S. House of Representatives, World Education Services Praises Bipartisan Effort 

NEW YORK, NY—(September 29, 2021) Last week, bipartisan legislation directing the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to conduct an interagency study of the barriers that limit employment opportunities for immigrants and refugees with international credentials passed the U.S. House of Representatives as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).   

First introduced as a stand-alone bill with bipartisan support in August 2020, the Improving Opportunities for New Americans Act was reintroduced in June 2021 with six co-sponsors. In August 2021, World Education Services (WES) joined 120 organizations in urging members of Congress to co-sponsor the bill. 

WES applauds this progress and calls on the Senate to pass the legislation into law.  

In June, WES’ Executive Director and CEO Esther Benjamin stated that the legislation is “critical to helping advance economic opportunity for all and redressing inequities that prevent immigrants and refugees from rejoining their fields in the U.S.”  

Read more about the legislation in WES Global Talent Bridge’s recent blog post.  

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About World Education Services (WES) 

World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to helping international students, immigrants, and refugees achieve their educational and career goals in the United States and Canada. For more than 45 years, WES has set the standard of excellence in the field of international academic credential evaluation. Through WES Global Talent Bridge, the organization joins with institutional partners, community-based organizations, and policymakers to help immigrants and refugees who hold international credentials fully utilize their talents and education to achieve their academic and professional goals. Its philanthropic arm, the WES Mariam Assefa Fund, supports catalytic leaders and organizations working to build inclusive economies and to ensure that immigrants and refugees can achieve their aspirations and thrive.

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Start a Digital Partnership with WES

Only authorized representatives from an academic institution can initiate a digital partnership with WES. Entering false information below may delay or even prohibit our ability to proceed. We look forward to working with you!   This form is for inquiries from institutional partners ...

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WES Donates to Organizations Supporting Displaced Afghans and Haitians

NEW YORK, NY—(September 20, 2021) World Education Services (WES) is dedicated to creating a world in which everyone is able to put their education, experience, and skills to work anywhere in the world. The humanitarian crises now unfolding in Afghanistan and Haiti have spurred the organization to act in line with this vision by donating to five organizations that work directly with Haitians and Afghans.

“In this moment and as a social enterprise that serves international students, immigrants, refugees, we have a responsibility and obligation to act,” says WES CEO and Executive Director, Esther T. Benjamin. “Our contributions, funneled through five organizations with deep expertise and relationships among the individuals and global communities we serve, will help to ensure the smoothest possible road to recovery for newly displaced Afghans and Haitians—including those who are seeking to build new lives in the U.S. and Canada.”

WES donations have gone to the following organizations:

WES is also a founding partner of Lifeline Afghanistan, a newly established network of individuals and organizations supporting the resettlement of Afghan refugees in Canada.

WES views these actions as first steps in helping affected individuals to recover and integrate into their new communities. Over the coming months and years, the organization will continue to support and drive mid- and long-term efforts to ensure not just successful resettlement, but the social and economic integration and inclusion of displaced individuals and refugees in the U.S. and Canada.

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#UntappedTalent: Inclusive Economies for All

Since 1974, WES has been committed to the success of the international students, immigrants and refugees who look to the United States as a place to fulfill their dreams. With a staff that represents 37 nations and speaks more than 40 languages, WES ...

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WES Statement on Crisis in Afghanistan

NEW YORK, NY—(August 19, 2021) WES is deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan. Thousands of Afghans have been forced to flee their homes, and the fate of many who remain is uncertain.

WES welcomes the efforts of governments around the world to expedite special migration pathways. We urge the U.S. and Canadian governments to ensure the safety and well-being of Afghans, particularly those who are most vulnerable to persecution. We stand with our global partners who are working to ensure the evacuation and resettlement of refugees.

Given our mission to support the global mobility of all people, including those forcibly displaced, WES has an obligation to act. We are determining how WES can best help in this moment and will share an update as soon as we can on how we are directing resources to organizations that are working to meet the needs of Afghan refugees.

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Western University – Western Continuing Studies

Western University - Western Continuing Studies

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Algoma University

Algoma University

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World Education Services and More Than 120 Other Organizations Call on Congress to Support the Improving Opportunities for New Americans Act

NEW YORK, NY—(August 3, 2021) World Education Services (WES) joins Church World Service, International Rescue Committee, National Immigration Forum, National Skills Coalition, New American Economy, and Upwardly Global, together with more than 120 national, state, and local organizations, in urging Congress to co-sponsor the Improving Opportunities for New Americans Act. This bipartisan legislation would direct the United States Department of Labor to conduct an interagency study of the barriers that impact employment opportunities of immigrants and refugees who hold international credentials.

Read the full sign-on letter urging members of Congress to co-sponsor the Improving Opportunities for New Americans Act:

Dear Members of Congress,

On behalf of more than 120 national, state, and local organizations, we write to express our support for The Improving Opportunities for New Americans Act of 2021. This bipartisan legislation directs the United States Department of Labor (DOL) to study the barriers that lead to the underemployment and unemployment of immigrants and refugees who hold professional credentials earned in other countries.

Immigrants, refugees, and asylees are eager to contribute their experience and training in the U.S. Yet because of systemic barriers, including the lack of recognition of their international education and experience, more than two million immigrants with college degrees are underemployed or unemployed in the U.S.; 60 percent of them have international credentials, according to a report from the Migration Policy Institute. This underutilization of talent limits workforce diversity and robs us of the urgently needed social, cultural, and linguistic abilities of immigrant and refugee workers. It also results in nearly $39.4 billion in forgone earnings and $10 billion in unrealized tax payments.

Dr. Sura Alsaffar, for example, spent 16 years practicing as a physician in both Syria and Iraq. She treated patients during extreme war conditions but was ultimately forced to flee as a refugee. Despite her extensive experience and efforts to successfully pass all three steps of the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE), Dr. Alsaffar’s medical career has stalled in the U.S. She earns $15 an hour as an administrative assistant; to re-enter the medical field, she is working with the job coaching non-profit Upwardly Global. As the COVID-19 pandemic strains the U.S. health sector and the nation faces a looming physician shortage, cumbersome barriers to licensure prevent qualified professionals like Dr. Alsaffar from re-establishing their careers.

“Coming to the U.S. was a dream come true for us. We were so grateful to have the opportunity to move to a safe place. But our safety has also cost me my career. And it’s been hard to sit on the sidelines during this pandemic, when I know that I have experience to contribute,” Dr. Alsaffar says.

Refugees and immigrants are vital to the prosperity of our communities, and their inclusion will be critical to the nation’s economic recovery. In 2015 alone, nearly 2.3 million refugees earned a collective $77.2 billion in household income, contributed $20.9 billion in taxes, and held $56.3 billion in spending power. Immigrants make up more than 16 percent of all U.S. health workers; 8 percent of teachers; 25 percent of the biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry; and 25 percent of IT professionals.

As the U.S. recovers and rebuilds, the need to integrate immigrants and refugees into the workforce is increasingly urgent. The Improving Opportunities for New Americans Act of 2021 marks an important step in building a resilient workforce and robust economy, and we urge all members of Congress to co-sponsor this bill.

Sincerely,

African Advocacy Network

African Bridge Network

Amplio Recruiting

Arlington Public Library

Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO

Bellevue Program for Survivors of Torture

Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

CAMI Health

Career Solutions

Chicago Citywide Literacy Coalition

Chicago Jewish Coalition for Refugees

Chicago Jobs Council

Chinese Mutual Aid Association

Office of Social Justice, Christian Reformed Church

Church World Service (CWS)

Cincinnati Compass

Coalition for Adult Basic Education (COABE)

Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR)

Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education (CCCIE)

Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS)

Comunidad Maya Pixan Ixim

Consortium of Physicians From Latin America (COPHYLA)

Council on American-Islamic Relations in Missouri (CAIR-MO)

Disciples Refugee & Immigration Ministries

Dominican Sisters of Houston

Dover Adult Learning Center

Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC)

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon

Edgewater Castle FC

Eleser Corp

Empowering Communities Globally: For the Care of Children

English for New Bostonians

Faith in Public Life

Fellowship Southwest

Gainesville’s Interfaith Alliance for Immigrant Justice

GirlForward

Glen Oaks Community College

Global Cleveland

HIAS

Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) ministry

ICNA Relief

IMPRINT

Institute for Immigration Research (IIR)

InterFaith Works of Central New York

International Institute of Buffalo

International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit

International Institute of St. Louis

International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)

International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS) 

Jewish Family and Career Services (JFCS) Louisville

Jobs for the Future (JFF)

Journey’s End Refugee Services

Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR)

Livefully Corp

League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS)

Maine Business Immigration Coalition

Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA)

Mc2

Médicos Unidos Venezuela USA

Mennonite Central Committee U.S.

Middle Eastern Immigrant and Refugee Alliance

MIRR (Migrant, Immigrant, Refugee Rights) Alliance

Motherland Beauties

National Council of Churches USA

National Immigration Forum

National Network for Immigrant & Refugee Rights (NNIRR)

National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA)

National Skills Coalition

Nebraska Appleseed

New American Economy

New American Pathways

New Women New Yorkers

New York Immigration Coalition

Niskanen Center

New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)

One Refugee

Ozark Literacy Council

Palm Beach State College

Pars Equality Center, Los Angeles

Pennsylvania Council of Churches

Per Scholas

Phipps Neighborhoods

PODER

Portland Adult Education

Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration

Project Blueprint

Project Worthmore

Promise Arizona

Pursuit Transformation Company Inc

Refugee Action Network

Refugee Advocacy Lab

Refugee Congress

Refugee Education & Adventure Challenge (REACH)

Restore Education

Riverside Language Program

Russian Oregon Social Services

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Justice Team

Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia

Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning

Spur LLC

SUNY Bronx Educational Opportunity Center (EOC)

Syrian Community Network

Talent Beyond Boundaries

Tent Partnership for Refugees

The Center for Victims of Torture

Turas Group

Union for Reform Judaism

Upwardly Global

U.S. Africa Institute

U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)

Venezuelans and Immigrants Aid

Voces Unidas for Justice

Washington Academy for International Medical Graduates (WAIMG)

We Are All America

Welcome Back Initiative

Welcoming America

Westchester Jewish Coalition for Immigration

World Education Services (WES)

World Relief

YMCA International Learning Center

YMCA of Greater New York

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World Education Services Applauds Biden-Harris Administration’s Commitment to Welcoming International Students

NEW YORK, NY—(July 27, 2021) Yesterday, the United States Departments of Education and State issued a Joint Statement of Principles in Support of International Education outlining the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to restoring the role of the U.S. as a global leader in international education. The following is a statement by Esther Benjamin, Executive Director and CEO of World Education Services (WES).

“WES commends the administration’s renewed focus on welcoming international students to the U.S.

“Earlier this year, we offered recommendations to the incoming administration on how to revive the reputation of the U.S. as the leading destination for international students. International students are vital contributors to the U.S.—they create jobs, drive innovation, and enrich our campuses and communities.

“WES urges the U.S. Departments of Education and State to implement the following measures to restore and strengthen U.S. leadership on international education:

  • Improve the visa process for international students by ensuring timely and transparent adjudications
  • Remove restrictions to ensure that international students can gain practical experience
  • Work with Congress to extend pathways for eligible international students to remain in the U.S.
  • Grant Special Student Relief to international students facing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic

“WES looks forward to engaging with the Biden-Harris administration to identify policies and practices that recognize and value the contributions of international students.”

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About World Education Services (WES)

World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to helping international students, immigrants, and refugees achieve their educational and career goals in the United States and Canada. For more than 45 years, WES has set the standard of excellence in the field of international academic credential evaluation. Through WES Global Talent Bridge, the organization joins with institutional partners, community-based organizations, and policymakers to help immigrants and refugees who hold international credentials fully utilize their talents and education to achieve their academic and professional goals. Its philanthropic arm, the WES Mariam Assefa Fund, supports catalytic leaders and organizations working to build inclusive economies and to ensure that immigrants and refugees can achieve their aspirations and thrive.

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WES Advantage for Institutional Professionals

Working with WES is simple and requires no contract or commitment. Academic institutions, employers and other organizations refer their candidates to WES for credential evaluation services just as they would for admissions testing or other external services. Candidates then work directly with us and designate your organization as the recipient of WES Evaluation Reports.

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Smith School of Business at Queen’s University

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World Education Services Announces Support for Improving Opportunities for New Americans Act, Bipartisan Legislation Promoting Economic Inclusion of Immigrants and Refugees 

New York, NY—(June 25, 2021) Today the Improving Opportunities for New Americans Act of 2021 was re-introduced in Congress by Reps. Jason Crow (D-CO), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), John Katko (R-NY), and Young Kim (R-CA). The bipartisan legislation would direct the United States Department of Labor to study the barriers that impact employment opportunities of immigrants and refugees who hold international credentials.

World Education Services (WES) strongly supports this landmark legislation.

The contributions of immigrants and refugees are vital to the prosperity of our communities and the nation’s economy, particularly during this critical period of recovery in the U.S. Yet, systemic barriers, including a lack of recognition of international credentials and needed investments in workforce development and adult education, result in the underemployment or unemployment of more than two million college-educated immigrants in the U.S.; 60 percent of these individuals hold international credentials, according to a report from the Migration Policy Institute (MPI). This underutilization of talent limits workforce diversity and denies communities the urgently needed social, cultural, and linguistic abilities of immigrant and refugee workers. According to MPI, it also results in more than $39 billion in forgone earnings and $10 billion in unrealized tax payments.

“WES applauds the reintroduction of the Improving Opportunities for New Americans Act, said WES CEO and Executive Director Esther Benjamin. “This legislation is critical to helping advance economic opportunity for all and redressing inequities that prevent immigrants and refugees from rejoining their fields in the U.S.”

About World Education Services (WES)

World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to helping international students, immigrants, and refugees achieve their educational and career goals in the United States and Canada. For more than 45 years, WES has set the standard of excellence in the field of international academic credential evaluation. Through WES Global Talent Bridge, the organization joins with institutional partners, community-based organizations, and policymakers to help immigrants and refugees who hold international credentials fully utilize their talents and education to achieve their academic and professional goals. Its philanthropic arm, the WES Mariam Assefa Fund, supports catalytic leaders and organizations working to build inclusive economies and to ensure that immigrants and refugees can achieve their aspirations and thrive.

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U.S. Data Tool: National- and state-level data on skill underutilization of college-educated immigrants

Our interactive U.S. Data Tool features national- and state-level data on the underemployment and skill underutilization of college-educated immigrants in the U.S. You can filter by state to compare the data.

For more information about this resource, please contact us.

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WES Global Talent Bridge U.S. Program Map: Integrating College-Educated Immigrants and Refugees

The WES Global Talent Bridge U.S. Program Map features more than 100 programs and services that foster the economic and professional advancement of internationally trained immigrants and refugees in the United States. The programs focus on career preparation, contextualized English language learning, and licensing and credentialing guidance and are offered by a variety of service providers, including advocacy and public education institutions and technical assistance and resource providers. The map’s data tool displays demographic data on college-educated immigrants and refugees in the U.S.

About the Map:

The U.S. Program Map was designed to connect and inform service providers, technical assistance providers, researchers, policymakers, advocates, and funders. The map shows where there are efforts to open pathways to employment commensurate with the skills and experience of internationally educated immigrants and refugees. It also highlights opportunities for local engagement.

The U.S. Program Map showcases programs and services that meet the following criteria:

  • They are specifically designed to address the needs of internationally educated immigrants and refugees and have published resources aimed at meeting those needs
  • They have partnered with or are currently partnering with immigrant- and refugee-serving organizations or agencies
  • Their staff proactively engages with internationally educated immigrants and refugees

The programs on the map are self-reported and are not necessarily endorsed by WES.

Want to be featured?

If you would like your program or service to be featured on this map, please complete this 3-minute survey which will help us to determine your program’s eligibility. Kindly forward the survey link if you know of another organization that might be interested in being included. For more information, contact us here.

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The Canadian Alliance of Dental Technology Regulators (CADTR)

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Quest University Canada

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Canada Funding Opportunity: General Application

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U.S. Funding Opportunity: Employer Practices

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Canada Funding Opportunity Employer Practices

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Schulich School of Business, York University

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Internationally Educated Health Professionals an Untapped Resource in Ontario

Toronto, ON—(May 3, 2021While the Ontario government seeks additional health care workers from across Canada and other countries amid the third wave of the pandemic, thousands of internationally educated health professionals (IEHPs) currently living in Ontario are ready and waiting to contribute their skills. 

Ontario is home to thousands of skilled internationally educated nurses, physicians, and other health care professionals, many of whom are currently not employed or are underemployed in health care, despite being licensed to practice in the countries where they were trained. saidWorld Education Services (WES) Canadian Managing Director, Shamira Madhany 

There are at least 13,000 internationally trained physicians and more than 6,000 internationally trained nurses, as well as medical lab technicians, respiratory therapists, and other health professionals in the provincial database of internationally educated health professionals (IEHPs) seeking licensure in Ontario.  

Few IEHPs have been able to apply their skills as part of the pandemic response. Nida Fatima is an internationally trained medical doctor and researcher from Pakistan with more than four years of experience in both the public and private sectors. Despite passing her medical licensing exams recently she has not been able to secure her medical licence in Ontario. To maintain her recency of practice, Nida travels periodically back to Pakistan to work as an emergency room doctor. In Canada, she is working as a Program Assistant at public health unit for the COVID-19 vaccination program and as a facilitator for the COVID-19 mental health community leadership program with the Canada International Scientific Exchange Program and Toronto Public Health.  

Nida said, We are living with the pandemic for more than a year now and Canada is in dire need of health care professionals. I believe that there is no better time to use the untapped pool of internationally trained medical doctors who already have the necessary skills and are ready to help in any capacity they can. If utilized properly, IEHPs can share the burden of those burned out and in need of support. 

Abhishek Saxena is an IEHP and a Pandemic Program Manager at the Regent Park Community Health Centre. In addition to holding a health care degree from India, he has an MBA in hospital management and master’s in public health from the European Union. He said, “In the midst of uncertainties during the COVID-19 pandemic when the health system is under tremendous stress, optimal utilization of the knowledge, skills, and expertise of internationally trained medical doctors (ITMDs) could be a key strategy to effectively address human resource challenges in Canada.  

Nida and Abhishek are just a few internationally trained doctors helping with vaccinations, but many more are available and ready to put their training and skills to use.  

We urge the Ontario government to tap into these skills to support our health care system and boost the province’s COVID-19 response. 

By applying IEHPs’ knowledge and expertise to public health priorities such as vaccine administration, contact tracing, vaccine education, and infection prevention and control, Ontario can ease the current strain on the health care systemAdditionally, internationally educated professionals are linguistically and culturally diverse and can respond to the unique health care concerns of multicultural communities across the province. 

The 2021 federal budget has allocated a total of $1 billion to help provinces and territories administer vaccines as quickly as supplies arrive. Millions of vaccine doses are scheduled to arrive in the second quarter of this year just as eligibility opens for all adults in Ontario and Quebec. IEHPs can be an important part of Canada’s vaccination campaign 

Canada’s immigrant-serving sector and IEHP-led groups are ready to work with public health authorities, community agencies, and workplaces to help identify IEHPs who are ready, willing, and able to join a coordinated response to curb the further spread of COVID-19. Beyond the current crisis, policymakers must pursue measures that will better utilize the skills of Canada’s IEHPs to strengthen our health care system.  

Endorsing Organizations:  

World Education Services (WES) & Internationally Trained Physicians Access Coalition

Media contact: Anne Greenwood, Senior Manager, Marketing and Communications [email protected] 416.972.5045 

 Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants(OCASI) &  Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre (NFAMC)  

Media contact: Emily Kovacs, Board Member, OCASI & Executive Director, NFAMC [email protected]905.685.6589 ext: 222 / 905.685.8376  

Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) 

Media contact: Daniel Kim, Communications Specialist, Media and Public Affairs [email protected]/ 416.931.5803

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IMPRINT Members

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WES Response to the 2021 Ontario Budget: Ensuring an Immigrant-Inclusive Recovery

Toronto, ON—(April 1, 2021) WES monitored the release of the Ontario government’s 2021 budget with great interest. We were pleased to see strong investment in and focus on protecting peoplehealth and the economy.  

The COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated that profound inequities persist in our labour market and social safety net. Newcomers, racially diverse and low-income communities, women, and youth have disproportionally felt the brunt of the pandemic.  

WES is committed to the vision that everyone should be able to put their education, skills, and experience to work anywhere in the world. Now, as Ontario looks to rebuild, immigrants will be critical to the province’s short- and long-term recovery 

Health Care and Internationally Educated Health Professionals 

The Ontario budget includes significant health care investments, including an ambitious plan to facilitate the hiring of more than 27,000 new positions in the long-term care (LTC) sectorOntario’s internationally educated health professionals stand ready to make a lasting contribution to protecting our collective health.  

WES is working with partners to tackle the underutilization of the skills and experience of Canada’s immigrant health professionals. This includes: 

  • Convening leaders from internationally educated physicians groups to address systemic licensure impediments and to find meaningful opportunities for this talent pool to contribute to Ontario’s health care system both during the pandemic and beyond  
  • Working with stakeholders in longterm care to better utilize the skills of internationally educated nurses   

We look forward to supporting the government’s new Staffing Supply Accelerator Group in their efforts to implement this health care recruiting and training program. We will provide concrete ideas on how to support the Ontario LTC sector, specifically internationally educated nurses, through access to bridging programs and nursing registration in OntarioThis initiative will: 

  • Help to alleviate a severe staffing shortage while adding quality care competencies  
  • Address the long standing economicgender, and racial inequities that far too many newcomers have experienced 

Immigrant Youth and International Students 

The $117.3 million targeted for employment and training supports for residents facing the highest levels of unemployment is a welcome investment. WES is ready to lend its support, advice, and expertise toward ensuring that this investment includes immigrants, refugees, racialized women, and youth, who are key to Ontario’s recovery and prosperity.  

To support workforce development among immigrant and refugee youth and international students, WES has co-convened a national roundtable on immigrant youth workforce development. This table has identified the lack of data, stakeholder silos, and lack of immigrant youth specific programming as barriers to labour market inclusion and success. The partners at this new national table would welcome the opportunity to provide support and advice to government and allies on this critical issue. 

Approximately 34 percent of all newcomers to Canada are under age 25 and, according to Statistics Canada, immigrant youth (15-34) comprise 21 percent of the working youth population of Canada. This cohort has a higher unemployment rate than Canadian-born youth and is more likely to work in low-skilledlow-wage jobs. We are also concerned that unemployment levels, particularly for Black youth (31.6 percent), many of whom are newcomers, average twice the rate of white youth (15.4 percent). 

We are concerned for students as well. There is evidence that recessions have long-term negative impacts on recent graduates, including international students, because periods of high unemployment interrupt early career trajectory. And wknow that racially and ethnically biased streaming at the secondary school level is a barrier. Among other issues, we want to ensure that the financial impacts and remote learning changes to the education sector do not further harm newcomer youth or inequitably raise tuition costs for international students.  

Racism and Xenophobia 

Finally, WES condemns the rise of anti-Asian racism this past year. A recent report from the Chinese Canadian Council showed 40 percent of such incidents took place in Ontario. These xenophobic attacks must end, and we call on the government to reexamine the very limited allocation announced in the budget for anti-racism initiatives. 

Ensuring a recovery that builds on the education, skills, and experiences of newcomers who are making Ontario their home is an essential element of protecting our collective health and rebuilding economic wellbeing 

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

Nova Scotia Provincial Government - Dept of Education & ECD, Child Care Classification

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Our Policy Work in Canada: Advocacy and Impact

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Press Release Archive

World Education Services Appoints Three New Board Members
NEW YORK, NY—(Jan. 30, 2024) World Education Services (WES) has appointed Fanta Aw, PhD, Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, PhD, and Ajay Patel to its Board of Trustees, effective January 2024. Aw is Executive Director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, Chamorro-Premuzic is Chief Innovation Officer of ManpowerGroup, and Patel is President of Vancouver Community College.

Toronto Event Matches Refugee Job Candidates With Employers
TORONTO, ON—(Oct. 20, 2023) The Toronto Refugee Hiring Event will provide newcomer refugees and other forcibly displaced individuals with the opportunity to be hired by leading employers in the Greater Toronto Area.

World Education Services Invests in Qualification Check to Enhance its Verification Process
NEW YORK, NY—(Aug. 21, 2023) World Education Services (WES) today announced that it has invested in Qualification Check, a global academic and professional verification company.

World Education Services Appoints New Board Member in Canada
NEW YORK, NY—(Aug. 16, 2023) World Education Services (WES) has appointed John Paolo Varias to its Board of Trustees. Paolo is a registered nurse who is currently serving as Associate Director of Clinical and Support Services for Niagara Region in Southern Ontario.

Refugee Hiring Event Convenes Greater Moncton Companies Looking to Employ Refugee Talent
MONCTON, NB—(June 19, 2023) On June 20, the City of Moncton will host the Greater Moncton Refugee Hiring Event. Held on World Refugee Day, the event will match refugees and other displaced people with job offers from leading Moncton employers, including Apex Industries Inc., Canadian Tire Corporation, Corey Craig Group, Greystone Energy Systems, and J.D. Irving Ltd.

WES Partners with Five Communities Across Canada to Find Solutions to the Skills Shortage
TORONTO, ON—(June 08, 2023) World Education Services (WES) and five communities across Canada have embarked on an initiative to engage local employers, chambers of commerce, local and regional governments, and community-based organizations in co-designing solutions that address long-standing challenges facing employers. Known as #ImmigrantsWork, the initiative engages diverse local partners in developing strategies to identify, recruit, hire, and retain immigrant talent.

#WelcomingEconomy for Refugees Sends Message that Refugees Mean Business
TORONTO, ON—(June 01, 2023) Refugees offer an untapped wealth of talent for Canadian employers: this is the message of #WelcomingEconomy for Refugees, a Canada-wide bilingual campaign launched today to help employers connect with refugees eager to employ their talents in Canada’s workforce.

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority and World Education Services Partner on Qualifications Recognition for Migrants with International Education
WELLINGTON, New Zealand—(March 30, 2023) The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) and World Education Services (WES) have signed an agreement to streamline qualifications assessment for migrants to New Zealand who hold credentials from another country. Under the agreement, WES will provide qualification verification services to immigration applicants to New Zealand.

Dr. Julie Reddy Joins World Education Services Board of Trustees
NEW YORK, NY—(Feb. 03, 2023) World Education Services (WES) has appointed Dr. Julie Reddy, former Chief Executive Officer of the South African Qualifications Authority, to its Board of Trustees.

Hiring Event Convenes Toronto’s Top Companies Looking to Employ Refugee Talent
TORONTO, ON—(Nov. 21, 2022) Today, Jumpstart Refugee Talent, Starbucks Canada, and World Education Services (WES) are hosting a hiring event for refugees and displaced individuals living in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

National Coalition Launches #WelcomingEconomy for Refugees Campaign to Connect Employers and Refugees in Canada
TORONTO, ON—(May 12, 2022) Today the Refugee Jobs Agenda Roundtable, jointly with other partners, is launching the #WelcomingEconomy for Refugees campaign, a coordinated and unified employer-led effort focused on highlighting the social and economic contributions and successes of refugees. The campaign will feature business leaders in a series of videos aimed at encouraging and supporting the recruitment and hiring of refugee talent across Canada.

Health Care Leaders Gather to Discuss Strategy to Integrate Internationally Educated Health Professionals to Help Meet Ontario’s Health Care Needs
TORONTO, ON—(April 11, 2022) Today, World Education Services (WES) is convening leaders from hospitals, long-term care, and home care alongside other key health care stakeholders to talk about the role of immigrant health professionals in their sectors. This is the first time these stakeholders will assemble to share their vision of how to rebuild Ontario’s health workforce with the deliberate inclusion of internationally educated health professionals (IEHPs).

World Education Services Announces New Leadership of its Board of Trustees
NEW YORK, NY—(Jan. 19, 2022) World Education Services (WES) today announced the appointment of Audrey Hendley as chair of the WES Board of Trustees. Hendley takes over the chairmanship from long-time trustee Hans de Wit.

WES Mariam Assefa Fund Announces $1.8 Million Commitment to Advance Inclusive Employer Practices for Immigrant and Refugee Job Seekers and Workers in the U.S. and Canada
NEW YORK, NY—(December 09, 2021) The WES Mariam Assefa Fund today announced the award of US$1.8 million in grants to 12 U.S. and Canadian organizations working to improve the economic mobility of immigrants and refugees. Each of these new grantee partners, selected through an open call for applications, works with employers and workers in a range of sectors such as health care, agriculture, “for hire” driving, and more. Each seeks to deliver relevant, worker-informed solutions that improve job quality and foster inclusive and equitable workplaces and economies.

South African Qualifications Authority and World Education Services Partner to Facilitate Qualifications Recognition for Refugees and Displaced People in South Africa
OTTAWA, ON—(Nov. 12, 2021) Last night, at the Groningen Declaration Network annual meeting, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and World Education Services (WES) signed a partnership agreement that will ensure eligible refugees and displaced individuals can have their qualifications assessed and recognized in South Africa.

Internationally Educated Health Professionals an Untapped Resource in Ontario
TORONTO, ON—(May 3, 2021While the Ontario government seeks additional health care workers from across Canada and other countries amid the third wave of the pandemic, thousands of internationally educated health professionals (IEHPs) currently living in Ontario are ready and waiting to contribute their skills. 

WES Response to the 2021 Ontario Budget: Ensuring an Immigrant-Inclusive Recovery
TORONTO, ON—(April 1, 2021) WES monitored the release of the Ontario government’s 2021 budget with great interest. We were pleased to see strong investment in and focus on protecting peoplehealth and the economy. 

World Education Services Releases Recommendations for Biden-Harris Administration to Ensure an Equitable and Inclusive Economy
NEW YORK, NY—(Jan 14, 2021)- On January 14, 2021, World Education Services (WES) released its recommendations for the Biden-Harris administration to advance the economic integration of internationally trained immigrants and refugees and international students in the United States. Titled Pathways for an Equitable and Inclusive Recovery for Immigrants, Refugees, and International Students, the road map for reform proposes strategies to ensure effective economic integration, outlining five key actions the Biden-Harris administration should prioritize within its first 100 days in office.

WES Mariam Assefa Fund Announces First Impact Investments Totaling $750,000 to Support the Success of Immigrant and Refugee Workers
NEW YORK, NY—(Dec. 15, 2020) The WES Mariam Assefa Fund today announced impact investments of $750,000 to ensure that immigrants and refugees in the United States have access to the tools and capital they need to acquire digital and other job-related skills, establish credit, increase their earning potential, and start businesses of their own.

Francisco Marmolejo Rejoins WES Board of Trustees, World Education Services (WES) Announces
NEW YORK, NY—(Dec. 02, 2020) World Education Services (WES) today announced that Francisco Marmolejo, a global leader in the field of international education administration, has rejoined its Board of Trustees. His first tenure on the WES Board lasted from 2011 to 2018.

WES Mariam Assefa Fund Awards First Grants in Canada, Committing C$1.9M to Create More Equitable Systems for Immigrant and Refugee Workers
TORONTO, ON—(Nov. 23, 2020) The WES Mariam Assefa Fund, the philanthropic arm of World Education Services (WES), today announced its first grants in Canada. The Fund is awarding C$1.9 million to six organizations that are building stronger career pathways for immigrants and refugees, supporting workers affected by COVID-19, investing in immigrant leaders, and nurturing the development of innovative solutions and greater capacity in the immigrant-serving sector.

World Education Services Submits Public Comment Opposing Proposed Rule Setting Time Limits on International Student Visas 
NEW YORK, NY—(October 27, 2020) On October 26, World Education Services (WES) submitted a public comment in opposition to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) proposed regulation Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media to set fixed periods on the length of time international students can remain in the United States, arguing that the proposed rule would place an unnecessary and harmful burden on international students, higher education institutions, and the U.S. economy.

Immigrant Community Organizations Receive $2 Million in Philanthropic Funds – Twice the Initial Pledge
NEW YORK, NY—(Sept. 24, 2020) The World Education Services (WES) Mariam Assefa Fund and the Tarsadia Foundation today announced 12 awardees of the Opportunity Challenge, a new grantmaking initiative to support the success of immigrants and refugees and the community-led organizations that serve them.

World Education Services Announces the Appointment of Cheryl Cramer Toto as COO
NEW YORK, NY—(Aug.  05, 2020) World Education Services (WES) today announced the appointment of Cheryl Cramer Toto as its new chief operations officer (COO). Toto will oversee WES’ world-leading credential evaluation processes, while identifying new opportunities for the growth and evolution of the organization.

World Education Services Submits Public Comment Opposing Proposed Rule Greatly Limiting Asylum Protections
New York, NY— (July 17, 2020)–On July 14, World Education Services (WES) submitted to the Executive Office for Immigration Review a public comment opposing a proposed asylum regulation that would dramatically curtail the criteria for asylum and put applicants at grave risk of harm, in contravention of long-standing domestic and international conventions.

ICE Decision Requiring International Students to Study In-Person or Be Deported Will Cause Long-Term Harm, Says World Education Services
New York, NY—(July 10, 2020) World Education Services (WES) is deeply concerned about the recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) decision to revoke the visas of international students who do not take in-person classes this fall. The July 6 ICE action comes as  COVID-19 cases continues to spike across the U.S, raising serious public health concerns and putting both students and universities at risk.

WES Mariam Assefa Fund Awards $1.35 Million in Grants to Support Career Pathways for Immigrants and Refugees Amid Pandemic
NEW YORK—(June 18, 2020) The WES Mariam Assefa Fund, the philanthropic arm of World Education Services (WES), today announced the award of $1.35 million in grants to enable immigrant and refugee workers to advance in the workforce of today and tomorrow and build strong careers that support their families and themselves. The three grant recipients are Building Skills Partnership (BSP), the EdTech Center @ World Education (EdTech Center), and the International Rescue Committee (IRC).

World Education Services Announces the Appointment of Four New Board Members
NEW YORK—(May 14, 2020)  World Education Services (WES) today announced the appointment of four new members to its Board of Trustees. The new members are Dr. Feridun Hamdullahpur, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waterloo; Helen Hayward, an Ontario-based independent board director and strategic advisor to organizations in the public and not-for-profit sector; Maryana Iskander, CEO of South Africa-based Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator; and Aaron Williams, who served as the 18th Director of the Peace Corps, from 2009 to 2012, and was most recently executive vice president of RTI’s international development group.

New Jersey’s Executive Order Allowing Immigrant Doctors to Join in the Fight Against COVID-19 Is ‘Critically Important,’ says World Education Services
New York, NY—(April 03, 2020) World Education Services (WES) applauds New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s Executive Order 112 as a positive step toward the goal of removing the barriers to employment for under- and unemployed immigrants and refugees who have healthcare degrees and experience.

WES Mariam Assefa Fund and the Tarsadia Foundation Announce the Opportunity Challenge: $1 Million to Uplift Immigrant Communities
NEW YORK—(March 10, 2020)  The World Education Services (WES) Mariam Assefa Fund and the Tarsadia Foundation today announced a joint $1 million grantmaking initiative to support the success of immigrants, refugees, and their communities nationwide.

World Education Services Expands Immigrant Professional Integration Program to 24 Communities Nationwide
NEW YORK—(Jan. 29, 2020) World Education Services (WES) has announced the selection of eight state and local communities to join its three-year-old Skilled Immigrant Integration Program, bringing the total number of participating communities to 24.

World Education Services’ New Research Highlights International Students’ Daily Life Challenges on and off Campus
NEW YORK—(Nov. 20, 2019) New research from World Education Services (WES) finds that while international students are generally satisfied with the quality of academic programs and support available on U.S. campuses, they also continue to face mental health, adjustment, and other challenges.

WES Mariam Assefa Fund Announces First USD$1.2M in Grants to Support Immigrant and Refugee Employment Initiatives
NEW YORK—(Sept. 4, 2019) The WES Mariam Assefa Fund today announced the award of USD$1.2 million in grants toward its goal of catalyzing economic opportunities and advancement for immigrants and refugees in the U.S. and Canada. The grants have been awarded to five organizations in the U.S.: the Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation, Jobs for the Future (JFF), Mission Driven Finance, Upwardly Global, and the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians.

World Education Services Launches the WES Mariam Assefa Fund to Provide Philanthropic Support to Organizations Striving to Help Immigrants and Refugees
NEW YORK—(June 4, 2019) World Education Services (WES) today announced the launch of the WES Mariam Assefa Fund. The USD $30 million philanthropic fund will support organizations that seek to bring down the barriers that keep immigrants and refugees from contributing their skills and joining the workforce in their new communities.

World Education Services Releases Its First Mobile Application
NEW YORK —(May 16, 2019)World Education Services (WES), the leading credential evaluation service in North America, has released its first-ever mobile application, the WES App.

World Education Services Appoints Esther Benjamin as CEO
NEW  YORK—(April 22, 2019) Esther Benjamin will join World Education Services (WES) as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director on June 17th. Benjamin comes to WES after a long career overseeing international organizations in the public, private, and civil society sectors, with a focus on global development and social impact. She will replace longtime WES Executive Director and CEO, Mariam Assefa, who announced her retirement in August 2018.

World Education Services Announces New Board Leadership
NEW  YORK—(Jan. 15, 2019) World Education Services (WES), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals achieve their higher education and professional goals in the United States and Canada, today announced the appointment of new board leadership.

Mariam Assefa Retiring as Executive Director of World Education Services
NEW YORK—(August 29, 2018) After 37 years as head of the leading international credential evaluation service in the United States and Canada, Mariam Assefa has announced her decision to retire from her role as Executive Director of World Education Services

World Education Services’ New Research Highlights Challenging Political Environment for International Student Recruitment
NEW YORK—(June 18, 2018) New research by World Education Services finds that the U.S. political environment is the biggest challenge to recruiting international students to college and university campuses. In response, most institutions have changed or are planning to change their international recruitment strategies.

World Education Services Pilots Blockchain-Based Digital Badges for Internationally Educated Students and Professionals
NEW  YORK—(May 30, 2018) World Education Services (WES) has announced plans to offer blockchain-based digital badges to qualified WES clients. WES, which evaluates international education qualifications and advocates for their recognition in the U.S. and Canada, is offering the badges through Credly, a leading provider of online credentials.

Shamira Madhany Joins World Education Services as Managing Director of the Organization’s Operations in Canada
TORONTO—(April 18, 2018) Shamira Madhany will join World Education Services (WES) as Managing Director, Canada, and Deputy Executive Director, WES, beginning on July 9th.

Tim Owen Retiring as Deputy Executive Director of World Education Services, and Director of the Organization’s Operations in Canada
TORONTO—(Jan. 18, 2018)  After almost 18 years as head of World Education Services’ Canadian Office, Tim Owen announced his retirement, effective in May of 2018. Owen will continue to serve as Director of WES Canada and Deputy Director of World Education Services (WES) until a successor is named and the transition is complete.

New Research From World Education Services Shows Career Outcomes for Current International Students and Alumni
NEW YORK—(October 17, 2017) New research from World Education Services (WES) finds that 89 percent of international alumni and 92 percent of current international students believe their U.S. education is a good investment. However, many face difficulties navigating visa authorization, gaining work experience, and finding jobs in their home countries or the U.S. after graduation.

World Education Services Releases New Research into International Students’ Experiences Working with Education Agents
NEW YORK—(June 6, 2017)  New research from World Education Service (WES) indicates that two-thirds of U.S.-bound international students who work with education agents use independent rather than institution-sponsored agents. The remaining third—those who work with sponsored agents—often pay agent fees of more than USD $1,000 on top of commissions paid by institutions. This type of double payment is at the heart of the ongoing debate about practices among international education agents that many in U.S. higher education…

WES Provides Support for International Students and Skilled Immigrants in New York City
NEW YORK—(November 11, 2016) How do I find a job in the U.S. when I earned my degree in another country? How do I adjust to the American education system? Millions of international students and skilled immigrants grapple with these questions and more as they navigate life in a new country…

World Education Services: Helping International Students Thrive on Campus
NEW YORK—(Oct. 4, 2016) International students often face unique challenges to success while studying in the United States. Understanding those challenges and helping international students overcome them is key for higher education institutions that want to recruit and retain top international students…

WES Spearheads Efforts to Help Refugees Have their Educational Credentials Recognized 
TORONTO—(May 18, 2016) After years of enduring civil war, more than 25,000 Syrian refugees recently arrived in Canada and are dreaming about a successful life in their new home….

World Education Services Celebrates 15 Years in Canada
TORONTO—(October 22, 2015) World Education Services (WES) is celebrating 15 years serving skilled immigrants and international students in Canada.

International Students Assess Reputation, Cost, and Career Opportunities for Master’s Programs
NEW YORK—(October 5, 2015) International students have become an essential student body across many U.S. campuses How Master’s Students Choose Institutions: Research on International Student Segmentation is a new report ….

Citizen and Immigration Canada Designates World Education Services to Provide Educational Credential Assessments Under Federal Skilled Worker Program
NEW YORK—(April 18, 2013) Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has designated World Education Services Canada (WES Canada) as a provider of educational credential assessments for applicants applying under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) for immigration.

New Academic Credential Package Speeds Up International Admissions
NEW YORK—(January 26, 2010) Universities can save time and reduce errors when reviewing international applications for admission when prospective students use the World Education Services International Credential Advantage Package.

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WES is a Social Enterprise Pioneer

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Our Work in Global Mobility

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Our Work with Global Higher Education Institutions

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Digital Innovation: Trust Meets Technology

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WES is a Social Enterprise Pioneer

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Our Work in Global Mobility

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Our Work with Global Higher Education Institutions

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Digital Innovation: Trust Meets Technology

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WES Digital Badges

You can now share the results of your credential evaluation report with anyone in the world, instantly. The WES Digital Badge can be displayed online for maximum visibility and recognition. This means that employers can access your report anytime, online, with just one click!

Plus, it’s free—thanks to our partnership with Credly’s Acclaim, a leading digital credential service provider.

Note: Digital badges are available only to applicants who order the International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) from WES. Learn more about the benefits of ICAP.

Watch the videos below to learn how you can make the most of your WES Digital Badge.

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WES Gateway Overview

The WES Gateway Program assesses the educational credentials of individuals who, as a result of adverse circumstances in their country of education, have limited proof of their academic achievements.

WES works with these partners to identify qualified individuals educated in Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iraq, Syria, Türkiye, Ukraine, and Venezuela as participants in the Gateway Program. To learn more about the program’s impact, read stories from individuals who have used a WES Gateway Program credential evaluation report to pursue their academic and professional goals.

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Partners & Programs

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Credential Evaluations

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Colorado State University Pueblo

Colorado State University Pueblo

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Partners & Programs

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About WES

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WES’ Recommendations to Ensure an Equitable and Inclusive Economy

An inclusive recovery must address racial inequities and promote the upward economic mobility of immigrant and refugee professionals, building on the talents and skills of immigrants and refugees and recognizing the critical contributions of international students. In January 2021, WES presented the Biden-Harris administration with a roadmap for reform. This roadmap proposes five strategies to ensure effective economic integration, outlining key actions the Biden-Harris administration should prioritize within its first 100 days in office.

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Credential Evaluations

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IMPRINT Membership

Become an IMPRINT Coalition member to join a national coalition hosted by World Education Services (WES) that supports national, state, and local efforts to advance equitable and inclusive policies and practices that break down barriers to upward economic mobility for immigrants and refugees with international credentials. At a pivotal moment, this growing network of organizations is actively promoting career pathways for immigrants and refugees seeking to use their international credentials.

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IMPRINT Policy Tracker

The IMPRINT coalition’s policy tracker monitors state and federal policies that create pathways to employment and educational opportunities for immigrants and refugees and other displaced people in the U.S. The policy tracker supports the efforts of advocates, policymakers, and practitioners working to promote the economic inclusion of internationally trained immigrants and refugees.

To Get Started:

You can filter the policies on the map by state, topic, and year by using the drop-down menus above the map. Results appear in the table below the map, where you can hover over the descriptions to read more about policies and access corresponding links. For more information, please contact us at [email protected].

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World Education Services Releases Recommendations for Biden-Harris Administration to Ensure an Equitable and Inclusive Economy

New York, NY—(Jan 14, 2021)- On January 14, 2021, World Education Services (WES) released its recommendations for the Biden-Harris administration to advance the economic integration of internationally trained immigrants and refugees and international students in the United States. Titled Pathways for an Equitable and Inclusive Recovery for Immigrants, Refugees, and International Students, the road map for reform proposes strategies to ensure effective economic integration, outlining five key actions the Biden-Harris administration should prioritize within its first 100 days in office.

At this pivotal moment in the U.S., an inclusive recovery must address racial inequities and promote the upward economic mobility of immigrant and refugee professionals, building on the talents and skills of immigrants and refugees and recognizing the critical contributions of international students. According to the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), an estimated two million immigrants and refugees who hold bachelor’s degrees or higher are either underemployed or unemployed. Of these individuals, 263,000 have health degrees earned outside the U.S. At the same time, the number of new international students in the U.S. declined for the fourth consecutive year.

The Biden-Harris administration should take the following bold actions to address this significant underutilization of immigrant and refugee talent in the U.S. and to create pathways for international students to study and work in the U.S.:

  • Create a White House Office for New Americans.
  • Invest in proven workforce development, English language learning, and adult education models.
  • Build career pathways and reduce barriers to licensure for immigrant and refugee professionals.
  • Revitalize the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program and welcome refugees into an inclusive economy.
  • Revive the reputation of the U.S. as the leading destination for international students.

WES looks forward to working with the Biden-Harris administration to ensure an equitable and inclusive economy.

Read the policy recommendations here.

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Impact Investee Partners

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About WES

We are a non-profit organization dedicated to helping international students and professionals achieve their educational and professional goals in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1974, we evaluate and advocate for the recognition of international education qualifications.

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WES Gateway Overview

The WES Gateway Program assesses the educational credentials of individuals who, as a result of adverse circumstances in their country of education, have limited proof of their academic achievements.

WES works with these partners to identify qualified individuals educated in Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iraq, Syria, Türkiye, Ukraine, and Venezuela as participants in the Gateway Program.

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IMPRINT Coalition

Based at WES, IMPRINT is a national coalition working to advance public policies and promising models that support the economic inclusion of immigrants and refugees who hold international credentials in the U.S.

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Office of New Americans Network

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Grantee Partners

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World Education Services Submits Public Comment Opposing Proposed Rule Setting Time Limits on International Student Visas 

New York, NY—(October 27, 2020)- On October 26, World Education Services (WES) submitted a public comment in opposition to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) proposed regulation Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media to set fixed periods on the length of time international students can remain in the United States, arguing that the proposed rule would place an unnecessary and harmful burden on international students, higher education institutions, and the U.S. economy.

The proposed policy would impose a considerable financial burden on international students and make their course of study in the U.S. unpredictable. This proposal provides no guarantee that international students would be able to remain in the U.S. for the duration of their academic program, fails to provide international students sufficient time to complete degrees in many academic programs, and usurps the role of academic institutions to provide their students with academic oversight. In addition, the two-year time limit on visas for students from countries DHS has designated as having more than a 10 percent visa overstay rate would disproportionately impact students from Africa.

In its public comment, WES states that DHS has not provided a compelling reason for setting fixed time periods for student visas. WES makes the case that such a rule would have a devastating impact on the ability of the U.S. to attract talent from around the world, a ramification of which includes the loss of billions of dollars that international students contribute to the U.S. economy each year.

Read the full comment below.


October 26, 2020

 

Sharon Hageman
Acting Regulatory Unit Chief, Office of Policy and Planning
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
500 12th Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20536

Re: DHS Docket No. ICEB-2019-0006-0001

World Education Services (WES) submits this comment in response to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media, published in the Federal Register on September 25, 2020.

WES is a 501(c)3 non-profit social enterprise dedicated to helping international students, immigrants, and refugees achieve their educational and workplace goals in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1974, WES evaluates and advocates for the recognition of international education qualifications, supports the integration of immigrants and refugees into the workforce, and provides philanthropic funding to immigrant- and refugee-serving organizations. Over more than 45 years, WES has provided credential evaluations to nearly three million individuals from around the globe.

WES urges DHS to withdraw the above-referenced proposed regulation, which would unduly burden higher education institutions and international students across the U.S. The COVID-19 pandemic has strained international students and academic institutions to an unprecedented degree. Establishing new regulations while students and educational institutions are already under such tremendous pressure is unnecessary and misguided.

Background

DHS’ proposed rule seeks to limit the length of time that international students and other temporary visa holders can remain in the U.S. The rule would change existing admission periods for international students and certain other non-immigrant visa holders from “duration of status” to fixed time periods. For international students, the rule proposes setting the authorized admission and extension periods as the length of the student’s specific educational program, not to exceed a two- or four-year period plus a period of 30 days following their program end date.

Although the proposed rule would permit certain students to seek an extension of status (EOS) beyond a two- or four-year admission period, it is unclear when or how such extensions would be granted. According to the proposal, students seeking a program extension must first request the extension from a designated school official (DSO). If the DSO recommends the extension, the student must then apply for an EOS from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Overall, the proposal would create a lengthy and opaque adjudication process for students and academic institutions.

In addition, the proposed rule subjects some students to a limited two-year visa. To remain in the U.S. beyond the two-year period, students would be required to submit applications to USCIS for an extension of their stay. Those subject to the two-year limit include students born in or citizens of countries designated by the U.S. as state sponsors of terrorism or countries with a visa overstay rate of greater than 10 percent. The list of affected countries disproportionately impacts African nations and students. Others affected by the proposed rule’s two-year limitation include international students attending unaccredited schools or schools that do not participate in the E-Verify program. Students participating in English language programs would also be limited to one lifetime two-year admission period.

DHS also proposes to limit a student’s period of stay to a maximum of two years based on certain other factors determined by DHS to be in the national interest. For example, the proposed rule, citing national security concerns, states that DHS could limit the length of admission of students enrolled in specific coursework, such as nuclear science. In addition to the maximum stay requirements proposed under the rule, DHS proposes to limit the number of times a student can change programs within an educational level.

With respect to work authorization, the proposed rule does not provide an automatic extension of employment authorization while an application for an extension of stay is pending for students interning for an international organization, engaging in curricular practical training (CPT), or engaging in pre- or post-completion optional practical training (OPT). Under the proposed rule, CPT may not be granted for a period exceeding a student’s fixed date of admission; a student cannot engage in CPT until USCIS approves a timely filed EOS request.

I. The proposed rule would harm international students, academic institutions, and the economy.

The proposed rule would have a devastating impact on the ability of the U.S. to attract talent from around the world, and would undoubtedly exacerbate the current decreases in international student enrollment across the country.[1] Such steep declines would lead to significant financial ramifications for higher education institutions and the U.S. economy. The Bipartisan Policy Center estimates that international students contribute approximately $20 billion in tuition and fees to U.S. academic institutions each year.[2] According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, international students contributed $44.7 billion to the U.S. economy in 2018.[3]

The proposed policy would also impose considerable financial burdens on international students and make their course of study in the U.S. unpredictable. According to DHS estimates, the additional costs of each extension of stay application could total more than $1,000. Furthermore, U.S. higher education institutions would be unable to provide incoming or prospective international students with assurances that they would be able to remain in the U.S. for the duration of their academic program. As a result, the U.S. could lose a critical pipeline of talented students.

The proposed regulation would have a negative economic impact on academic institutions and would divert needed institutional resources to comply with a rule that offers no demonstrable benefits. DHS estimates that training and implementation of the proposed rule would cost higher education institutions hundreds of millions of dollars over the next decade. However, these estimates significantly undervalue the actual costs of the proposed regulation. For example, DHS’ cost estimates do not account for the staffing required to advise students and update internal systems and processes, nor do they account for the anticipated loss in tuition revenue from projected declines in international student enrollments. At a time when academic institutions already face significant revenue losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these additional compliance costs coupled with a projected decrease in international student enrollment would have devastating financial consequences for the U.S. higher education system.

II.DHS has not demonstrated a compelling need for the proposed rule, nor that it is necessary to ensure compliance with visa regulations.

Through the existing Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which tracks higher education institutions and international students, DHS can monitor detailed information on students during their time in the U.S. However, the proposed rule would require students to provide USCIS information that higher education institutions already provide through SEVIS. In addition, DHS presently has the authority under current regulations to request additional information from higher education institutions to ensure compliance with visa requirements. Accordingly, the extension of stay process proposed under this rule is an unnecessary and inefficient use of government resources.

DHS has not demonstrated a legitimate need for the proposed two-year admission limits for international students from nations that DHS has designated as having more than 10 percent visa overstay rates—the vast majority of which are African nations. DHS relies on flawed data to justify the proposed two-year maximum stay. Specifically, the data include not only estimates of visa overstay rates, but also estimates of individuals whom DHS could not identify as having departed the U.S.,[4] thus skewing the visa overstay rate.

Lastly, the proposed rule seeks to limit the amount of time international students who attend institutions that do not participate in the E-Verify program can remain in the U.S. The E-Verify program, which has been widely criticized for its error rates and for misidentifying eligible workers as ineligible to work in the U.S., should not form the basis for limiting international students to two-year visas.[5]

III. The proposed rule usurps the role of educational institutions in academic decision-making.

DHS proposes to eliminate the “normal progress” standard with respect to seeking a program extension. The proposed new standard for requesting an extension of status for additional time to complete a program would require: (1) compelling academic reasons; (2) a documented illness or medical condition; or (3) exceptional circumstances. This proposal would encroach on the autonomy of higher education institutions to determine whether and when to grant students additional time to complete a degree. Immigration officers are not qualified to make assessments of students’ academic progress. Furthermore, the “compelling academic reasons” standard is not clearly defined by the proposed rule, giving the federal government unfettered discretion to determine whether a student has made adequate academic progress, which could lead to inconsistent and unfair outcomes for students across the U.S.

IV. The proposed fixed periods for student admissions do not conform to academic programs and fail to address students’ reliance interests on current policy.

The proposed rule fundamentally alters the agreement between students and institutions midway through the program and fails to provide international students sufficient time to complete degrees in many academic programs, including doctoral programs, surgery residencies, neuroscience postdoctoral programs, joint degree programs, bachelor’s/master’s programs. According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), bachelor’s students needed more than four years to complete their degrees in the 2015/16 academic year.[6] Similarly, many students interested in acquiring practical experience through the OPT or CPT programs would be unable to do so without approved extensions from USCIS.

V. The proposed rule would exacerbate existing processing delays at USCIS.

The proposed regulation is unworkable because of the uncertainty it creates and the lengthy processing times for extension of stay applications. Currently, extension requests for international student visas can take more than seven months to process. According to DHS estimates the proposed rule would require USCIS to process hundreds of thousands of extension of stay requests for international students each year. This volume of work would dramatically increase waiting times worsening existing backlogs at USCIS, and resulting in uncertainty, disruption, and harm to students and their academic institutions Increasing the number of applications USCIS must adjudicate when the agency is already facing massive backlogs and a severe budget crisis would further undermine the agency’s mission.

Conclusion

WES urges DHS to withdraw the proposed regulation which would have a detrimental effect on students, academic institutions, and communities. Instead, WES recommends that current regulations relating to duration of status for international students remain in effect. Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media.

Sincerely,

 

World Education Services

 

[1] See National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s Monthly Update on Higher Education Enrollment (October 2020), available at: https://nscresearchcenter.org/stay-informed/.

[2] See Bipartisan Policy Center, Barring International Students Could Cost Universities Billions (June 2020), available at: https://bipartisanpolicy.org/blog/barring-international-students-could-cost-universities-billions/.

[3] See Institute of International Education, Number of International Students in the United States Hits All-Time High (November 2019), available at: https://www.iie.org/Why-IIE/Announcements/2019/11/Number-of-International-Students-in-the-United-States-Hits-All-Time-High.

[4] See National Foundation for American Policy, Policy Brief: International Students and DHS Data (September 2020), available at: https://nfap.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Analysis-of-DHS-Data-on-International-Students.NFAP-Policy-Brief.September-2020-1.pdf.

[5] See American Immigration Council, Government Agencies and E-Verify: Erroneous Results and Misuse Cost Workers Their Jobs(2012), available at: https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/government-agencies-and-e-verify-erroneous-results-and-misuse-cost-workers-their-jobs; Cato Institute, E‐​Verify Has Delayed or Cost Half a Million Jobs for Legal Workers (2017), available at: https://www.cato.org/blog/e-verify-has-held-or-cost-jobs-half-million-legal-workers.

[6] See National Center for Education Statistics, Median and percentage distribution of number of months from first enrollment to bachelor’s degree completion among 2015–16 first-time bachelor’s degree recipients, by demographic and enrollment characteristics: 2017, available at: https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=569.

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About WES

WES is a 501(c)3 non-profit social enterprise dedicated to helping international students and professionals achieve their educational and workplace goals in the United States and Canada. Over the course of more than 45 years, WES has provided credential evaluations to nearly three million individuals from around the globe.

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The WES Global Talent Bridge COVID-19 Resource List covers a range of pertinent resources in the field of skilled immigrant integration, including funding resources for immigrant service providers, Adult Education/Workforce resources, updates on immigrant and healthcare research, and government actions/policy updates. We will keep this list current, so be sure to check back often for the latest information.

If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for additional resources, we would love to hear from you!

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Refugee agency (UNHCR) have temporarily suspended refugee resettlement travel  

International Rescue Committee (IRC) discourages blanket policies preventing people from seeking asylum and urges resettlement countries to ensure measures restricting entrance are temporary, proportional to public health needs, and not otherwise different than restrictions for people who are not refugees

On April 3, 2020 Representatives Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26) introduced H.R. 6432, legislation to address the physician shortage in the United States by taking the first step in removing unnecessary barriers for doctors trained abroad who now reside in the U.S.  

CO Executive order No. 2020 038, April 15, 2020, in which Colorado Gov. Polis authorized creating pathways for internationally trained nurses and doctors to provide healthcare services in response to the pandemic

MA – The Baker administration announced several executive orders to support the health care workforce and expand its capacity, including easing licensing restrictions for internationally educated doctors 

MI – On April 26, 2020, Gov. Whitmer issued an emergency order that provides for temporary licensing of individuals with international healthcare experience and education in a variety of health care professions. Executive Order 2020-61 permits the licensure of physicians, physician assistants, RNs, LPNs, and respiratory therapists licensed in another country who have at least five years of practice experience and who have practiced for at least one year in the last five years

NJ – Executive order No. 112, April 1, 2020, in which New Jersey Gov. Murphy authorized immigrant doctors licensed in another country to practice medicine in the state, allowing state officials to grant temporary licenses to doctors who have a medical license in another country. New Jersey also passed legislation, S-2333/AA-3910, on April 13, 2020, which was signed by Gov. Murphy on April 14, 2020. The new law delegates to the director of the state licensing department the ability to temporarily suspend licensing requirements in all licensed health professions during the pendency of the emergency  

NY – Executive order, No. 202.10, March 23, 2020, in which Gov. Cuomo temporarily modified requirements for graduates of foreign medical schools to practice medicine in NY state 

NV  Nevada Gov. Sisolak issued an executive order authorizing the waiver of licensing requirements for a wide range of medical services providers with training from another country, including doctors, nurses, and behavioral health professionals

IMPRINT’s Policy Map now features “COVID-19 Emergency Response” as a searchable issue area highlighting executive orders authorizing internationally trained healthcare workers who are not yet licensed in the U.S. to join the fight against COVID-19 in certain states

We Speak, We LEAD is a free online learning program from New Women New Yorkers for immigrant women, focusing on workforce development and professional English skills aquisition through interactive workshops and personalized support

As demand for contact tracers increases throughout the U.S., Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health offers a free online course to train individuals on the fundamentals of contact tracing

The Emergency Fund for Story County is a collaborative fund created for immigrant residents who require assistance with rent, utilities, and other basic needs

Immigrant Connections provides resources for English Learner (EL) and immigrant parents to support them as they help their children complete school assignments and online learning. The resources include videos, clips, articles, toolkits

Switchboard has released multiple blog posts on topics related to the COVID-19 crisis, including making remote work successful, helping refugee clients navigate economic hardship; using virtual job readiness resources; helping clients cope; and getting started with video remote interpretation

Upwardly Global has a list of national and state-level programs to connect and support immigrant and refugee professionals with government, nonprofit, and other services that can supplement family income, nutrition, healthcare, and other needs 

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is seeking responses from immigrants and refugees who have an international degree or certification in the healthcare field and are now interested in assisting in the COVID-19 emergency response  

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has print resources free for download to support COVID-19 recommendations in 21 languages 

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement “COVID-19 Resources” includes a link to Multilingual Resources from Switchboard 

The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division’s COVID-19 and the American Workplace resource page has employee rights fact sheets in 10 languages 

The COVID-19 Health Literacy Project created in collaboration with Harvard Health Publishing provides fact sheets in 30+ languages 

Local non-profits such as the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) are compiling web-based resource toolkits with a range of information for constituents. Check to see if there is an NPNA member organization in your area with similar resources 

The World Health Organization (WHO) provides an introductory video course, available in multiple languages, with an overview of emerging respiratory viruses, including novel coronaviruses, and strategies to communicate risk and engage communities to detect, prevent and respond to the emergence of a novel respiratory virus 

Whitetulip Health Foundation (WHF) is asking internationally trained healthcare professionals who are not yet licensed in the U.S. to fill out a questionnaire if they would like to assist in the COVID-19 emergency response. Their Emergency Financial Assistance Program for Internationally Trained Healthcare Professionals during COVID-19 Outbreak is accepting applications until April 30, 2020. It is not necessary to be a member of the foundation to apply for the funding: rather, applicants need to elect to be mentees on their application 

Betancourt Macias Family Scholarship Foundation offers COVID-19 emergency funding for undocumented and mixed-status families 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, searchable by state

One Fair Wage offers temporary cash gifts for service workers as funding becomes available 

Refugee and Immigrant Fund (RIF) has emergency cash assistance grants for asylum seekers. Due to the number of responses, new applications are currently not being accepted. Check back for updates 

The Resilient Rapid Response Initiative through Welcoming America will assist local government and nonprofit members with immediate needs in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. This will include grants, resources, trainings, and a community of practice for members to exchange knowledge and collaborate. Grant applications are due May 15th and notifications of decisions will be announced by May 22nd

NonProfit Quarterly provides an analysis of how nonprofits can utilize the funding available through the CARES Act  

The Council of Non Profits provides a list of loans available for nonprofits in the CARES Act, including links to applications 

Economic Injury Disaster Loans by the Federal government through the U.S. Small Business Administration provide resources for small business relief through $10,000 grants and/or low-interest loans available to small businesses. Loans may become eligible for forgiveness if small businesses are able to bring back their workforce following the COVID-19 pandemic and meet additional requirements outlined by the Small Business Administration 

The CDP COVID-19 Response Fund (Disaster Philanthropy) will focus on supporting nonprofit organizations working directly to respond to the pandemic among the most vulnerable populations to help build their capacity for response. These will include social service organizations focused on supporting hourly wage earners, workers in the gig economy, immigrant/New American populations, older adults, people with disabilities and other communities vulnerable to the physical health, and the mental health and economic impacts of the pandemic 

Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is dedicating $50 million to respond to COVID-19 through their Coronavirus Emergency Support GrantsOrganizations in NY state may submit proposals for projects related to the COVID-19 pandemic via the online portal, open through June 3, 2020 

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This Cato Institute articles identifies the crucial role immigrant health care workers provide to the health care system

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This opinion piece from the Sun Sentinel discusses the need for further integration of internationally educated healthcare professionals to fill current healthcare shortages, specifically referencing brain waste

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Brooking’s Institute, “Don’t Forget to Thank the Immigrants Too” discusses the contributions of immigrants across sectors and industries, highlighting the role immigrants are playing in helping humanity during the COVID-19 crisis and advocating for an ease in regulations preventing immigrants from utilizing their skills 

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Migration Policy Institute (MPI)“As U.S. Health-Care System Buckles under Pandemic, Immigrant & Refugee Professionals Could Represent a Critical Resource” gives commentary on the role of immigrant healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 crisis including some valuable data about the underutilization rates of their skills and talents 

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Center for American Progress (CAP), “Removing Barriers for Immigrant Medical Professionals Is Critical To Help Fight Coronavirus” highlights unique ways that state and federal stakeholders can lift barriers and enable immigrant and internationally trained healthcare professionals to work in their field in the COVID-19 crisis. It encourages USCIS and the U.S. Dept. of State to remove roadblocks, such as visa and interview requirements, and ease residency requirements to allow more immigrant doctors to practice 

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The order, issued on April 1, authorizes the Division of Consumer Affairs to grant temporary licenses to doctors licensed outside the U.S. to allow them to join the frontline fight against COVID-19. These doctors will join the nearly 30% of licensed physicians nationwide who are immigrants, refugees, and asylees.

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About WES

WES is a 501(c)3 non-profit social enterprise dedicated to helping international students and professionals achieve their educational and workplace goals in the United States and Canada. Over the course of more than 45 years, WES has provided credential evaluations to nearly three million individuals from around the globe.

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The first two projects were a mentorship program that paired WES volunteers with skilled immigrants seeking to obtain professional employment in the U.S., and a video project, Stories of Immigrants, featuring immigrants’ speaking about their experiences of coming to the U.S., the journeys they took once here, and the struggles they encountered along the way.

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FAQ

No, WES does not provide language translations. WES requires official word-for-word translations of documents in other languages, which WES evaluators verify in the course of credential evaluations.

An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) takes about thirty-five (35) business days after we receive, review, and accept all  required documents and fees. A Document-by-Document or Course-by-Course Evaluation takes about seven (7) business days after we receive, review, and accept all your required documents and fees. NOTE: A credential evaluation may take longer if additional verification or information is required.

 

In most cases, the candidate pays WES directly. Academic institutions and other organizations may also pay for WES evaluation reports.

Our Institutional Relations Department is on call to answer questions and provide information and assistance about WES evaluation reports. Please Contact Us and someone will be in touch.

Each WES evaluation report contains information that candidates can use to contact WES. We review and provide written responses to all questions from candidates.

Completed WES evaluation reports are sent to the candidate, as well as any institution or organization the candidate has designated as a recipient.

If any document submitted for credential evaluation is confirmed to be inauthentic, WES cancels the application and notifies the candidate, as well as any institution or organization the candidate has designated as a WES evaluation report recipient.

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Carleton University – Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs (FGPA)

Carleton University – Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs (FGPA)

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WES Mariam Assefa Fund FAQs

World Education Services (WES) has long pursued the mission of enabling individuals to fully utilize their education and talent. The WES Mariam Assefa Fund offers a new way for the organization to achieve this mission. The fund will be used to support select organizations that are working to accelerate progress in immigrant economic integration, spur innovation in the delivery of workforce development interventions, and permanently dismantle the barriers that hinder economic advancement among immigrants and refugees.

The WES Mariam Assefa Fund has identified several priorities to guide its efforts in 2019 and 2020. In the near-term, the fund is focused on supporting organizations and solutions working to address issues in five areas of immigrant integration and workforce development:

  • Skill-building: Solutions that equip immigrants and refugees with the skills to succeed in the workplace of today and tomorrow
  • Employer talent practices: Initiatives that encourage employers to tap into immigrant and refugee talent
  • Innovation and experimentation: Innovations that can accelerate scale and deepen the impact of immigrant integration and workforce development interventions
  • Leadership and capacity-building: Initiatives that build leadership capacity within immigrant and refugee communities
  • Ecosystem development: Approaches to grow the ecosystem of supportive funders, policymakers, educators, employers and service providers

The fund is initially focused on grantmaking. In the future, we may make program-related investments as well.

The Fund is focused on advancing the economic and workforce integration of immigrants and refugees. As such, we do not offer scholarships or other resources to support international students.

 

We identify potential grantees who can contribute expertise, learnings, and impact on the five core areas of exploration outlined above. All final-stage applicants must undergo financial, organizational, and programmatic due diligence.

The fund primarily supports entities classed by the Internal Revenue Service as tax-exempt, non-profit organizations. For-profit social enterprises may be eligible for a grant if the nature of their work clearly contributes to the charitable goals of the Fund. The geographic focus of the fund’s grantmaking is currently the United States. We are exploring opportunities for grantmaking in Canada at a later date.

Grantees were selected based on several factors including organizational track record, ability to generate learnings and new ideas to inform the field, and the potential impact of the proposed project.

The WES Mariam Assefa awarded its first round of grants to the five following organizations:

Click on the links above to read more about each grantee and their projects.

For its first grants grantmaking, the fund focused on organizations working in these three core areas:

  • Shifting employer engagement to encourage employers to hire immigrant and refugee talent
  • Building leadership capacity in immigrant and refugee communities
  • Creating innovative finance solutions that invest in immigrants, refugees, and their communities

The fund does not currently accept unsolicited proposals. However, we deeply value innovative ideas generated by organizations and practitioners in the field and will periodically issue calls for projects aligned with our areas of focus. Any future open calls for proposals will be shared through our distribution list, so please sign up to stay updated.

 

Please join our distribution list! We will share updates on funding priorities, partnership opportunities, learnings from our work, and more.

Please email [email protected].

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GTB Engage

A WES credential evaluation is a key step in understanding the educational backgrounds of candidates educated abroad. WES helps academic institutions, professional licensing bodies and employers by evaluating degrees and diplomas earned abroad to determine their Canadian equivalencies.

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Appendix J: How to Avoid Plagiarism and Patchwriting

Understanding and Avoiding Plagiarism and Patchwriting 

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Skilled Immigrant Integration Program – OLD

Since 1974, WES has been committed to the success of the international students, immigrants and refugees who look to the United States as a place to fulfill their dreams. With a staff that represents 37 nations and speaks more than 40 languages, WES ...

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Download the WES Mobile App

We are a non-profit organization dedicated to helping international students and professionals achieve their educational and professional goals in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1974, we evaluate and advocate for the recognition of international education qualifications.

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College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario (TCM)

College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario (TCM)

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Integrating With Slate

The AccessWES® Slate integration automatically uploads completed WES credential evaluations directly into your existing Slate system, saving valuable time and administrative resources.

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13. Canadian Terms

Consult this section when writing for a chiefly Canadian audience.

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Appendix I: Writing About Immigration

The following guidance is provided to help those who write for WES to write accurately and inclusively about immigration and related issues.

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Credential Evaluation Requirements

Alberta Institute of Agrologists

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About the WES Gateway Program

The WES Gateway Program assesses the educational credentials of individuals who have been displaced as a result of adverse circumstances in their country and have limited proof of academic achievements.

A WES Gateway Program credential evaluation report can help eligible individuals continue their education, become licensed in their field, or take the next step on their career pathway in Canada. The report can be accepted by higher education institutions, regulatory bodies, and employers.

WES works with designated partners to identify individuals who are eligible for the Gateway Program. The program is available to individuals educated in Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iraq, Syria, Türkiye, Ukraine, and Venezuela, who meet program requirements.

To learn more about the program’s impact, read stories from individuals who have used a WES Gateway Program credential evaluation report to pursue their academic and professional goals. For more information and full program eligibility criteria, read our frequently asked questions.

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for OIQ (Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec)

Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec

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World Education Services’ New Research Highlights Challenging Political Environment for International Student Recruitment

NEW YORK, June 18, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — New research by World Education Services finds that the U.S. political environment is the biggest challenge to recruiting international students to college and university campuses. In response, most institutions have changed or are planning to ...

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the Ontario College of Trades

Ontario College of Trades

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WES Annual Letter

In 2021, WES completed nearly 500,000 credential evaluation applications, the most ever in our 48 years of operation. Meanwhile, our network of Social Impact collaborators—including non-profit and grassroots organizations, employers, government, grantee, and impact investee partners—grew to more than 300. This work, together with our ongoing investments in transforming our business and technology, meaningfully improved outcomes for international students, immigrants, and refugees seeking access to equitable academic, workplace, and economic opportunities in the United States and Canada.

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Computer Science and Technology Related Fields

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Agricultural and Agrology Related Fields

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Business Related Fields

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Computer Science and Technology Related Fields

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Dentistry and Dental Technology Related Fields

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Education Related Fields

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Engineering Related Fields

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Health Sciences Related Fields

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Law and Legal Related Fields

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Medicine

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Medical Technology Related Fields

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Social Work

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Veterinary Medicine and Technology Related Fields

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Agricultural and Agrology Related Fields

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Business Related Fields

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Medical Technology Related Fields

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Health Sciences Related Fields

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Engineers Nova Scotia

Engineers Nova Scotia

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Accounting and Finance Related Fields

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WES Global Talent Bridge® – U.S. – OLD

WES Global Talent Bridge is dedicated to helping internationally trained immigrants and refugees fully utilize their talents and education in Canada and the United States. We join with institutional partners, community-based organizations, and policymakers to help immigrants and refugees use their skills, leverage their training, and achieve their academic and professional goals. The results of our work in communities throughout the United States are best illustrated by the Skilled Immigrant Integration Program.

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World Education Services Pilots Blockchain-Based Digital Badges for Internationally Educated Students and Professionals

NEW YORK, NY (GLOBE NEWSWIRE – May 30, 2018) — World Education Services (WES) has announced plans to offer blockchain-based digital badges to qualified WES clients. WES, which evaluates international education qualifications and advocates for their recognition in the U.S. and Canada, is offering the badges through Credly, a leading provider of online credentials.

“WES has provided internationally educated individuals with high-quality credential evaluation reports for 44 years,” said Mariam Assefa, executive director of WES. “Digital badges are a natural extension of that work. They allow holders to make their international educational qualifications both visible and verifiable online, and to share them when and how they want. Blockchain is an added value. It allows us to ensure the integrity of WES-issued educational verifications even online.”

The blockchain that backs WES digital badges is similar to the technology behind Bitcoin. It records and encrypts “blocks” of information on a digital timeline—“the chain” in blockchain.

Multiple security mechanisms protect these blockchain-based digital badges. For instance, one block of information cannot be altered without altering the rest of the chain; the use of cryptographic hashes means no personally identifiable information is recorded to the blockchain; and distributed storage on a decentralized network minimizes hacking threats.

WES digital badges, which can be displayed on social media platforms such as LinkedIn, will enable holders to provide secure, one-click verification of their internationally earned educational credentials to employers and others.

“As individuals and organizations leverage digital credentials to unlock opportunities, blockchain brings another, important layer of validation and trust that is especially relevant to international audiences,” said Jonathan Finkelstein, Founder & CEO of Credly.

WES is issuing the first set of digital badges to a limited number of clients as part of a small pilot program. The goal of the pilot is to better understand the needs of badge holders, employers, admissions personnel, and others. WES will make badges available to a broader set of clients after completion of the pilot.

About WES

World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit organization, founded in 1974. WES evaluates and advocates for the recognition of international education qualifications in the U.S. and Canada, and has provided evaluations to almost two million individuals worldwide. WES credential evaluations are recognized by 2,500 academic, business, and governmental institutions around the globe.

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business

University of Chicago Booth School of Business

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Shamira Madhany Joins World Education Services as Managing Director of the Organization’s Operations in Canada

TORONTO – (April 18, 2018)  Shamira Madhany will join World Education Services (WES) as Managing Director, Canada, and Deputy Executive Director, WES, beginning on July 9th. Madhany comes to WES after more than two decades of government service in Ontario, most recently as ...

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Shamira Madhany Joins World Education Services as Managing Director of the Organization’s Operations in Canada

TORONTO, April 18, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Shamira Madhany will join World Education Services (WES) as Managing Director, Canada, and Deputy Executive Director, WES, beginning on July 9th. Madhany comes to WES after more than two decades of government service in Ontario, most ...

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The AccessWES® Advantage

AccessWES® is the secure online delivery system we use to send WES Evaluation Reports to academic institutions and other recognized organizations.

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Tim Owen Retiring as Deputy Executive Director of World Education Services, and Director of the Organization’s Operations in Canada

TORONTO, Jan. 18, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — After almost 18 years as head of World Education Services’ Canadian Office, Tim Owen announced his retirement, effective in May of 2018. Owen will continue to serve as Director of WES Canada and Deputy Director of ...

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Board of Trustees

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Eastern Michigan University

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario

College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Harvard Business School (HBS)

Harvard Business School (HBS)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for New Brunswick

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AccessWES Demo

Register for AccessWES®

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New Research from World Education Services Shows Career Outcomes for Current International Students and Alumni

NEW YORK, NY (GLOBE NEWSWIRE – Oct. 17, 2017) New research from World Education Services (WES) finds that 89 percent of international alumni and 92 percent of current international students believe their U.S. education is a good investment. However, many face difficulties navigating visa authorization, gaining work experience, and finding jobs in their home countries or the U.S. after graduation.

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CPA Western School of Business (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia)

CPA Western School of Business (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia)

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Board of Trustees

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Carnegie Mellon University – Heinz College

Carnegie Mellon University - Heinz College

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for University of Regina – Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR)

University of Regina – Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR)

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WES Spearheads Efforts to Help Refugees Have Their Educational Credentials Recognized

Initiative Addresses the Concern That a Lack of Educational Credential Recognition Is a Major Barrier to Employment and Income Stability Among Refugees TORONTO, ON–(May 18, 2016) – After years of enduring civil war, more than 25,000 Syrian refugees recently arrived in Canada and are dreaming about a successful life in their new home. Like thousands of refugees before them, they will struggle to reach their full potential if their educational credentials are not recognized. Without appropriate credential recognition, these individuals can find themselves underemployed, underpaid, and unable to achieve their aspirations or meet their potential in society.

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Research Topics

Browse research reports and other research-based documents from the WES Research team and WES Global Talent Bridge.

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Resources for Journalists

We want to help you cover the latest issues in higher education. Our experts can speak with you on topics of international student mobility, trends in higher education, skilled immigration in the U.S. and Canada, and credential evaluation and verification to avoid fraud.

Send us an email at [email protected]

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WES Advisor Blog

Trusted Advice for Academic and Professional Success

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Events

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Advisor E-guides

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Note to Physicians and Pharmacists:

Principal applicants intending to apply as a Physician/Specialist Physician (NOC 3111 or 3112) must be assessed by the Medical Council of Canada. Individuals intending to apply as a Pharmacist (NOC 3131) must have an assessment from the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada. For more Information for Physicians and Pharmacists, please visit Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

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World Education Services Releases New Research into International Students’ Experiences Working with Education Agents

NEW YORK, NY—(Marketwired – Jun 6, 2017)  New research from World Education Service (WES) indicates that two thirds of U.S.-bound international students who work with education agents use independent rather than institution-sponsored agents. The remaining third—those who work with sponsored agents—often pay agent ...

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Toronto Montessori Institute (TMI)

Toronto Montessori Institute (TMI)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the University of British Columbia Internationally Educated Midwives Bridging Program (UBCIEMBP)

University of British Columbia Internationally Educated Midwives Bridging Program (UBCIEMBP)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Saskatchewan Professional Teachers Regulatory Board (SPTRB)

Saskatchewan Professional Teachers Regulatory Board (SPTRB)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists (SIA)

Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists (SIA)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the Professional Certification Unit (PCU) of Manitoba Education and Training

Professional Certification Unit (PCU) of Manitoba Education and Training

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Federation of Optometric Regulatory Authorities of Canada (FORAC)

Federation of Optometric Regulatory Authorities of Canada (FORAC)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Engineers Prince Edward Island (EPEI)

Engineers Prince Edward Island (EPEI)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Chartered Professional Accountants Atlantic School of Business (CPA ASB)

Chartered Professional Accountants Atlantic School of Business (CPA ASB)

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Contact Us | Institutions

   

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WES Regional Directors

Institutional Client Relations staff are the liaisons between WES and our partners. We serve in an advisory capacity when questions arise about international academic institutions and credentials, provide best practices in admissions, licensure and hiring policies, and offer solutions to your unique challenges. We also promote the recognition of international academic credentials via meetings and presentations.

Please contact your Institutional Client Relations contact at WES for any assistance.

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Linking Your Website to WES

Adding a direct link to WES from your own website is fast, easy and lets internationally educated candidates know they need to have their academic credentials evaluated in a fair and accurate way. To do so, simply copy the HTML code provided below (for either a text link or a WES logo) and then insert it into the appropriate page on your website.

Contact us if you need help.

 

How to insert a text link into your website:

 

Example: World Education Services

Copy the code below:

<a href="https://www.wes.org/ca">World Education Services</a>

 

How to insert the WES logo into your website:

Example: 

Copy the code below:

<a href="https://www.wes.org"><img src="https://www.wes.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/link-to-WES_logo-e1492612295951.jpg" alt="World Education Services" /></a>

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Our Leadership Team

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Tools for Partners

WES is committed to the success of both its partners and the internationally educated candidates they serve. We offer the following free tools to streamline the international admissions process, helping partners achieve their goals.

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Required Documents

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Partner Events

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) Graduate School

University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) School of Graduate Studies

SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)

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Other

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Other

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Partner WES iGPA FAQs

The WES iGPA Calculator converts grades from a non-US grading scale into US equivalents and calculates GPAs on a 4.0 grading scale.

Anyone considering the qualifications of internationally-educated candidates, including: Undergraduate Admissions, Graduate Admissions, Scholarship Committees, Financial Aid Offices, Athletic Departments, Study Abroad Offices, Transfer Credit Analysts, Human Resources Offices.

  1. Select the country of education from the drop-down menu. You may also enter the student/applicant’s name.
  2. Select a grading scale where applicable.
  3. Select whether the school year was divided into semesters or years from the next drop-down menu and enter the number of semesters/years you will be calculating. Hit the “Continue” button.
  4. A course worksheet opens up and after entering the courses, home credit and home grade client clicks a submit button and database instantly calculates the grades and GPA into U.S. equivalent.
  5. By tagging specific courses the GPA calculator will calculate a second GPA simultaneously (Major, last 2-years, etc).
  6. Click “Get GPA” button for instant results.

Yes. All completed GPA calculations are archived in the history tab for retrieval or further reference. The archived calculations are also printable.

The course worksheet will reopen by clicking on the edit button. This enables the user to make any necessary changes. Click the ‘Get GPA Button” to get the revised calculation. (Note: once a new calculation is started the previous record is archived and not editable.)

Yes. You can print a GPA at the time of completion as well as from the archives in the history tab. A print icon is visible for a quick print.

The WES iGPA Calculator allows you to quickly convert grades from education systems in over 135 countries. The scales available in the tool represent the most commonly used for each available country. If you have a credential with a different grading scale and need assistance, please contact us.

Very secure. The WES iGPA is on a secure server using VeriSign 128 bit encryption security features. Users with login and password have access to only the files they work on. Only an administrator on the account can view all files.

Since the WES iGPA Calculator works via the internet (and not by downloaded software) there should be no instability to your computer. Most issues can be resolved by refreshing your browser. If you have any technical questions, please contact us.

Colleges and universities will be billed an annual subscription fee based on the number of users licenses.

  • 2 User Account for $595
  • 3 User Account for $895
  • 5 User Account for $1295
  • 8 User Account for $1995
  • Unlimited User Account for $4995

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Working Together

Since 1974, WES has been committed to the success of the international students and skilled immigrants who look to North America as a place to achieve their dreams. Academic institutions, employers, licensing bodies and government agencies rely on WES to evaluate the credentials of candidates for education and employment. WES also provides research, training and additional resources that advance the recognition of qualifications, helping credential holders gain the full benefit of their academic achievements.

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Working Together

Since 1974, WES has been committed to the success of the international students, immigrants and refugees who look to the United States as a place to fulfill their dreams. With a staff that represents 37 nations and speaks more than 40 languages, WES ...

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Education

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Professional License or Certification

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Education

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Professional License or Certification

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Our Work with the Government of Canada

Canada’s federal and provincial governments welcome skilled immigrants who will contribute to the country’s fast-growing economy. WES is proud to be recognized as an Education Credential Assessment (ECA) agency by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, which requires skilled immigrants to submit assessments of their academic credentials as part of the immigration process. This designation means our credential evaluation services are widely accepted by Canada’s government agencies, employers, universities and regulatory bodies.

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Acsenda School of Management (ASM)

Acsenda School of Management (ASM)

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Benefits for Employers

U.S. employers seeking to hire the best available talent must often screen internationally educated candidates for positions that are unregulated by national or regional licensing boards. More than 2,500 employers in the U.S. and Canada rely on WES credential evaluation reports for help. WES verifies candidates’ credentials, provides U.S. equivalencies for all academic credentials, and supports partners with the training and resources they need to ensure best practices.

WES draws on a deep well of knowledge and experience to provide credential evaluation services that streamline the hiring process and mitigate risk. We employ more than 200 credential evaluators from over 30 countries, and our evaluation database comprises more than 49,000 academic institutions, 23,000 academic credentials, and over 4,000 grading scales from around the world.

Employers who hire individuals in regulated occupations can learn about our partnerships with professional licensing and certification boards here.

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Employers

Canadian employers that screen internationally educated candidates for positions unregulated by national or provincial licensing bodies refer these individuals to WES. Our credential evaluation services mitigate risk and simplify and streamline the hiring process. We verify candidate credentials, provide Canadian equivalencies for all academic credentials, and support partners with the training and resources they need in order to ensure best practices.

WES draws on a deep well of knowledge and experience. Our evaluations database includes samples of ~28,000 credentials and 5,600 grading scales from 203 countries and territories.

Companies that employ individuals in regulated occupations can learn about our partnerships with professional licensing and certification bodies here.

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Benefits for Licensing & Certification Bodies

Occupational regulatory bodies refer internationally educated candidates to WES for our document authentication and evaluation services to mitigate risk and to simplify and streamline the screening process. We verify candidate credentials as authentic and provide Canadian equivalencies for all coursework and grades.

WES draws on a deep well of knowledge and experience to help our partners. We employ more than 200 credential evaluators from more than 30 nations, and our evaluation database includes more than 45,000 academic institutions, one million courses and 1,600 grading scales from around the world.

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Qatar University (QU)

Qatar University (QU)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Adventist University of Health Sciences (AUHS)

Adventist University of Health Sciences (AUHS)

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Contact Us | Institutional Professionals

   

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About WES

We are a non-profit organization dedicated to helping international students and professionals achieve their educational and professional goals in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1974, we evaluate and advocate for the recognition of international education qualifications.

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Benefits for Licensing & Certification Boards

Occupational regulatory boards refer foreign-educated candidates to WES for our document authentication and evaluation services to mitigate risk and to simplify and streamline the screening process. We verify candidate credentials as authentic, provide U.S. equivalencies for all coursework and grades and supply licensing boards with support, training and resources they need in order to ensure best practices.

Read More

Linking Your Website to WES

Adding a direct link to WES from your own website is fast, easy and lets internationally educated candidates know they need to have their academic credentials evaluated in a fair and accurate way. To do so, simply copy the HTML code provided below (for either a text link or a WES logo) and then insert it into the appropriate page on your website.

Read More

Required Documents

Read More

Tools for Partners

WES is committed to the success of both its partners and the internationally educated candidates they serve. We offer the following free tools to streamline the international admissions process, helping partners achieve their goals.

Read More

Research Topics

Browse research reports and other research-based documents from the WES Research team and WES Global Talent Bridge.

Read More

Credential Evaluation Requirements for the Ontario Rehabilitation Sciences Programs (ORPAS)

Ontario Rehabilitation Sciences Programs (ORPAS)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the Ontario Medical Schools Application System (OMSAS)

Ontario Medical Schools Application System (OMSAS)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the Ontario Law Schools Application Service (OLSAS)

Ontario Law Schools Application Service (OLSAS)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the Ontario Institute of Agrologists (OIA)

Ontario Institute of Agrologists (OIA)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS)

Ontario College Application Service (OCAS)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Nova Scotia (CLPNNS)

College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Nova Scotia (CLPNNS)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS)

Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (PGO)

Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (PGO)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS)

Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the Engineers and Geoscientists BC

Engineers and Geoscientists BC

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA)

Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulatory Organizations (ACOTRO)

Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulatory Organizations (ACOTRO)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Manitoba Institute of Agrologists (MIA)

Manitoba Institute of Agrologists (MIA)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba

Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (CPAO)

Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (CPAO)

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Contact Us | Canada Evaluation



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WES Regional Directors

Regional directors are the liaisons between WES and its partners. They promote the recognition of international academic credentials via webinars, on-site meetings, and national, regional and state conferences.

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE)

Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Nova Southeastern University (NSU)

Nova Southeastern University (NSU)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for SUNY Empire State College (ESC)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)

SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the University of Central Florida (UCF)

University of Central Florida (UCF)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC)

University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business (UM-Ann Arbor)

University of Michigan's Ross School of Business (UM-Ann Arbor)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC)

University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC)

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Credential Evaluation Requirements for Kuwait Scholarship Students

Kuwait Scholarship Students

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Events

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Accessibility Policies

World Education Services (WES) is happy to provide accessibility to individuals with disabilities. By making our website more inclusive for all users, everyone can easily access our web content and services. Read more to learn how we are complying with the standards set under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

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International Students Assess Reputation, Cost, and Career Opportunities for Master’s Programs

NEW YORK, NY–(October 5, 2015) – International students have become an essential student body across many U.S. campuses. How Master’s Students Choose Institutions: Research on International Student Segmentation is a new report from the non-profit World Education Services. It provides a lens into the institutional preferences of nearly 2,400 U.S.-bound international students seeking master’s degrees.

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Global Talent Bridge Partner Blog

News on practice and policy affecting internationally trained immigrants and refugees

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AccessWES Demo

Register for AccessWES®

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ECA – Evaluations and Fees | WES

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Employment Applications

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Other

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Transfer Admissions

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Graduate Admissions

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First Year Admissions

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WES Tools

We want to help you achieve your goals. That’s why we offer free tools to help you succeed. These tools are resources to guide and empower you on your journey. Use them as often as you like to make the college application and immigration process easier.

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Testimonials

We strive to provide the best service to international students, skilled immigrants, and our institutional clients. Read what they’re saying.

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Nursing

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Occupational Therapy

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Architecture

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Contact Us | U.S. Evaluation

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Working with WES

Working with WES is simple and requires no contract or commitment. Academic institutions, employers and other organizations refer their candidates to WES for credential evaluation services just as they would for admissions testing or other external services. Candidates then work directly with us and designate your organization as the recipient of WES Evaluation Reports.

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Accessibility Policy

Under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the regulation establishes accessibility standards for customer service, information and communications, employment, transportation and physical environments. World Education Services (WES) is committed to working towards being compliant with all the standards that apply to WES under the AODA.

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Evaluations & Fees

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Accessible Customer Service Policy

World Education Services (WES) is committed to providing accessible customer service to people who access our services. The intent of this policy is to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities by identifying, removing and preventing barriers that might interfere with the ability to obtain the goods and services provided by the organization.

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WES Global Talent Bridge Partners

WES Global Talent Bridge® is dedicated to helping skilled immigrants fully utilize their talents and education in Canada. We join with the following academic institutions, professional licensing bodies, employers and community organizations to help skilled immigrants leverage their training, achieve their professional goals and contribute their talents to their full potential.

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Refugee Pilot Project

Every day, more than 30,000 people from around the globe are forcibly displaced as a result of persecution or war. Many who look to North America as a place to rebuild their lives have difficulty securing new employment, professional licensing, or continued education because they have lost access to their academic documents.

To help these individuals resume their education or find employment, WES has partnered with immigrant-service organizations in Toronto, Ottawa, and Calgary to develop and test a Refugee Pilot Project. The project is designed to assess the credentials of Syrian refugees in Canada who do not have adequate academic documentation.

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WES Global Talent Bridge® Partners

Through its Global Talent Bridge® program, WES engages with educational institutions, community organizations and other groups to develop strategies and resources that help immigrants and refugees achieve personal and professional success. WES Global Talent Bridge works in concert with several coalitions to put research into action and advocate for public policies that promote skilled immigration in smart ways. The program’s partnerships often involve a joint effort to develop and present seminars and other educational events, with both immigrants and the organizations that serve them in mind.

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Evaluations for Immigration (ECA)

World Education Services (WES) is designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to provide Educational Credential Assessments (ECA) for degrees and diplomas earned outside of Canada. An ECA is required to apply for certain IRCC immigration programs.

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The WES Difference

Founded in 1974, World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping international students and professionals achieve their goals in the United States and Canada. We evaluate and advocate for the recognition of international education qualifications.

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About WES Credential Evaluation

A credential evaluation is a comparison of your academic accomplishments to standards in the U.S. or Canada. This report helps institutions like schools, employers, licensing boards, or immigration authorities better understand your educational background.

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Privacy Policy

World Education Services, Inc. (“WES”, “us” or “we”) is committed to protecting your Personal Information (as defined below) through ensuring that all Personal Information provided to us is treated with care and, subject to this Privacy Policy (“Policy”), is not used or disclosed in ways to which you have not consented. This Policy governs the collection, use and disclosure of your Personal Information in any communication or interaction you may have with us, whether it be in person, through an authorized agent, over the telephone, in writing, or electronically.

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Privacy Policy

World Education Services (WES) collects information required to evaluate educational credentials. WES recognizes the importance of protecting the privacy of the persons who submit their credentials for evaluation. Any information shared between applicants and WES is protected in accordance with applicable laws and the policies stated below.

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The AccessWES® Advantage

AccessWES® is the secure online delivery system we use to send WES Evaluation Reports to academic institutions and other recognized organizations.

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The AccessWES® Advantage

AccessWES® is the secure online delivery system we use to send WES Evaluation Reports to academic institutions and other recognized organizations.

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FAQ

No, WES does not provide language translations. WES requires official word-for-word translations of documents in other languages, which WES evaluators verify in the course of credential evaluations.

An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) takes about thirty-five (35) business days after we receive, review, and accept all  required documents and fees. A Document-by-Document or Course-by-Course Evaluation takes about seven (7) business days after we receive, review, and accept all your required documents and fees. NOTE: A credential evaluation may take longer if additional verification or information is required.

 

In most cases, the candidate pays WES directly. Academic institutions and other organizations may also pay for WES evaluation reports.

Our Institutional Relations Department is on call to answer questions and provide information and assistance about WES evaluation reports. Please Contact Us and someone will be in touch.

Each WES evaluation report contains information that candidates can use to contact WES. We review and provide written responses to all questions from candidates.

Completed WES evaluation reports are sent to the candidate, as well as any institution or organization the candidate has designated as a recipient.

If any document submitted for credential evaluation is confirmed to be inauthentic, WES cancels the application and notifies the candidate, as well as any institution or organization the candidate has designated as a WES evaluation report recipient.

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WES Evaluation Reports

Government agencies, academic institutions, professional licensing bodies and employers partner with WES to evaluate the credentials of candidates educated abroad. WES provides candidates with a convenient online application where they can obtain detailed instructions regarding required documents and track the status of their evaluations anytime. Completed WES Evaluation Reports can be accessed through AccessWES®, our secure online delivery system, or they can be mailed to you.

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WES Evaluation Reports

Academic institutions, professional licensing bodies and employers partner with WES to evaluate the credentials of candidates educated abroad. WES provides candidates with a convenient online application where they can obtain detailed instructions regarding required documents and track the status of their evaluations anytime. Completed WES Evaluation Reports can be accessed through AccessWES®, our secure online delivery system, or they can be mailed to you.

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Working with WES

Working with WES is simple and requires no contract or commitment. Academic institutions, employers and other organizations refer their candidates to WES for credential evaluation services just as they would for admissions testing or other external services. Candidates then work directly with us and designate your organization as the recipient of WES Evaluation Reports.

Read More

About WES Credential Evaluation

A WES credential evaluation is a key step in understanding the educational backgrounds of candidates educated abroad. WES helps academic institutions, professional licensing bodies and employers by evaluating degrees and diplomas earned abroad to determine their Canadian equivalencies.

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About WES Credential Evaluation

A WES credential evaluation is a key step in understanding the educational backgrounds of candidates educated abroad. WES helps academic institutions, professional licensing bodies and employers by evaluating degrees and diplomas earned abroad to determine their U.S. equivalencies.

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Partners Canada

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Terms and Conditions IRCC

Special Terms for ECA Applicants WES will provide Immigration., Refugees, and Citizenship Canada(IRCC) with electronic access to your assessment report and other information. At the request of IRCC, your records will be purged after 10 years. However, WES can store your records indefinitely if you provide written or electronic authorization.

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Terms and Conditions

The typical processing time for World Education Services (WES) evaluations is approximately seven (7) business days from the day that a completed application (including all required documents, information and full payment of fees) is received by WES and compiled for internal review and processing. Processing times may vary depending on a number of factors, including the volume of applications that WES has received, the complexity of the application and other factors.

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Terms and Conditions

The typical processing time for World Education Services (WES) evaluations is approximately seven (7) business days from the day that a completed application (including all required documents, information and full payment of fees) is received by WES and compiled for internal review and processing. Processing times may vary depending on a number of factors, including the volume of applications that WES has received, the complexity of the application, and other factors.

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WES Provides Support for International Students and Skilled Immigrants in New York City

NEW YORK, NY–(Nov 11, 2016) – How do I find a job in the U.S. when I earned my degree in another country? How do I adjust to the American education system? Millions of international students and skilled immigrants grapple with these questions and more as they navigate life in a new country.

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World Education Services: Helping International Students Thrive on Campus

WES’ New Report Helps Academic Institutions Understand the Needs of International Students NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwired – Oct 4, 2016) – International students often face unique challenges to success while studying in the United States. Understanding those challenges and helping international students overcome them is key for higher education institutions that want to recruit and retain top international students.

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WES Spearheads Efforts to Help Refugees Have Their Educational Credentials Recognized

Initiative Addresses the Concern That a Lack of Educational Credential Recognition Is a Major Barrier to Employment and Income Stability Among Refugees TORONTO, ON–(May 18, 2016) – After years of enduring civil war, more than 25,000 Syrian refugees recently arrived in Canada and are dreaming about a successful life in their new home. Like thousands of refugees before them, they will struggle to reach their full potential if their educational credentials are not recognized. Without appropriate credential recognition, these individuals can find themselves underemployed, underpaid, and unable to achieve their aspirations or meet their potential in society.

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World Education Services Celebrates 15 Years in Canada

TORONTO, ON–(Oct 22, 2015) – World Education Services (WES) is celebrating 15 years serving skilled immigrants and international students in Canada. As immigration to Canada and international enrollment at Canadian colleges and universities has grown, there is an increased need to help individuals who studied outside of Canada gain recognition for their international education — to help reduce ‘brain waste’ and help them achieve their goals.

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WES Advisor Celebrates International Education Week

NEW YORK, NY–(Nov 12, 2015) – During International Education Week (IEW), November 16-20, WES Advisor will provide free events and programming that will guide current and prospective international students on their journey to study in the U.S.

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Citizenship and Immigration Canada Designates World Education Services to Provide Educational Credential Assessments Under Federal Skilled Worker Program

NEW YORK, NY–(Apr 18, 2013) – Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has designated World Education Services Canada (WES Canada) as a provider of educational credential assessments (ECA) for applicants applying under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) for immigration.

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New Academic Credential Package Speeds Up International Admissions

Electronically Delivered Verified International Transcripts Streamlines the Admissions Process and Reduces Errors NEW YORK, NY–(January 26, 2010) – Universities can save time and reduce errors when reviewing international applications for admission when prospective students use the World Education Services International Credential Advantage Package (WES ICAP™).

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Testimonials

We strive to provide the best service to international students, skilled immigrants, and our institutional clients. Read what they’re saying.

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Careers at WES

WES employees are passionate about our mission to ensure people educated in any country have the opportunity to succeed in Canada and the U.S. – we strive to remove barriers to their success. For over 40 years, we have set the standard of excellence in credential evaluations, research, and ongoing support for international students and skilled immigrants.

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Other

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Immigration

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Employment Applications

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Required Documents

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Help Center

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Required Documents

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iFrame Example

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WES Advisor Blog

Trusted Advice for Academic and Professional Success

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WES Advisor E-Guides

Our e-guides provide free tips and advice for international students and skilled immigrants in the U.S. and Canada.

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Partners

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WES Tools

We want to help you achieve your goals. That’s why we offer free tools to help you succeed. These tools are resources to guide and empower you on your journey. Use them as often as you like to make the college application and immigration process easier.

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Veterinary Medicine and Technology and Related Fields

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Education Related Fields

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Social Work

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Nursing

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Medicine

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Law and Legal Related Fields

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Finance

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Engineering Related Fields

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Dentistry and Dental Technology Related Fields

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CPA (Certified Public Accountant)

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CMA (Certified Management Accountant)

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Architecture

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Freshman Admissions

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Graduate Admissions

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Transfer Admissions

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Evaluations & Fees

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Our Leadership Team

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Help Centre

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Resources for Journalists

We want to help you cover the latest issues in higher education. Our experts can speak with you on topics of international student mobility, trends in higher education, skilled immigration in the U.S. and Canada, and credential evaluation and verification to avoid fraud.

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Careers at WES

WES employees are passionate about our mission to ensure people educated in any country have the opportunity to succeed in the U.S. and Canada—we strive to remove barriers to their success. For over 40 years, we have set the standard of excellence in credential evaluations, research, and ongoing support for international students and skilled immigrants.

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About WES Credential Evaluation

A credential evaluation is a comparison of your academic accomplishments to standards in the U.S. or Canada. This report helps institutions like schools, employers, licensing boards, or immigration authorities better understand your educational background.

Read More

The WES Difference

Founded in 1974, World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping international students and professionals achieve their goals in the United States and Canada. We evaluate and advocate for the recognition of international education qualifications.

Read More

What is a credential evaluation?

If you’re thinking about moving to the United States or Canada to pursue further education or continue your career, you may have come across the term “credential evaluation” in your research and planning. And you might have wondered, what is a credential evaluation?” ...

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How to Send Your Documents to WES in a Sealed Envelope

A WES evaluation report serves not only as a credential evaluation but also an authentication of academic qualifications. This means that, in addition to providing an educational equivalency, WES verifies document authenticity. As part of the authentication process, WES requires that the appropriate ...

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Moving to New Zealand with Your International Education

Are you considering a move to New Zealand? If so, the first step is to learn what is required. If you have received university degrees, diploma certificates, or similar credentials in another country, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) requires you to provide ...

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How to Get Your Indian Degree Evaluated

We often hear the question, Can I use my Indian degree in the United States or Canada? The answer is yes! In fact, having your Indian degree evaluated by WES could set you up for your next big opportunity—whether that’s getting re-licensed in ...

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Expedite Your Document Verification with Qualification Check

Once you have applied for a WES credential evaluation, the next step is crucial: document submission and verification. For some applicants, this step can be time-consuming. But what if there was a way to speed up the process and get your credential evaluation ...

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Financing Your Professional Accreditation in Canada

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of World Education Services (WES). WES does not offer financial advice and recommends that you conduct your own research and ...

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Recognizing the Three-Year Indian Bachelor’s Degree in the U.S.

In the United States, some schools and employers might hesitate to recognize a three-year degree, since most domestic bachelor’s degree programs take four years to complete. Because of this, some Indian students encounter difficulties having their three-year bachelor’s degree recognized in the U.S.  ...

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Tips for Completing Your WES Application

Tips for Completing Your WES Application  A credential evaluation report is an important part of your immigration journey. It helps higher education institutions and employers understand the value of your academic qualifications. The goal of this blog post is to help you complete ...

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Opening Doors and Opportunities: The Lifetime Value of Your WES Credential Evaluation

Lorinda Grogg has worked at WES for more than 20 years. In her role, she works with and provides support to institutional partners, as well as many WES applicants undergoing the evaluation process. In this piece, she discusses one of the key benefits ...

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Driven by Education: Why Hina Received a WES Credential Evaluation

Hina Gul obtained a WES credential evaluation to support her goal of immigrating to Canada. We spoke to Hina about her educational and career plans, and discussed how a credential evaluation will help her begin a new life in Canada.   Teaching to Transform ...

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FAQs About the WES Document Verification Process

Have you signed into My Account and seen the following status update?   “On Hold: We are waiting for your institution(s) to verify your documents.”   Once WES has received all required documents from an applicant and their institution(s), WES will begin document verification. When ...

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Why Do I Need a Credential Evaluation?

A credential evaluation verifies an individual’s academic credentials, making their educational background and achievements more accessible to institutions and organizations. Institutions such as colleges, universities, employers, and licensing boards commonly review credential evaluation reports as part of their screening process. For these reasons, ...

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Navigating Nurse Licensing Requirements in Canada

Canada faced a nursing shortage before the onset of COVID-19, and the pandemic exacerbated the crisis. The Government of Canada projects that there will be 155,400 open nursing positions by 2031.  Recruiting and licensing internationally educated nurses (IENs) have become one way to address ...

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Requirements for Receiving an Educational Credential Assessment for Immigration to Canada

Many immigration pathways into Canada, including Express Entry, require an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).   WES is designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to provide ECAs. This blog post reviews some common questions about requirements for receiving an ECA.   What credentials do ...

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How Settlement Agencies in Canada Can Benefit Newcomers

Ruth Demeke, Senior Coordinator of Client Relations at WES, arrived as a newcomer in Canada about 30 years ago and can testify to the work and services offered by settlement agencies. Today, Ruth delivers information sessions about WES and credential evaluations at some ...

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How Ellen Is Making an Impact on Global Public Health

Ellen Makawa is dedicated to her career in public health. Motivated by a desire to continue her education and work in the field, she received a WES credential evaluation. Now she is prepared to take on opportunities—and continue making a difference in global ...

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Considering an MBA in the United States or Canada? What International Students Need to Know

The United States and Canada are among the most popular destinations for international students. Both countries offer world-class universities, diverse learning environments, and career opportunities for graduates.  Business education is a popular option for students, with the Master of Business Administration appealing to ...

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Relocating from Nigeria to the United States with Your International Education

Your educational background will be one of your greatest strengths when relocating from Nigeria to the United States to study or work. If you hold educational credentials from an institution in Nigeria, obtaining a WES credential evaluation will be an invaluable tool when ...

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The Power of an Education and a WES Credential Evaluation

Before moving to Canada from Egypt, Zeyad obtained a WES credential evaluation to support his educational and career endeavours. We sat down with him to learn more about his background, thoughts on the power of an education, and advice for others who might need a credential ...

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Navigating the Professional Occupational Licensing Process in Canada

As an immigrant or Temporary Foreign Worker in Canada, the earlier you learn about the licensing process and requirements for your occupation, the more prepared you will be for long-term career planning and success.   In Canada, many professions and trades require that you ...

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3 Myths and Truths About WES Credential Evaluations

Whether you’re a student planning to study abroad or an employer assessing a candidate’s international academic credentials, you might have read or heard some myths about credential evaluations. Continue reading and learn the truth behind a few of these common misconceptions about receiving ...

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F-1 Visa Updates: Benefits for International Students in the U.S.

Recent changes in the F-1 visa application process could benefit those pursuing higher education and work experience in the United States. Read on to learn more about the F-1 visa updates and how they could benefit you as an international student.  What are ...

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The International Student’s Guide to Moving to the United States: Securing the Essentials

Now that you have learned how to secure your visa and funding for school and establish U.S. credit history, let’s discuss acquiring the essentials you will need for your life in the United States, including a mobile phone, bank account, housing, transportation, and ...

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Preparing for Your Career After Graduation

The end of your college or university education is a good time to start planning your next steps. Graduating from college or university is an exciting achievement. However, it is not uncommon to feel overwhelmed when you begin preparing for your career after ...

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Quick Guide: Tips for Finding an Internship 

Internships are one of the best ways international students can acquire work experience. If you are currently living in the United States or Canada and have completed at least one year of your university education, now may be the right time to begin ...

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Starting a Health Care Career in Canada

The World Health Organization estimates that by 2030 there will be a shortage of 10 million health care workers worldwide. In Canada, the number of health care workers has already declined due to burnout and retirement. In 2022, Statistics Canada noted that there ...

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The International Student’s Guide to Moving to the United States: How to Establish Credit History

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of World Education Services (WES). WES does not offer financial advice, and recommends that you conduct your own research and ...

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How to Apply to a University in Canada as an International Student

Canada is home to many top universities that offer high-quality education and cutting-edge research opportunities. Studying in Canada also provides international students with access to a wide range of courses and academic programs, along with a diverse and inclusive culture.  Like many universities ...

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How to Renew Your ECA Report

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requires applicants who are pursuing Canadian immigration pathways, especially Express Entry, to submit an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).  You will be asked to submit your ECA report as part of your Express Entry profile. Per IRCC policy, ...

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Forming Connections: How Artemis Grew Her Network and Career in NYC

Artemis Díaz established a successful career in communications and event production in the Dominican Republic but paused her work in 2014 to join her spouse in New York City. Since then, she has leveraged her exceptional networking skills – polished with support from ...

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From Mali to NYC: How Fatoumata Continued Her Health Care Career

In 2012, Fatoumata Fofana left a successful health care career in her home country of Mali to join her husband Salifou in New York City. Fatoumata keenly recalls feeling overwhelmed when she arrived in the U.S., a feeling that would persist throughout her ...

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When Is the Best Time to Obtain a Credential Evaluation?

The United States and Canada are popular destinations for international students and professionals alike. For anyone considering the move, it is a smart idea to understand the process and requirements. Those seeking immigration to the U.S. or Canada for education, employment, or to ...

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Gaining Confidence: How José Launched a Communications Career in the U.S.

In 2015, growing political instability drove José* from his home country of Venezuela, forcing him to leave behind a successful career in journalism and advertising. With support from numerous WES Global Talent Bridge (GTB) partners, including New York University, Upwardly Global, and Venezuelans ...

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From Engineering to Education: How Betzabeth Built A New Career in the U.S.

Betzabeth worked as an engineer in Venezuela’s expansive petroleum sector. But the country’s growing political instability forced Betzabeth and her husband Felix, a fellow energy engineer, to seek asylum in the United States. With support from WES Global Talent Bridge partners Venezuelans and ...

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How to Become a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) in Canada

Are you interested in becoming a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) in Canada?  If you’ve recently relocated to Canada, or if you’re planning to relocate soon, you’ll likely want to start learning about the most recent guidelines and fastest pathways to achieve your goals. ...

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How Long Will It Take to Obtain a WES Credential Evaluation?

Those who are planning to continue their education or career in the United States or Canada will likely need to submit a credential evaluation to potential academic institutions and employers. For this reason, many applicants want to know how long it will take ...

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Why You Should Upgrade Your Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) in Canada

Did you know that many people often need more than one type of evaluation report? World Education Services (WES) offers several types of credential evaluations. When immigrating to Canada, applicants will need to order an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). Later, they may need ...

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Benefits of WES International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP)

When you order a credential evaluation from World Education Services (WES), you have the option of choosing between two packages: basic or International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP).   It can be helpful to know the difference before you begin your application for a WES ...

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How To Apply To A U.S. University as an International Student

For many students around the world, the dream of studying in the United States lives on. Higher education in the U.S. is still highly coveted and remains very popular among international students.  According to U.S. News and World Report, half of the world’s top ...

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What Is a Course-by-Course Evaluation and When Do I Need One?

Did you receive a WES Document-by-Document (DxD) report to support your employment, education, or immigration goals in the United States or Canada? As opportunities arise in your new home country, you could benefit from upgrading your report to a WES Course-by-Course (CxC) evaluation.   ...

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The International Student’s Guide to Moving to the United States: Funding and Visas

If you are considering moving to the U.S. to study, you have probably learned how complex the process can be! We are here to help with a three-part guide to make your move as seamless as possible.   Below is the first part ...

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What Is the Academic Records Request Form?

The WES Academic Records Request Form makes it quicker and easier to request your academic documents from the institution where you were educated. It officially authorizes the release of an applicant’s academic records, so that you can use it in person or remotely. ...

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Get Started with Your WES (World Education Services) Credential Evaluation

If you are considering study or work in the U.S. or Canada, you will most likely need a credential evaluation report.   A credential evaluation report from WES provides an accurate and authenticated record of the educational or professional qualifications you earned in other ...

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H-1B Regulatory Requirements and Updates

Many international students and scholars in the U.S. hope to find employment in the U.S. that will allow them to gain the skills needed to secure permanent work. For most graduates, the H-1B non-immigrant visa category is a natural progression after Optional Practical ...

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How to Send Electronic Academic Records to WES

A growing number of institutions worldwide are making their academic records available in a digital or electronic format. World Education Services (WES) now partners with institutions to accept electronic documents in a secure format from official, verified sources. Sending documents electronically can expedite ...

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An Open Door: How the WES Gateway Program Helped a Teacher Transition from Caracas to Colorado

Born and educated in Venezuela, Eduardo Verna Orenes always felt a calling to become a teacher. “I believe we can make a difference in this world via education,” he says. “With education we can promote future leaders that can generate sustainable solutions for ...

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Immigrant Success Stories: Mohammad and Bayan

World Education Services (WES) believes in the power of storytelling and shared resources. In 2019, we reached out to immigrants across North America. We asked about their reasons for leaving home, their challenges along the way, and the advice they would like to ...

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Immigrant Success Stories: Hannah Chung

World Education Services (WES) believes in the power of storytelling and shared resources. In 2019, we reached out to immigrants across North America. We asked about their reasons for leaving home, their challenges along the way, and the advice they would like to ...

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Immigrant Success Stories: Srdjan “Serge” Simic

World Education Services (WES) believes in the power of storytelling and shared resources. In 2019, we reached out to immigrants across North America. We asked about their reasons for leaving home, their challenges along the way, and the advice they would like to ...

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Why Is My Employer Asking for a Credential Evaluation?

If you’re seeking a job in the United States or Canada, but earned your degree in another country, there is a good chance that you will need a credential evaluation.  That’s because employers might find it difficult to validate your academic documents (which ...

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Immigrant Success Stories: Maria Fontanal

World Education Services (WES) believes in the power of storytelling and shared resources. In 2019, we reached out to immigrants across North America. We asked about their reasons for leaving home, their challenges along the way, and the advice they would like to ...

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Top 5 Reasons to Get a Credential Evaluation

If you are seeking new opportunities in the U.S. or Canada, there are many reasons to get your international credentials evaluated. An equivalency report will showcase your past achievements to immigration regulators, admissions officers, and potential employers.  With World Education Services (WES), you ...

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Why Is This a Good Time to Pursue Higher Education in Canada?

Canada is a popular place for international students to pursue higher education, whether they’re studying abroad to gain experience and credentials or completing an entire degree program. In this post, we go into detail and discuss the many reasons why Canada is popular ...

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Why Is This a Good Time to Pursue Higher Education in the United States?

Each year, individuals from all over the world travel to the United States to earn academic credentials, attain degrees, and graduate from renowned universities. Some people are attracted to the campus culture of American schools, while others are interested in the cachet of ...

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Immigrant Success Stories: Xin Guan

World Education Services (WES) believes in the power of storytelling and shared resources. In 2019, we reached out to immigrants across North America. We asked about their reasons for leaving home, their challenges along the way, and the advice they would like to ...

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NEW: How to Get Credential Evaluations for Pakistan

Prior to 2021, if you studied in Pakistan and wanted to pursue immigration, career, or higher education goals in the United States or Canada, then you might have encountered difficulties with credential recognition.  WES wanted to help more Pakistan-educated individuals achieve success in ...

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5 Ways to Avoid Delays with Your Credential Evaluation

There are some common mistakes that applicants make when they are getting a credential evaluation from World Education Services (WES). This can introduce delays in the process (and in some cases, even lead to additional fees).  In most cases, delays can be avoided ...

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Success Story: Ali Khalaf Uses His Platform to Help Other Newcomers

When Ali Khalaf left Iraq in 2018, he had been using his master’s degree in international business to teach management, e-commerce, industrial organization, and commercial law at the University of Basrah. When he arrived in Canada, he was eager to continue doing what ...

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Immigrant Success Stories: Niloufar Abaei

World Education Services (WES) believes in the power of storytelling and shared resources. In 2019, we reached out to immigrants across North America. We asked about their reasons for leaving home, their challenges along the way, and the advice they would like to ...

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Immigrant Success Stories: Anas Farhoud

Anas Farhoud remains optimistic in the face of adversity. He and his wife, Razan, left Syria and moved from one country to another for a full decade before finally settling with their two daughters in Canada in 2020. But he never lost faith ...

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Immigrant Success Stories: Valerie Sargisyan

World Education Services (WES) believes in the power of storytelling and shared resources. In 2019, we reached out to immigrants across North America. We asked about their reasons for leaving home, their challenges along the way, and the advice they would like to ...

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USCIS: F-1 Students No Longer Need to File COS Extensions

This week, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a policy update that is intended to lessen the burden on those hoping to complete a change of status (COS) and enroll as international students. The new policy states that nonimmigrants do ...

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Spotlight on Success: Nada El Masry

In honor of World Refugee Day on June 20, learn about one of our grantee partners with the WES Mariam Assefa Fund. Nada El Masry’s family fled Palestine during its vicious ethnic cleansing effort in the 1960s. Displaced to Libya, they were denied ...

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WES Announces New Apostille Policy for Original Documents

For over a decade, World Education Services (WES) maintained an “apostille” requirement for several countries. Applicants who studied in those countries needed to mail their original documents, with apostille authentication, to WES. Once their report was complete, their original documents would be returned. ...

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From Teaching to Learning: A Refugee’s Story of Resilience

Ninos Ishaia and his wife Nancy are just two of the 6.6 million Syrians that left their country to escape its civil war. Before coming to Ontario, Canada, the couple had lived for more than two years in Lebanon. Five years have passed since Ninos joined more than 70,000 Syrian refugees who settled in Canada, but he vividly remembers the fears that came with ...

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Stories of Immigrants: Giovanna Romero Sarubbi

World Education Services (WES) believes in the power of storytelling and shared resources. In 2019, we reached out to immigrants across North America. We asked about their reasons for leaving home, their challenges along the way, and the advice they would like to ...

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Immigrant Success Stories: Zahidul Ahsan

World Education Services (WES) believes in the power of storytelling and shared resources. In 2019, we reached out to immigrants across North America. We asked about their reasons for leaving home, their challenges along the way, and the advice they would like to ...

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5 Things to Know About Credential Evaluations in 2021

As we enter a new year, many international students and immigrants are eager to move forward with their plans to study, work, and live in the United States and Canada. World Education Services (WES) would like to help you achieve those goals. We’ve ...

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Stories of Immigrants: Clara Lagos

The Stories of Immigrants Project began as a way for employees at World Education Services (WES) to become more involved with the company’s mission and learn more about the immigrants and refugees who we work to support every day. Over the course of ...

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Stories of Immigrants: Alissa Soutina

The Stories of Immigrants Project began as a way for employees at World Education Services (WES) to become more involved with the company’s mission and learn more about the immigrants and refugees who we work to support every day. Over the course of ...

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Stories of Immigrants: Milene Fernandez

The Stories of Immigrants Project began as a way for employees at World Education Services (WES) to become more involved with the company’s mission and learn more about the immigrants and refugees who we work to support every day. Over the course of ...

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Will Going Back to School in Canada Help Your Career?

Have you been thinking about going back to school in Canada? If you recently settled into your new life in Canada, but you’re having trouble taking your career to the next level, then you might need to acquire new skills or earn additional ...

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Stories of Immigrants: Mariam Assefa

The Stories of Immigrants Project began as a way for employees at World Education Services (WES) to become more involved with the company’s mission and learn more about the immigrants and refugees who we work to support every day. Over the course of ...

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Stories of Immigrants: Mia Wijaya

The Stories of Immigrants Project began as a way for employees at World Education Services (WES) to become more involved with the company’s mission and learn more about the immigrants and refugees who we work to support every day. Over the course of ...

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Stories of Immigrants: Tiziana Rinaldi

The Stories of Immigrants Project began as a way for employees at World Education Services (WES) to become more involved with the company’s mission and learn more about the immigrants and refugees who we work to support every day. Over the course of ...

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Stories of Immigrants: Norman Valdez

The Stories of Immigrants Project began as a way for employees at World Education Services (WES) to become more involved with the company’s mission and learn more about the immigrants and refugees who we work to support every day. Over the course of ...

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4 Ways International Students Can Embrace Virtual Learning

For the coming academic year, many colleges and universities are hosting their classes online in Canada and the U.S. This is particularly unfortunate for many international students who were planning to travel to North America this fall and experience the joy of studying ...

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IELTS Indicator: The English Test You Can Take at Home

Many people have had to put their education and plans on hold, due to the global pandemic and government restrictions. For example, you might have postponed your English proficiency test. That’s because many English tests, like the IELTS, are traditionally completed in person, ...

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Answers: Your Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions in 2020

We know that applicants have a lot of questions about how the pandemic has affected business operations at WES. In this blog post, we have compiled some of your most frequently asked questions about our credential evaluation process and provided the latest answers. ...

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Ziad’s Story: From International Student to Professional Engineer in Canada

Ziad Ajweh is a Building Safety Code Officer at the City of Edmonton. He moved to Canada as an international student nearly a decade ago, and obtained a Master of Science in construction engineering and management here. Ziad recently received the title of Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).     This blog post traces Ziad’s immigration story and the challenges he overcame as ...

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Stories of Immigrants: Niurka Melendez

The Stories of Immigrants Project began as a way for employees at World Education Services (WES) to become more involved with the company’s mission and learn more about the immigrants and refugees who we work to support every day. Over the course of ...

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How to Visit College Campuses Remotely

Even though you may not be able to go on in-person college visits now, there are many things you can do at home to determine if a prospective school is a good fit for you. For example, you can interact with the school ...

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Networking for Newcomers in Times of Physical Distancing

One essential piece of advice for immigrants is to build a network in their new home countries. When you develop professional contacts, socialize with neighbors, and make friends, you begin to absorb cultural information and mutually exchange ideas. Establishing a network will help ...

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How to Upload Your Degree Certificates and Translations to WES

Many applicants can now upload copies of degree certificates and translations in My Account. This is not a requirement for all applications, so you can disregard this post if you have already submitted your degree certificates and translations or if they are not ...

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Stories of Immigrants: Omar Kallon

The Stories of Immigrants Project began as a way for employees at World Education Services (WES) to become more involved with the company’s mission and learn more about the immigrants and refugees who we work to support every day. Over the course of ...

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How to Manage the Stress of COVID-19

WES Ambassador Maddy Lavoie is an international student at Delta State University. In this blog post, she shares her tips for students who may be struggling and want to manage their stress in healthful ways. Everyone is under greater stress now because of ...

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Preparing for the IELTS Exam

Welcome back to our three-part series on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). In part one, we gave you an overview of the IELTS and answered some popular questions. In part two, we answer more questions and dive into the steps that ...

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How to Reduce Stress During a Job Search

Elena Krechko is a certified life coach and psychologist from Russia. She is also an Expert Ambassador for WES. Below, she provides tips to help you overcome stress and anxiety during your job search. Major life transitions are always stressful, and that is ...

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Online Learning and Training for Immigrants in the U.S.

Are you searching for free online courses and training you can take from the comfort of your home? Look no further than the online resources offered by immigrant-serving organizations, which are working tirelessly on behalf of their clients to provide a range of ...

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How to Adapt to Online Learning: Tips for International Students

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, universities and colleges across Canada have closed their doors to all non-essential staff and students, disrupting the study plans of 642,480 international students in the country. According to an Eduvation blog post, 85 percent of the institutions ...

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Master Your Next Video Interview

Many employers are shifting to virtual hiring experiences, conducting video and phone interviews with job candidates. In fact, according to HireVue, as of March 2020, 89% of employers had begun to use virtual interviews during the hiring process. Here are ten tips that ...

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Deciphering Business Abbreviations in North America

You’ve received an email from your manager that says she’s WFH today. Does that mean she’s in a bad mood? Fortunately, no—it simply means your manager is “working from home.” In fact, office closures during these unprecedented times have many people working from ...

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Certify Your English Proficiency Online with the Duolingo English Test

English testing options are changing. In the past, you had to take your exam in-person, at an official test center. Today, you can take your English proficiency test online. The Duolingo English Test is one popular way to certify your English skills without ...

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Has COVID-19 Put You at Risk of Overstaying Your Visa?

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the United States, travel restrictions and processing delays have put many travelers, international students, and long-term residents at risk of overstaying their visas. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has drafted several recommendations to guide those ...

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French Language Proficiency Tests in Canada

If you are planning to immigrate to Canada through Express Entry, you will need to prove that you can communicate in at least one of the nation’s official languages: English or French. The Canadian government has set a goal to increase its French-speaking immigrant ...

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9 Tips for Effectively Working from Home

Working in a new environment, outside of the structure and familiarity of the office, can be a challenge. You may need to adopt new routines or come up with different ways of achieving work-life balance when working remotely. We asked our team at ...

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How Upgrading Your Skills Improves Your Career Prospects

Learning new skills is one of the best ways to become more successful in your career. Whether you are looking for a new career opportunity or would like to move into a more senior role, upgrading your skills can increase your chances of ...

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Stress Management 101

As an international student or immigrant professional, it can be very easy to succumb to daily stressors. These might include professional or academic stressors, such as a challenging project or a looming deadline; or personal stressors, such as an argument with a loved ...

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COVID-19 Operational Updates

WES is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our employees, applicants, and partners. We take this commitment very seriously, especially during these challenging and uncertain times.  The governments of both the U.S. and Canada have taken numerous steps to contain the ...

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How to Get Your Degree from the Philippines Evaluated

If you studied in the Philippines and would like a WES evaluation for immigration, professional, or academic purposes, you will have to submit an application, make a payment, and send WES your documents. In order for WES to evaluate your high school or ...

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Frustrated by OPT? Explore These Work Visas, Instead!

If you are about to graduate from a college or university in the United States, congratulations! Your future looks bright. All you need now is a little work experience. For many international students, this means obtaining Optional Practical Training (OPT). But are you ...

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How International Students Can Prepare to Work in the U.S. After College

Many international students seek to extend their stay in the U.S. following graduation. In this blog post, WES Ambassador Maddy Lavoie describes the work options available to international students, including Optional Practical Training (OPT) and employer sponsorship. Keep reading to see her advice ...

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What Services Do Settlement Agencies Provide in Canada?

Immigrant Serving Organizations (ISO), commonly known as settlement or employment agencies, offer a wide range of support services. Their goal is to help newcomers integrate and find suitable jobs in Canada. Why Does Canada Offer ISOs? Canada is suffering from a labour shortage. ...

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Updates to the H1-B Visa Lottery: Early Entry, New Fee

This year, the H-1B visa lottery will take place earlier than usual. Are you prepared? Typically, the lottery opens in April. However, this year you can begin applying on March 1, 2020. Below, find out what’s changed. Plus, learn to register online for ...

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6 Tips to Improve Your IELTS Academic Reading Score

The IELTS Academic Reading test can be challenging, so it is important to make sure you are well prepared. Never take any IELTS test for granted. Prepare, prepare, and then prepare some more—the six tips below will help you. Make sure to put ...

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What Are You Doing Wrong on Your Résumé?

Is something in your résumé keeping you from finding a job in the United States? While you might have a great education and plenty of experience, the way that you present this information is what matters most. If you aren’t formatting your résumé ...

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How to Negotiate Salary as a Newcomer

WES Ambassador Tunde Omotoye started his career as a Human Resources Associate in Nigeria. He certainly understood how the hiring process worked! However, he needed to learn an entirely new process when he immigrated to Canada. (You can read his success story here.)  ...

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How Newcomers Can Build Credit in the U.S.

In the United States, a good credit score can help you achieve your personal and professional goals. However, newcomers do not have a credit score when they arrive in the U.S. This can make it difficult to settle into your new life. For ...

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Everything You Need to Know About Credit Scores

When you think about “success,” one thing you probably think about is financial security. If you have recently moved to the United States, you might pursue success by continuing your education or starting a new career. However, getting a great job and saving ...

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Career Counselling and Microloans in Canada

Why do skilled immigrants have a hard time finding jobs in Canada? Some newcomers struggle to understand and navigate the labour market. Other people might be doing everything right, but employers simply won’t recognize their international experience. Then, there is a group of ...

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6 Tips to Improve Your IELTS Academic Writing Score

For many students, the writing section of the IELTS test can be one of the most challenging. The good news is that careful preparation will go a long way in helping to get the band score you need. Use the six tips below ...

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STEM Careers in Canada: What Are Your Job Prospects?

Canada’s job market offers many opportunities to skilled immigrants who have a background in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM). The Canadian government is providing exceptional support to STEM-related research, training, and development, and has introduced multiple plans over the past few years ...

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Our 10 Best Immigration Resources of 2019

Last year, readers and viewers from around the world discovered helpful content on WES.org. From blog posts and e-guides to webinars and FAQs, we published more content than ever before—and you couldn’t get enough! That was especially true when it came to content ...

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What is Canada’s Student Direct Stream?

Launched by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in June 2018, the Student Direct Stream (SDS) is an expedited study permit application stream for international students who want to pursue higher education in Canada. IRCC developed this program to support the rapid growth ...

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RNIP Canada: About Thunder Bay’s New Immigration Pilot

People from all over the world move to Canada to fulfill their dreams. From 2018 to 2019, the country welcomed more than 300,000 immigrants. In 2020, there might be even more opportunities available, thanks to the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP). One ...

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Immigrant Success Story: Ivy’s Journey to Canada

Ivy Anigbogu is a successful accountant in Canada. In this blog post, she recounts how she immigrated with her family from Nigeria to Canada. She also provides pre-arrival advice for other immigrants looking to make a similar journey. In 2017, my husband, Henry, ...

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Networking Tips for Immigrants

“Networking” is the first suggestion most immigrants hear when they start looking for a job in the United States. But how do you network successfully when you are still learning about your new country and its culture? When you don’t know many people ...

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Does an Income Share Agreement Make Sense for You?

Income share agreements (ISAs) are gaining traction among students as a means of funding higher education. In this blog post, Carolyn Ford explores the pros and cons of ISAs. She also describes how to compare an ISA to a traditional loan. As students ...

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Succeed in a New Country with Limited Documentation

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees—the UN Refugee Agency—estimates that there are currently 70.8 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. UNHCR has data on 3.9 million stateless people but believes that millions more exist around the globe. Forced displacement has become a key ...

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Updated: About WES Digital Badges

When you purchase the WES International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) in connection with your credential evaluation, you qualify for a WES Digital Badge. WES has partnered with Credly’s Acclaim, a leading digital credential service provider, to offer digital badges free of charge to ...

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Immigrant Success Story: Tunde’s Journey to Canada

Tunde Omotoye is a Senior Business Operations Analyst at BMO Financial Group. He worked in Lagos, Nigeria, for nearly two years as a Human Resources Associate. He then travelled to Toronto to study human resources management, hoping to find a job after graduation and ...

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Graduate Students: Share Your Research at WES-CIHE

Are you a graduate student or early-career professional who is focusing on the internationalization of higher education? Here is your chance to present your original research to meaningful change-makers. World Education Services (WES) and the Boston College Center for International Higher Education (CIHE) ...

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Are Immigrants Succeeding in Canada’s Job Market?

One of the most important steps when you are planning to immigrate to Canada is learning about job opportunities for newcomers. Of course, you will also want to stay informed about Canada’s job market once you arrive. World Education Services (WES) wants to ...

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The Benefits of Learning French in Canada

You might already know that Canada has two official languages: English and French. Therefore, it makes sense to wonder if there are any benefits to learning French if you want to immigrate to Canada. In short, the answer is: yes. Canada offers many ...

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15 Facts About Lawful Status for International Students

Nadine C. Atkinson-Flowers is an attorney in Jamaica and an immigration attorney in the United States. She is also an Expert Ambassador for WES. Below, she explains how to preserve your lawful status as an international student in the U.S. If you are ...

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Maddy’s Advice: Studying Abroad as a Student-Athlete

Maddy Lavoie is a student and swimmer at Delta State University in Mississippi. She is also a WES Ambassador.  In the blog post below, she discusses what it’s like to be a student-athlete in the United States. If you are an international student, ...

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Announcing the WES Photo Contest Winners

We want to send a big thank you to everyone who participated in our first WES photo contest and helped make it a success in honor of International Education Week (IEW)! To participate, we asked international students to post photos on Facebook with ...

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6 Ways to Save Money Studying Abroad

Studying abroad is an exciting adventure—but it can also be an expensive one. In addition to your regular schoolwork, you are probably going to get a crash course in budgeting. (That’s especially true if your trip abroad is also your first time leaving ...

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International Students: Should You Invest in a U.S. Education?

What is the value of completing your education in the United States? Is it worth the investment? Will you gain valuable career advantages? These are just some of the questions you have to consider before spending thousands of dollars to earn a degree ...

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Living the Mission: The Stories of Immigrants Project

World Education Services (WES) is best known for providing individuals from around the world with verified credential evaluations. However, WES also connects people with information and resources to help them achieve their education, immigration, and career goals in the United States and Canada. ...

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The WES Credential Evaluation Process Explained

The WES credential evaluation process involves four basic steps. Here’s a brief overview, and you can read a more in-depth explanation of each step below: In the first step, evaluators ensure that WES has received all required documents in the manner specified for ...

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Workplace Presentation Skills for Immigrants

If you have just moved to a new country and found a job—congratulations! Now, you are probably concerned with making a good impression. This is where your presentation skills will become important. Good presentation skills can work like camouflage, making it seem like ...

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Launch a Career in the Canadian Mining Industry

The mining industry has historically provided a wealth of jobs across Canada. You might think that working in this industry involves heaving a pickaxe in a dark mineshaft, but fortunately, this is an outdated stereotype. The sector is rich with a diverse range ...

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After Your PhD: Postdoctoral Advice for International Students

Dr. Trishnee Bhurosy is originally from Mauritius, but completed her PhD in Health Behavior at Indiana University-Bloomington. After earning her doctorate as an international student, she needed to find sponsored work to stay in the U.S. Now, she is a postdoctoral fellow at ...

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Now Open: Enter the U.S. Green Card Lottery!

Are you dreaming of a life in the United States? You can make your dreams come true by entering the Green Card Lottery.  Keep reading to learn: What countries are eligible? How do you successfully apply? What is the deadline for this year’s ...

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Why Extracurricular Activities Are Important While Studying

Extracurricular activities are available to all college students. They typically take place on campus, but they are optional and do not interfere with your required courses. Extracurricular activities can include social clubs, sports teams, student government, volunteering, or even an internship. Below, learn ...

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WES Photo Contest: Win Prizes for International Education Week 2019!

Note: This article relates to the 2019 IEW Photo Contest, which has ended. Check back for more information about IEW 2020! Enter our new photo contest, opening on October 11, 2019, for a chance to win an Amazon gift card worth $75, $50, ...

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Real Immigrants Share Advice for Moving to the U.S.

We love to hear from real people about their immigration journeys—and we know you do, too. This summer, we interviewed dozens of immigrants and international students to learn about their unique paths to North America. One of the questions we asked was: “What ...

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How to Ask for Recommendation Letters

Recommendation letters play an essential role during the graduate school application process. Most institutions require you to include at least three letters with your application. Test scores, official transcripts, professional work experience, and extracurricular activities will also affect your outcome. But your letters ...

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What Is Conditional Admission in the United States?

Are you an international student interested in applying to a university or college in the United States? Do you feel limited by your TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test scores? Do not let your low test scores stop you from applying! There are ...

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Volunteer Opportunities for Immigrants: 5 Reasons to Get Started

Volunteering is an attractive idea for immigrants who have just arrived in a new country. There are many benefits for you to enjoy—but in most cases, there are also real responsibilities involved. So before you begin looking for volunteer opportunities, you should consider ...

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Definition of Mentorship: What Is a Mentor and Do You Need One?

Yetunde Oshinkale is a WES Ambassador who immigrated to the United States from Nigeria. She is now a teaching assistant at Capella University. She received her current position thanks to guidance from a professional mentor who understood her goals. In this blog, she ...

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Updated: Your Indian Degree Questions Answered

Many Indian students have questions about how U.S. universities assess their education. As a follow-up to our popular How U.S. Universities Evaluate Your 3-Year Indian Bachelor’s Degree post, we created this article to answer commonly asked questions from our readers. Below, find the ...

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Preview Your International Degree Today

Have you ever wondered what your international credentials are worth? Are you curious about their U.S. or Canadian degree equivalency? We have the perfect solution for you! Check out our free WES Degree Equivalency Tool for a U.S. or Canadian equivalency preview. Why ...

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7 Job Search Tips from a College Career Adviser

Antonnet Botha is a Senior Training & Events Development Coordinator at WES. In part, she owes her success to the guidance from her college career adviser. Now, she has reached out to the same woman who helped her succeed: Leigh Nicholas, the Career ...

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Immigrant Success Story: How to Find a Job After Graduate School

Antonnet Botha is a Senior Training & Events Development Coordinator at WES. She traveled from South Africa to the United States to pursue a master’s degree in international business. Upon graduation, she completed Curricular Practical Training (CPT). However, with both a graduate degree ...

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25 Essential Job Search Tips for Immigrants

Are you looking for a job in the United States or Canada? Find all of the job search tips you need to succeed, all in one post. Below, we collected the best advice from our experts and the WES Advisor archives. Whether you ...

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5 Tips: Choosing a Health Care Bridging Program in Canada

To work in Canada as a licensed health provider, individuals are required to pass a licensing exam. Unfortunately, even if you have already worked as a physician or health care provider in another country, you will still need a new licence to practise ...

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50 Tips for International Students

Are you thinking about continuing your education in the United States or Canada? You probably have a lot of questions! Well, we have a lot of answers for you—and they are all one click away. We collected the best advice from our experts ...

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From Banking to Jazz: A Syrian Refugee’s Journey to Canada

Majd Sekkar was a Syrian refugee when he arrived in Canada. Today, he’s hitting high notes as he develops a music career in Toronto. Keep reading to learn about his journey. In the Beginning: Aleppo and Damascus Majd holds a bachelor’s degree in ...

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Are There Benefits to Attending French Universities in Canada?

Many people who are hoping to move to Canada begin by improving their English-language skills. That is because you have to pass an English exam to immigrate via Express Entry. But did you know that mastering French can also help you qualify for ...

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100 Tips for Immigrants

It’s here: the ultimate list of tips for immigrants from WES Advisor! We have combed our archives—including blogs, e-guides, and webinars—to locate the 100 best tips for your journey. There is something for everyone in this essential immigration tips list. Browse by category: ...

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Visa Denials: What to Do If Your Visa Is Denied

Expert Ambassador Kasie Reyes is the associate director of the International Student and Scholar Office at Old Dominion University in Virginia. In recent years, her school—like most others in the United States—has seen an increase in the number of visa denials being issued ...

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Re-Entering Your Profession: A Former Refugee’s Story

Loae Al Mously is a computer network engineer from Syria. He now works as a network administrator in Canada. But at one point, he was a refugee without a home or country. He has had to work hard to achieve success and build ...

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What Are the Most Popular Majors for International Students in the U.S.?

What you study in school will have a huge influence over the next chapter of your life. Your academic background will guide your career goals and salary potential. After graduation, it might even become a factor of your eligibility to work or reside ...

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How a Credential Evaluation Changed My Life

Mekonnen Tesfaye came to the United States in 2014. After receiving a credential evaluation from WES, he is now a PhD candidate at University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky. But his journey was not easy. When he first arrived, he struggled to find ...

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Quick Immigration Updates: Canada Is Hiring Tech-Savvy Immigrants

Below are the latest immigration updates from the United States and Canada. Topics include: Ontario invites tech-savvy immigrants to apply for residency. Canada also seeks migrant workers with experience in “agri-food.”  College tuition costs have reached an all-time high in the U.S. The ...

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Scholarships and Loans for International Students in the U.S.

Pursuing a degree in the United States is expensive. That is well known if you already live in the country—but the steep costs of higher education can be especially prohibitive for international students. WES Advisor spoke with Maureen Klovers, Director of Social Impact ...

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Immigration News: The New ‘Third Country’ Rule in the U.S.

Starting July 16, it will be harder than ever for refugees to seek asylum in the United States. On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he would be changing the Immigration and Nationality Act. He planned to do this by filing an ...

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3 Steps for Quebec Residency in Canada

Quebec has just announced a new process to help immigrants achieve permanent residency. It’s free to start your application, and you can complete the process in three steps. When the government adopted the new system (by passing a proposal known as “Bill 9”), ...

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Quick Immigration Updates: Have ICE Raids Started in U.S. Cities?

Below are the latest immigration updates from the United States and Canada. Topics include: ICE raids fail to meet expectations in the U.S. Trump: Chinese students are welcome in the U.S. Canadian recruiters scam students out of thousands of dollars. Quebec introduces new, ...

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Tips for Coping with Depression in a New Country

Antonnet Botha is a Senior Training & Events Development Coordinator at WES. Part of her immigration journey involved coping with depression. When she first came to the United States, Antonnet found herself feeling lonely and homesick. While pursuing her master’s degree, she had ...

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Refugee Pilot Project Success Leads to WES Gateway Program

In 2016, thousands of Syrian refugees entered Canada, hoping to find safety and stability in a new country. Nearly all had been forced to leave Syria with few, if any, personal belongings. Many had lost their homes, their possessions, and, in some cases, ...

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An International Student Asks: Community College or University?

Deborah Deperio is a WES Ambassador who faced a difficult decision when she immigrated to the United States: Which type of school should she attend, a community college or a university? In this blog post, she describes the process of making this important ...

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What You Need to Know About Optional Practical Training

The United States offers a serious advantage over other study abroad destinations: It offers Optional Practical Training (OPT) to international students who have completed one full year of academic study in the U.S. OPT means that new graduates may begin to accumulate paid ...

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Quick Immigration Updates: U.S. Denying H-1B Visas to Top Employers

Below are the latest immigration updates from the United States and Canada. Topics include: The U.S. is denying H-1B visas to top international employers. Chaos at the U.S.-Mexico border leads to leadership change. U.S. loses competitive edge among the world’s best colleges and ...

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Quick Immigration Updates: Trump Delays ICE Raids

Below are the latest immigration updates from the United States and Canada. Topics include: President Trump orders, then delays, ICE raids (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Trump cuts aid funding to Central American countries over border crisis. China extradition bill may send many Hong ...

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How to Find a College Roommate for Study Abroad

If you are planning to study abroad, your success can be greatly affected by your choice of college roommate. This person can become a friend, study partner, and away-from-home support system. They can also become a distraction, a nuisance, or a daily source ...

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Sulaf’s Story: How Transferable Skills Lead to Career Success

Sulaf Al-Shaikhly has a unique immigration story. She was born in New York, then moved to Iraq at age 6. Sulaf earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science. She went on to give lectures and train students. But Sulaf’s career came ...

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Quick Immigration Updates: Canada’s Migrant Job Rate on the Rise

Below are the latest immigration updates from the United States and Canada. Topics include: Canadian immigration employment rates reach new high in 2018. Canada’s Global Skills Strategy program recruits workers from the U.S. Report proves it is still smart to go to college ...

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10 Tips to Avoid Visa Scams in the U.S.

Are you planning to further your education or seek employment in the United States? It is possible to make your dreams come true—but there are also a lot of people who might try to take advantage of you along the way. Criminals have ...

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The U.S. Is Increasing Visa Application Fees for International Students

The U.S. has finalized a rule to increase application fees for F, M, and J visas. However, don’t let this news discourage you! Instead, learn the key facts regarding this rule from Expert Ambassador Melissa Mace. Keep reading so you will be prepared ...

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Quick Immigration Updates: Decline in H-1B Visas

Below are the latest immigration updates from the United States and Canada. Topics include: H-1B visa approvals in decline. Can social media affect your visa status? China warns students against the U.S. New loan program for credential evaluations. Canada sponsoring more LGBTQ2 refugees ...

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Scholarships in Canada for International Students

Canada is a popular choice for students who are interested in studying abroad. The country is home to many excellent universities and provides job opportunities for new graduates. Plus, Canada is known for its friendly international relations and is very welcoming toward visitors ...

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Windmill Microlending Now Offering Microloans of Up to $15,000 CAD

Microloans are small, short-term loans with low interest rates that can serve as a lifeline for immigrants and refugees who are just starting out in a new country. In this blog post, Shawn McCarty, an Expert Ambassador and manager at Windmill Microlending, describes ...

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U.S. News: President Donald Trump’s Immigration Plan

Eyeing a second term as president of the United States, Donald Trump has just revealed sweeping immigration reforms. On May 16, 2019, the president unveiled a new plan to reshape the country’s immigration system. It is one that he reportedly hopes to put ...

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4 Benefits of Summer Study Abroad Programs

For many students, the prospect of spending summer break inside a classroom might seem like a waste of good weather and free time. But what if it is also an opportunity to travel the world? Summer study abroad programs provide students with several ...

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Does WES Offer Translation Services?

Does your credential evaluation application need to be translated before you can send it to WES? Most applications do not need to be translated before you send them. But if someone has asked you for translated documents, you might be among the exceptions. ...

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E-Guide: Career Pathways for International Accountants in the U.S.

Career Pathways in Accounting is a comprehensive, step-by-step e-guide explaining how to become an accountant in the U.S. It includes state-specific requirements and resources for licensing and certification. You can download it directly from this post, completely free! Then you will be able ...

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Canadian Banking: How Newcomers Can Build Credit

Moving to a new country presents allows you to pursue new personal and professional opportunities. By taking time to understand the financial system, immigrants can create a solid foundation for their new life. This could mean the difference between surviving and thriving during ...

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Find Free Immigration Legal Services in the U.S.

Consulting with an experienced immigration attorney is important if you are hoping to permanently live in the U.S. Christina Elhaddad is an immigration attorney in New Jersey. In this guest blog post, she explains how to find a qualified lawyer to handle your ...

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5 Cyber Security Tips for Studying Abroad in the U.S.

Studying abroad gives you the chance to experience a different culture, make new friends, receive a unique education, and improve your résumé. If you would like to study abroad in the United States, you might be wondering what to expect and how to ...

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6 Tips for Developing Your Personal Brand on Social Media

WES Ambassador Yetunde Oshinkale is a doctorate student in educational psychology in the U.S. In this blog post, she shares six social media strategies that will help you build your network and develop your own personal brand. You can improve how you represent ...

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Success Story: ‘My Canadian Career Journey’

WES Ambassador Flavia Torres was born in Venezuela but found career success as an immigrant in Canada. Now, she wants to share her story with other skilled immigrants. Her journey did not end when her family settled in Toronto, however; that was just ...

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Express Entry to Canada: Learn About the IELTS

Please enjoy this guest blog post from WES Expert Ambassador Tony Rusinak, a Canadian immigration consultant and specialist on the IELTS. In this article, you will find information on the following topics: What Is Express Entry? How Do You Apply for Express Entry ...

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Obtaining Employment in a Regulated Profession in Ontario

If you are an internationally trained professional interested in working in Ontario in a regulated profession—keep reading. Key takeaways from our recent live webinar, “Licensed Professions in Ontario: Pathways to Licensure and Employment,” are summarized below. Our panelist, Client and Business Services Advisor ...

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Health Insurance for International Students in the U.S.

If you plan to study abroad in the United States, you will likely need to enroll in a student health insurance plan. Unlike in many other countries, it does not offer universal health care. Private companies provide most health insurance plans. Health care ...

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How to Pass the CPA Exam

Ken Boyd is an Expert Ambassador and former Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who brings a wealth of business experience to the world of education. In this blog post, he tackles the subject of the CPA exam, one of the most difficult professional exams ...

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Building Resilience Through Professional Networking

Jenny Okonkwo, an accountant by profession, settled in Toronto in 2006. In this guest blog post, she shares her arrival story and expert tips for networking in Canada. Continue reading for useful tips about overcoming challenges in a new country, building a professional network, ...

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How to Prepare for the 2020 H-1B Lottery and Cap Gap

If you are looking for the newest information, find updates for the 2021 H-1B lottery here. Are you ready for the 2020 H-1B lottery? Last year, the H-1B visa filing period began April 1, and it was no joke: The maximum limit of ...

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How to Write Personal Essays for U.S. Universities

Mariel S. Tavakoli is a WES Expert Ambassador who recently graduated from the University of Oxford. Her studies focused on helping international students prepare personal statements in English. Below, she provides essential insights about how to prepare a personal essay that will improve ...

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Top 5: STEM Majors for International Students

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 8.6 million STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) jobs available in the United States as of 2015. With such a high demand for qualified employees, STEM students should feel confident in their prospects ...

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Will the Closing of U.S. Immigration Offices Impact Your Journey to the United States?

On March 12, United States President Donald Trump announced that he was planning to close all international immigration offices. This closure, which would potentially impact 21 immigration offices around the world, would take place in the coming months—barring any unlikely pushback from the ...

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Embracing the Change: Life in the United States

It takes a lot of courage to start over in a new country. But you might not always feel brave. Processing your emotions is a normal part of the immigration journey, and you are not alone. Please enjoy the following guest blog post ...

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Leverage Your International Training and Skills in Your U.S. Job Search

So, you have arrived in the United States and now need employment. But you feel intimidated because you do not have work experience in the U.S. Remember that your international professional experience is valuable in your new home country—you just need to think ...

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Take Your Career to the Next Level: A Newcomer’s Guide to Professional Success

How can newcomers move forward with their careers once they arrive in the United States or Canada? There isn’t just one secret to success that fits every immigrant. Professional success is achieved through a series of strategies, actions, and tools. As an experienced ...

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Expanding Your Comfort Zone as an International Student

What does it mean when someone says to “leave your comfort zone”? When someone is in their “comfort zone,” it means that their conditions that are familiar, their challenges are not too difficult, or their experiences are always within their control. When you ...

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Answers to Your Indian Credential Evaluation Questions

Getting your credentials evaluated is an important part of migrating from India to the United States or Canada. To complete the process as easily as possible with World Education Services (WES), you must carefully follow all of the instructions during the application process. ...

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Modify Your Order: Add or Remove a Credential

For any variety of reasons, sometimes the person requesting a credential evaluation will need to modify the order after the process has already started. Should you find yourself in that situation, here are the steps to follow if you need to add or ...

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Effects of a U.S. Government Shutdown on Immigration

On December 22, 2018, the United States federal government went into a partial shutdown. It lasted 35 days. This was because President Donald Trump and Congress could not agree on border security funding. The president’s insistence on $5.7 billion in funding to build ...

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Updated for 2019: Preparing for the F-1 Visa Interview

The F-1 student visa interview can be an intimidating experience. Not only do you have to be prepared with the required documentation and receipts, you also need to be ready to answer questions regarding your future plans and motivation behind studying in the ...

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What Is a Good GRE Score?

If you are planning to go to graduate school in the U.S., you may be required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). The GRE is an exam that evaluates your ability to succeed at graduate school. Although not all graduate schools and programs ...

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Keys to Success for International Students in the U.S.

More students than ever are leaving their home countries to pursue or continue their higher education. According to data from UNESCO, in 2016 more than 4.8 million students crossed an international border to pursue their study goals. Yet many who go to North ...

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How to Select the Right Canadian Province Depending Upon Your Immigration Goals

Most people who move to a new country have an immigration goal in mind. Often, they are pursuing one of the following: Better job opportunities A higher standard of living More individual freedom or a more open-minded society However, once you have a ...

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Understanding College Admissions in Ontario

International students might want to learn about their academic options in Ontario, Canada. That’s because the province has the largest population in the country. It’s also the most multicultural province, offering a variety of opportunities in business, science, and the arts. But most ...

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U.S. Financial Aid Options for International Students

The United States is one of the most desirable destinations for international students. Many of its higher education institutions are considered the best in the world. According to the Institute of International Education, despite the more recent dip in international student numbers, the recorded number ...

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What to Expect After You Receive Your WES Credential Evaluation

Getting a credential evaluation is an important step toward furthering your education and career. But once you get started, you are likely to have some questions about the credential evaluation process. You might also wonder how you can fully use your report to ...

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How to Upgrade Your WES Credential Evaluation Report

Did you know that you can upgrade your completed credential evaluation online through My Account? You can think of an upgrade as an update. It means that you are purchasing a new service or adding a new educational credential to your equivalency report for ...

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11 Survival Strategies for Professionals Migrating to the U.S.

A move to a new home is typically disruptive and stressful, so imagine all that is involved in relocating to another country! For professionals moving to the United States, planning, organizing, and making checklists are all in order. Invariably, however, a successful transnational ...

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Are U.S. Higher Education Institutions Easy to Get Into, But Hard to Graduate From?

Many students and parents in China have heard that U.S. higher education institutions (HEIs) are “easy to get into, hard to graduate from.” The U.S. college admissions process is relatively easy, compared to China’s National College Entrance Examination. Therefore, Chinese students feel like ...

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Important Sources of Financial Aid for Nigerian Students

Are you a Nigerian student who is hoping to continue your education in the United States? Studying abroad is expensive, especially in the U.S. The total cost of attending a school includes accommodation, food expenses, travel costs, health insurance, textbooks, and tuition fees. ...

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7 Ways to Make the WES Credential Evaluation Process Work for You

Are you a professional considering migrating to the United States? Before you emigrate, several issues will need your thoughtful attention. Did you know that credential evaluation is one of them? Thankfully, the credential evaluation process can be relatively pain-free, depending on how you ...

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Employment in Canada: A Year in Review and Projecting Forward

As we flip the calendar to a new year, we take a look back at some of the key takeaways from our webinars in 2018. There are ten big lessons that you can take into the coming year that will serve you well ...

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4 Ways International Students Can Boost Their Scholarship Chances

With the cost of tuition on the rise in the United States, most students look for scholarships to fund their education. But finding scholarships for international students can be time-consuming. While the scholarship application process can be tedious and competitive, there are several ...

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Submitting Transcripts to WES Through CHESICC

Sometimes, individuals applying to World Education Services (WES) from China are concerned that China Higher Education Student Information and Career Center (CHESICC) will not verify their credentials in time for them to complete their applications. They often reach out to us, asking: Is ...

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Behind the Scenes of the Credential Evaluation Process

After sending your documents to WES, you can check your status in My Account to learn when we have processed them in our system. Once your documents have been processed, our evaluators carefully review them to produce your credential evaluation report. While you ...

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Practicing Dentistry in Canada as an Internationally Trained Professional

In Canada, dentistry is a regulated profession that requires its professionals to obtain certification and licensure before they can become eligible for employment. The National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) oversees the general dentist certification process of both Canadian graduates and those ...

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How to Use Your Credential Evaluation for Employment, Education, and Professional Licensure

A credential evaluation can help you gain access to educational and employment opportunities in the United States and Canada. The benefits of a credential evaluation report include: Receive recognition for your previous studies. Meet requirements for university admissions. Transfer earned credits from your ...

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Becoming an IT Professional in Canada

One of the functions of information technology (IT) professionals is to manage the network servers of a company. Because nearly all businesses have network servers, the IT field touches on virtually every part of today’s economy. With their specialized education, skills, and training, ...

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Changes to the Unlawful Presence Policy in the U.S.

For international students and exchange visitors in the United States, things changed dramatically, if quietly, on August 9, 2018. On that date, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published guidance that swiftly altered how “unlawful presence”—being in the country without legal status—can now ...

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Announcing the Winner of the 2018 International Education Week Essay Contest!

To celebrate International Education Week 2018, WES Advisor asked readers to send submissions to our annual essay contest. International Education Week essay contest participants were instructed to write about their best piece of advice for prospective international students considering studying abroad in the ...

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2018 International Education Week Essay Contest: Second-Place Runner-Up

To celebrate International Education Week 2018, WES Advisor asked readers to send submissions to our annual essay contest. Essay contest participants were instructed to write about their best piece of advice for prospective international students. We received many excellent submissions, and we would ...

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2018 International Education Week Essay Contest: Third-Place Runner-Up

To celebrate International Education Week (IEW) 2018, WES Advisor asked readers to send submissions to our annual essay contest. IEW essay contest participants were instructed to write about their best piece of advice for prospective international students considering studying abroad in the U.S. ...

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2018 International Education Week Essay Contest: Fourth-Place Runner-Up

To celebrate International Education Week (IEW) 2018, WES Advisor asked readers to send submissions to our annual essay contest. Essay contest participants were instructed to write about their best piece of advice for prospective international students considering studying abroad in the U.S. We received ...

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How to Pursue STEM Studies in the U.S.

The 20th century saw the splitting of the atom, the decoding of the cell, and the accelerated development of the computer. The scientific innovations of the 21st century will be equally dynamic, as experts harness our capacities in the combined fields of science, ...

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Understanding the Hiring Process

To be effective in finding employment, you first need to understand how the hiring process works. In a recent webinar, we spoke with two hiring professionals about the process. They shared their insights so job seekers can set clear expectations and meet the ...

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Employment Options for Students on an F-1 Visa

If you are an international student in the United States, you have the opportunity of working either full time or part time. It is important to remember, however, that you must follow the rules pertaining to your visa status. You must remain aware ...

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Enter to Win the 2018 IEW Essay Contest

We are excited to announce the 2018 International Education Week (IEW) essay contest, which is now accepting submissions! IEW, which takes place November 12 – 16, 2018, is a U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Education initiative that promotes international education, study abroad, ...

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6 Reasons Your Credential Evaluation Might Be Put on Hold

You have filled out your forms and sent in all the appropriate documents. You are eager to receive word that your credential evaluation is in process. But instead, you get a status update that your report is on hold. What does that mean? ...

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4 Time-Management Tips for College Students

Time management is an important skill for college students to master. You are most likely navigating a full class schedule—along with your other responsibilities. So how can you better manage your time? Here are four great tips: 1. Hang Up Your Cell Phone ...

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How to Prepare for the Duolingo English Test

The Duolingo English Test is an English proficiency test that fulfills admissions requirements for international applicants at many universities in the United States and Canada. Unlike the TOEFL and IELTS, the Duolingo English Test is taken on demand, from your computer. Related Reading ...

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National Occupational Classification: Your First Step Toward Express Entry

Immigrating to Canada is a dream for many who want to live in a land of equality, opportunity, and safety. Hundreds of possible routes and programs can get you here, and given their sheer number, it is no wonder that prospective immigrants are ...

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What Happens After You Send Your Documents to WES?

If you have decided to pursue a WES credential evaluation, you will need to fill out an online application, pay all necessary fees, and send WES your documents in the required format as specified on our website. After completing these steps, you must ...

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How to Connect with Employers in Canada

In a recent webinar, we discussed job search strategies with ACCES Employment and Seneca College to explore the approaches job seekers should use to successfully connect with prospective employers. We addressed such issues as penetrating the hidden job market, and establishing relationships with ...

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How to Transition from an Associate to a Bachelor’s Degree

In the United States, many students begin their postsecondary education at a community college, and then transfer to a university. Typically, they earn an associate degree in two years and then change schools in order to earn their bachelor’s degree. This allows students ...

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Understanding the Duolingo English Test

If you are applying to a university in the United States or Canada, you will likely be required to take a test that assesses your English ability. You may be familiar with common tests of English skill, like the TOEFL and IELTS. The ...

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Post-Secondary Education Fairs in Ontario

For international students, it can be intimidating to choose a post-secondary institution in Canada. One way to make the process easier is to do your research. Thankfully, this doesn’t have to be a big ordeal. You can simply attend a post-secondary education fair. ...

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Updated September Timeline for International Students: Are You on Track?

Fall is upon us. If you recently started a new semester, welcome back to school! Or, if you are gearing up for the admissions cycle, it’s time to start focusing on your priorities. September should be the month when you lay the groundwork ...

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Tips for Staying Organized in College

Staying organized throughout college is essential to successfully passing your classes. Below are a few important tips to keep in mind to ensure high achievement in the classroom. Being organized in your classes will help you complete your assignments on time and study ...

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Considering Life and Work Outside of Canadian Urban Centres

WES teamed up with the Newcomer Centre of Peel and its Rural Employment Initiative program to showcase in a recent webinar the opportunities and lifestyles in small to medium-sized towns and villages in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, 70 percent of immigrants settle ...

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How to Begin the WES Evaluation Process

To begin the process of having your international credentials evaluated, first fill out the WES application, and then send your documents to WES. These two actions represent the first steps in obtaining a credential evaluation of your internationally earned degree or course work. ...

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New U.S. Visa Policy Affects International Students

Each year, over a million international students start or continue their studies in the United States. However, the F-1 visa policies that impact these students change frequently. If you are an international student, it is important to understand the policies and procedures that ...

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Isha Zade’s Journey in Canada: Pre- and Post-Arrival Tips

If you are planning to move to Canada, Isha Zade’s journey may provide some insight into what your own will be like. We asked Isha about her experiences before and after she arrived in her new home country. Isha, who was born in ...

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The 10 Most Affordable Private Colleges in the U.S.

There are hundreds of colleges and universities in the United States. It can be exciting, but also challenging, to determine which one is the best match for your academic and career goals. For international students, the cost of tuition is likely to play ...

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Vocational Training and Technical Education in Canada

Have you considered vocational training in Canada? Many newcomers don’t know what vocational education is or they aren’t aware of how it can help them achieve their career goals. Vocational training refers to job-specific technical training. It prepares students for working in the ...

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How to Survive Your First Year of College

When initially thinking of starting college, many students feel a rush of excitement. College is an opportunity for students to pursue their dreams, try new things, and become independent. As excited as some students get when they think of college, there is usually ...

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How a Credential Evaluation Can Help You Find Employment

One of the most important job search skills is understanding the perspective of an employer. Most employers use job postings to describe the specific skills and attributes they seek. However, if you want to stand out from other applicants,  you should think past ...

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Email Etiquette 101 for International Students

WES research shows that 88 percent of international students check, read, or send emails at least once a day. In fact, during their college search, 62 percent of international students used mobile devices to communicate with admissions staff in the United States. Therefore, ...

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Updated Document Requirements for China

Because of recent changes in the higher education academic credential verification process in China, WES has modified the document requirements for applicants seeking to have their Chinese academic credentials evaluated. To help you understand the new document requirements, we have compiled a list ...

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6 Skills That International Students Offer Employers

As an international student, you have numerous highly valuable soft skills and abilities. You may focus only on the technical skills you have acquired from your international and current education in the U.S. or Canada. However, to effectively present your strengths to prospective ...

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A Physician’s Immigrant Journey to Canada

Warda Bhatti is an internationally trained doctor and WES Ambassador. She migrated from Pakistan to Canada, where her medical licence was not recognized. In Ontario, Warda pursued continuing education in order to get certified and continue her career as a physician. Below, she ...

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Provincial Nominee Programs: Your Express Entry Advantage

Most of Canada’s provinces and territories have what are known as Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Immigrants can apply for permanent residence through these PNPs. Then, each year, the government will nominate a number of applicants for residency. Candidates qualify through a system called ...

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The Value of Professional Associations for Newcomers to Canada

As a newcomer to Canada, you may face several challenges during your job search. For example, many people arrive with no professional network, no local work experience, and no way to establish their reputation. Thankfully, there are a multitude of useful resources available. ...

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Updated FAQs: Public Health Programs in the U.S.

Many international students apply to public health programs in the U.S. because they want to pursue a career in the rapidly growing health care industry and make an impact by helping others. WES Advisor sat down with Megan Garber, the Associate Director of ...

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10 Tips for Taking the CAEL Exam

The Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) assessment is a test designed to measure the English language proficiency of students planning to study in Canadian post-secondary institutions. The exam is an important part of your journey to study in Canada because it measures your ...

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How to Get Involved in Social Activities on Campus

College is one of the most important experiences in any individual’s life. During your college years, you discover your passions and interests. You start trying to answer one important question: “What is my purpose in life?” Getting involved in the activities and clubs ...

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Tools to Help You Understand the Canadian Labour Market

Looking for a job in Canada? First, it’s important to understand the Canadian labour market and your role in it. Preliminary research will help you identify the best job opportunities based on your skills. In a recent webinar, we discussed the importance of ...

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U.S. Scholarships for Nigerian Students

Are you shocked when you see the cost of studying abroad in the U.S.? At first, the costs may seem impossibly high, but there are many scholarships available to international students. We want you to pursue your dreams of furthering your education and ...

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How to Market Your International Education to Employers

As you immigrate to a new country, you bring a wealth of international experience and a global perspective with you. At most companies, your diversity will be embraced and valued. However, you may face some barriers to entering the job market because employers ...

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How to Get Into Graduate School in the U.S.

Why did I come to the U.S. for graduate school? Although I have always been passionate about schooling abroad, gaining global exposure, and experiencing new things, I was not well informed about how to study abroad and the prerequisites for doing so. In ...

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Spotlight on Success: Joseph Akhras

Joseph Akhras is an Academic Records Specialist at WES in Toronto. He came to Canada in 2016 as a Syrian refugee. We recently spoke to him about his path to Canada, his future plans, and his hopes for other refugees and immigrants coming ...

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How to Write a Successful Research Grant Application

Writing a research grant application, as with most things, is an acquired skill. But, with practice and by applying a few successful techniques, you can increase your odds of receiving a research grant. As an academic and behavioral scientist, I have realized the ...

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Basic Software Skills All Job Seekers Should Have

Computers are an integral part of most of our lives. Almost everyone accesses the internet through a computer, laptop, or smartphone for personal use, while companies require computers for increasingly complex functions, such as engineering designs and data analysis. A computer in and ...

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Essential Strategies for Building a Successful Career in Canada

There is a lot of information available to internationally educated professionals about how to find meaningful employment in Canada. A quick web search or a conversation with a friend or family member will provide a good deal of information and perhaps varying perspectives ...

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Homestay: A Unique Housing Option for International Students

For many international students, attending university overseas is the first time that they will be away from home on their own. One of the most difficult parts of adjusting to life in a new country is often becoming familiar with a new culture ...

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Finding an On-Campus Job

Over the years, as an international student, I have realized that it takes a village to secure an on-campus job. It can take months and sometimes years of preparation. Before working on my PhD in the U.S., I knew little about the strategies ...

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5 Strategies to Launch Your Career Before Coming to Canada

Making the decision to immigrate to Canada is exciting and courageous. The months leading up to your arrival will be an emotional time as you prepare for life in your new home country. The anticipation of your move can be overwhelming. However, there ...

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Finding Value in Community with Professional Immigrant Networks

What do organizations like the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association, Indo-Canadian Community of Professionals, and the Chinese Workers Support Network have in common? They are all examples of professional immigrant associations. Volunteer-led and run by skilled immigrants, each association is organized based on a ...

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3 Tips for Gaining Work Experience

Now that I work a full-time job and my school days are behind me, I have been doing some retrospective thinking. What were the surprises, issues, and experiences that shaped my journey? Among the many things that come to mind, one that stands ...

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How Project Management Skills Can Help Your Career

According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), project management is defined as “the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements.” It is essentially managing a project through to completion through careful coordination with your team. ...

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What to Expect When Working with a Canadian Recruiter

Recruitment companies can be an accessible avenue for job leads in Canada. Skilled immigrants are seen as highly attractive and eligible candidates, particularly for recruiters working with companies that value diversity. With a better understanding of the process and how to stand out, ...

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How to Apply to Canadian Universities and Colleges

Canadian universities and colleges provide high-quality post-secondary education, and they are accepting more and more applications from international students. However, there are some unique characteristics of post-secondary education in Canada to keep in mind. One important distinction is that, in Canada, universities refer ...

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College and University in Canada: What Is the Difference?

Roughly 53 percent of Canadians over the age of 15 have completed some level of postsecondary education, attending either a university, college, vocational school, or collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (CÉGEP). In Canada, each province or territory is responsible for designating schools at ...

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Spotlight on Success: Ramanuj Basu

Ramanuj Basu is an internationally educated lawyer from India who immigrated to Canada in pursuit of a fulfilling life and career. Ramanuj’s career pathway in Canada is a reflection of the drive, sacrifices, and energy it takes to be successful as an internationally ...

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Best Practices for Switching Fields of Study

If you were on an admissions committee, what do you think your expectation would be of a student who majored in a different field than the one they are applying for? What would be your concerns? Sometimes it can be a good thing ...

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Determining College Fit: Five Steps to Narrowing Down Your College List

There are over 5,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. Big, small, urban, rural—name what you are looking for, and you are bound to find it. As a consequence, it can be easy for international students to become overwhelmed with choices or to ...

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How to Make the Most of In-Person Networking Events

When you sign up to participate in career fairs, networking events, or professional development conferences, it is beneficial for you to ensure you make the most out of your attendance. Events like these are a great way to connect with other professionals who ...

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Financial Aid Options for International Students at Canadian Universities

Canadian universities are seeing ever-increasing numbers of international students, but these students often face challenges, such as high tuition and fees. Most of the universities in Canada are publicly funded, which helps to keep tuition fees lower than in some other countries, while ...

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The U.S. Admissions Process: Admitting Classmates, Not Just Students

Just what is the college admission sweet spot? In other words, what is that magic combination of grades, test scores, activities, and essays that will wow a U.S. admissions officer and get an international applicant admitted? Truth be told, it is hard to ...

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Applying to Safety, Target, and Reach Schools

Harvard. Yale. Stanford. MIT. These are all universities you have probably heard of, and for good reason: They are among the most highly ranked, prestigious universities in the U.S. That also means they are very, very hard to get into. With schools this ...

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Spotlight on Success: Gauthami Vijayakumar

Gauthami Vijayakumar is an instructional designer from India working in New York City. After receiving a WES Course-by-Course credential evaluation, she left India to pursue a master’s degree in instructional design at New York University (NYU). WES Advisor recently caught up with Gauthami ...

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How to Prepare for the IELTS Test with New Resources from IDP

You finally did it. You booked your IELTS test. You spent countless hours learning English. Vocabulary worksheets, essay homework, oral presentations, grammar correction—the list goes on and on. And now it is time for the big test. It is the test for immigration, ...

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A Guide to Universities in North America for Students with Special Needs

The great thing about the modern age is that we understand that everybody deserves a chance despite physical challenges. And, with people like Ludwig van Beethoven, Franklin Roosevelt, Helen Keller, and Frida Kahlo, who broke barriers and showed the world they were more ...

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5 Daily Habits to Keep You Focused and Healthy at College

Are you struggling to stay focused this semester? There is always something going on for college students, including school projects, time spent with friends, and extracurricular activities. I live and study in New York City as an international student, and I exercise five ...

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The Differences Between Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities

International students often wonder what the differences are between liberal arts colleges (LACs) and national universities in the U.S., and which is a better option. The answers to these questions depend on your personal preferences, interests, educational needs, and career prospects. Before applying ...

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How to Stay Organized During the College Application Process

The process of applying to college can be overwhelming, especially when applying to more than one university. As one anonymous author noted, “The best way to get something done is to begin,” but oftentimes different programs have different application forms, different requirements, and ...

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The Differences Between PhD Studies in the U.S. and Canada

North America is often seen as the epicenter of education, research, and innovation. This lures many prospective PhD students from all around the world. In fact, international student enrollment in Canada increased 11 percent in the last year, mainly as a result of ...

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Navigating Employment Services in Canada

If you are interested in building your career, making connections in your field, or even gaining work experience, taking advantage of the many free employment services available in Canada is a great way to start your journey. Employment services are offered by non-profit ...

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English Proficiency: Mastering the CELPIP Test

The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) is a multi-purpose English test that allows test takers to demonstrate their ability to function in English. The CELPIP has two versions: the CELPIP-General Test that measures four skills areas—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—and the ...

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Fitting In at a U.S. University

Sweaty palms. Jittery limbs. Bouts of insomnia. Pangs of doubt. These come, literally, with the territory. The decision to study abroad, regardless of the destination, comes with some anxiety. You may have been dreaming about studying in the U.S. your whole life. Or ...

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Top 5 Resources for Internationally Educated Nurses in Canada

As an internationally educated professional in the field of nursing, it can be difficult to make sense of all the tools and resources that have been designed to help you make informed decisions about your career in Canada. With this in mind, World ...

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Résumé Formats: Which One Makes the Most Sense?

Have you started writing your first proper résumé but are already stuck? You probably assumed there is one official, proper résumé format, but it turns out there are three. It can be difficult to decide which résumé format makes the most sense for you. In this ...

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From Brazil to the U.S.: A PhD Dream

Leaving Brazil to do a PhD abroad was not a goal I had established, but rather something that started to make more and more sense until it became the logical next step in my life. Approximately 10 years ago, I left an industry ...

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Understanding WES Required Documents

If you are seeking education or employment opportunities in the United States or Canada, then you will want an accurate record of your existing academic credentials. (Academic credentials are qualifications or titles that you earned at an educational institution. Examples include: a bachelor’s ...

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Applying to Graduate Programs in Canada

So, you know that you plan to go to graduate school and that you want to attend a program in North America, preferably Canada. What next? High-quality graduate programs are offered at nearly every university in Canada, and they are very competitive, especially ...

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Job Hunting with Limited Work Experience

Whether you are a new immigrant, a student, or changing careers, you are not alone: We have all started out having little to no work experience. You may have asked yourself, “How do I gain experience when experience is a requirement for most ...

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How to Deal with Academic Stress in College and Graduate School

A lot of people may have said to you, “We’re almost there!” especially before exams. But that may not help much. The stress is still there, deadlines are around the corner, and assignments are piling up. Hitting the library and sticking your head ...

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How North American Universities Evaluate Your Chinese Degree

During the 2016-2017 school year, Chinese students accounted for over 30 percent of the international student populations in both the U.S. and Canada. In fact, China is the top source of international students for universities across North America. If you hope to study ...

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Challenges Facing International Students on Campus

Studying in the U.S. is an exciting goal for many international students. And many students are pursuing their goals by studying abroad in the U.S. According to the Institute of International Education (IIE), in 2013, the recorded number of international students who studied in the U.S. increased ...

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Spotlight on Success: Joulaika Buchan

Our Spotlight on Success series focuses on immigrants who have utilized their skills, experience, education, and personal qualities to succeed in Canada. This month we are happy to feature Joulaika Buchan, MSW, RSW. Joulaika currently works as a program manager in a community-based ...

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5 Common Misconceptions About Studying in the U.S.

Let me start by saying that I have been there. I was an international graduate student in Indiana trying to study hard, getting all the training I could get, and working part-time to pay my bills. For the past five years, I have ...

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Understanding and Highlighting Your Credential Evaluation GPA in the Admissions Process

We receive many questions from international students about how grade point average (GPA) is calculated for the WES course-by-course evaluation, the credential evaluation required by international students for graduate admissions, undergraduate transfer admissions, and professional licensing purposes. The course-by-course evaluation determines your GPA ...

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How to Become a Physiotherapist in the United States

Are you looking to have a lucrative career in the health care industry by becoming a physiotherapist in the United States? Then continue reading. This blog post will provide recommendations for what you need to do to start a career as a physiotherapist ...

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Announcing the Winner of the 2017 International Education Week Essay Contest!

To celebrate International Education Week 2017, WES Advisor asked readers to send submissions to our annual essay contest. This year’s prompt was inspired by a quote from St. Augustine: “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one ...

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2017 International Education Week Essay Contest: Second-Place

To celebrate International Education Week 2017, WES Advisor asked readers to send submissions to our annual essay contest. This year’s prompt was inspired by a quote from St. Augustine: “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one ...

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2017 International Education Week Essay Contest: Third-Place Runner-Up

To celebrate International Education Week 2017, WES Advisor asked readers to send submissions to our annual essay contest. This year’s prompt was inspired by a quote from St. Augustine: “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one ...

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2017 International Education Week Essay Contest: Fourth-Place Runner-Up

To celebrate International Education Week 2017, WES Advisor asked readers to send submissions to our annual essay contest. This year’s prompt was inspired by a quote from St. Augustine: “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one ...

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A Guide to Studying in the U.S. for International Students with Disabilities

Studying abroad is an exciting opportunity. You get to see new places, meet new people, and learn about a completely different culture. Ask anyone who has studied abroad, and they will most likely tell you it was the best time of their lives. ...

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6 Tips for International Students in New York City

If you’re coming to New York City to improve your English, to study for a new degree, or if you want to continue your education here as a transfer student, then this blog post is for you. I remember my first day in New ...

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Joining a Social Cause on Your College Campus

Going to college happens at a time in your life when you can decide what you’re most passionate about. This includes deciding what your convictions are and how you feel about what is happening around the world. A place full of ideas, your ...

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How to Determine Company Culture When Applying for a Job

Company culture is a complex subject that is important to consider when deciding where you want to work. In the simplest terms, company culture is a combination of the beliefs, values, goals, community, environment, and anything else that guides the general ethos of ...

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International Students in the United States: Fall 2017 Enrollment Trends

The International Institute of Education (IIE) has published its latest report on the expectations for international student enrollment at U.S. higher education institutions for fall 201 7. How is the United States’ shifting political climate affecting enrollment at colleges and universities? And has ...

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Mastering Soft Skills in the Workplace

Soft skills may not be quantifiable, but they can affect both the interview process and future job performance. When marketing yourself and considering how you fit into an advertised role, it’s natural to focus on technical capacities listed in a job description. Although ...

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How to Follow Up After an Interview

If you have read articles or attended workshops on how to do well in an interview, you have likely heard that it is important to ask for the interviewer’s business card and follow up afterward. Following up is essential not only for learning ...

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The Top 6 Job Interview Types

If you have been through a company’s hiring process, then you know job interviews vary in type, intensity, and duration. From undergoing an initial screening process to meeting with multiple interviewers, the process can be manageable once you know what to expect. The ...

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Ask a Human Resources Manager: The Hiring Process

As a job seeker, it can often feel like you are on the outside looking in during the hiring process. To help shed some light on what happens from the employer’s side of things, we sat down with World Education Services’ very own ...

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5 Questions to Ask in Your Next Job Interview

If you have done your research, you should know that asking questions at the end of a job interview is just as important as the questions you answered throughout. Just because the interviewer isn’t asking you questions doesn’t mean that you aren’t still ...

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5 Financial Mistakes Many College Freshmen Make

The years one spends in college are a unique and transformative time and are particularly exciting in the very beginning. It is a time when college freshmen leave their parents’ home for perhaps the first time. They are being asked to take on ...

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4 Degree Subjects That Will Help You Start Your Own Business

Where did all the great visionaries and entrepreneurs learn the tricks of the trade? Although some well-known business pioneers were college dropouts (Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs), they are exceptions to the rule. The rest of the world’s great industry leaders, who built ...

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August Timeline for International Students: Are You on Track?

Application season has already started so make sure to stay on track with WES Advisor. The following checklists will help ensure you complete all the necessary steps in time. If You Are Enrolling for Fall 2018 Get started on the Common Application. If you ...

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Top 10 Mistakes Students Make on College Applications

Before being accepted into a college or university, students have to first submit a lengthy application. Applying to a school is very similar to applying for a job, and you should give the best impression you can on paper for admissions staff and ...

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How Literacy Levels Can Impact Your Career

Job developers, employers, and recruiters will tell you that strong communication skills are one of the most important factors in finding, maintaining, and succeeding in your job. Effective communication has the largest impact on both employer and employee satisfaction and can help to ...

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What Is an Informational Interview and Why Is It So Important?

As a job seeker, you most likely have applied to countless job postings, spent many hours scouring the Internet for relevant industry information, and skillfully crafted your résumé to impress potential employers. But have you ever met with a professional in the field ...

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Top 10 Tips for Arriving On Campus

As an international student who has just landed in a new country, it is important to take the necessary steps to familiarize yourself with your new environment and school. Here are 10 things you should do to ensure that your school year is ...

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Top 10 In-Demand Technology Careers

As the world becomes increasingly globalized, many countries are competing to attract and retain skilled workers to grow local economies. Since implementing a points-based system in the 1960s, the government of Canada has become a leader in transforming immigration. In 2015, the government ...

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How to Build Your Social Network On and Off Campus

When I first came to the United States to attend college, I was highly inspired by the open culture on campus and the students’ incredible passion toward this culture. I quickly learned that communication styles varied among student groups, and also when networking ...

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Standardized Tests and How to Ace Them

Standardized tests give most people a lot of anxiety. If you are applying for a graduate degree in the U.S. or Canada, you will have to take one of the following exams: Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) Law School ...

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Job Searching in the Summer

The recruitment process tends to function on a cycle, and there is usually decreased activity by the third quarter of the year. This can mean fewer new job postings in some industries and a delayed hiring process due to having key decision makers ...

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Welcome to Our New Site!

Welcome to our new website! It’s now easier than ever to find useful information and order a credential evaluation on WES.org. The redesigned site streamlines the application process for international students and immigrants who are planning their journeys to the U.S. or Canada. ...

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Paths to Employment in Canada for Licensed Professionals

Working in the career counselling profession for a combined 25 years, counsellors Deborah Canales and Jesse Morrice have helped hundreds of internationally trained individuals (ITIs) prepare for licensure and employment in Ontario’s regulated professions. In the following interview, Ms. Canales and Mr. Morrice ...

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WES Credential Evaluations for Ukrainian Students

Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe with a high literacy rate of 99.8 percent. The official language of instruction is Ukrainian, but some programs are offered in Russian and English to accommodate foreign students. The academic year runs from September to ...

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Top 4 Reasons to Stay Healthy While Building Your Career

Sending gifts to our friends and relatives back in our home countries is a common practice among immigrants. Before Facebook and WhatsApp, these gifts would usually be sent with photographs from our new homes. I remember looking at pictures of my cousins and ...

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Credential Evaluation and Credential Recognition: What Is the Difference?

Your education is the foundation of your career. Therefore, it can be frustrating when you cannot apply your credentials once you arrive in North America. But you should not have to start over. That’s why it’s important for skilled immigrants to consider a ...

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Living and Working in the Yukon

Welcome to Canada’s westernmost territory. Shaped like a right triangle—it shares a 1,210 kilometre-long straight border with Alaska on the west—the territory is named after the Yukon River. Renowned in Canada’s history for the Klondike gold rush, Yukon today is a place with a ...

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Celebrating World Refugee Day with Syrian Canadian Refugee Mustafa Alio

On the first morning after his arrival in Canada, Mustafa Alio stared out the window and thought to himself, “Why is there so much dust outside?” It was not dust that was swirling in the air. They were snowflakes. Mustafa Alio laughed as ...

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6 Free Apps for International Students in the U.S.

Your academic achievements in the U.S. play a significant role when you are applying for internships, summer jobs, and student-run organizations. Aside from maintaining good grades, it can be difficult to transition to a new life in the U.S. Luckily, your smartphone can ...

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How to Start your Medical Laboratory Science Career in Canada

The Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) is the national association and certifying body for medical laboratory professionals in Canada. CSMLS also offers prior learning services of internationally trained medical laboratory technologists (IEMLTs) for all provinces and territories except for Quebec. CSMLS ...

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Silicon Valley North: The Toronto-Waterloo Corridor

The Toronto-Waterloo region, often referred to simply as the corridor, is home to thousands of tech startups and multinational companies. The Toronto-Waterloo strip spans 112 kilometers, making it the second largest global innovation technology cluster in North America. The corridor is now competing ...

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Digital Micro-Credentials: Paving Your Pathway to Integration

It can be difficult to come from another country and build a new career. Your foreign qualifications and experience are often not fully recognized. The country-specific work experience you need for good jobs can be hard to get, especially in your field. And ...

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Top 6 Tips for Using LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a leading social networking platform that can connect you to nearly half a billion professionals around the world. It is a powerful online tool that helps you explore new contacts and careers, and is an easy way to stay up to ...

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My Journey to Studying Economics in New York City

I was 16 years old when I left my home country of Iran to study abroad in England. I was enrolled in a two-year International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) program, but after my first year in England, I decided to continue my education in ...

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Resources for Professional Licensure in North America

When it comes to obtaining professional certification and licensure in North America, it is important to access the right resources to find the information you need. Professional boards and agencies generally require a credential evaluation. A WES evaluation can help speed up the ...

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Credential Evaluations for Accounting Examination Candidates

For internationally educated candidates who plan to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exams, it is important to follow specific instructions when applying for a credential evaluation with World Education Services (WES). To ensure that your evaluation ...

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Earning Your Teaching Certification in the U.S.

If you are an internationally educated teacher who wants to continue your career in the U.S., World Education Services (WES) can help you by evaluating your foreign teaching credentials. Here are some general requirements for internationally educated individuals who want to become a ...

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From Kenya to Canada: Caroline Ausukuya’s Journey

Caroline Ausukuya left Kenya to accept a work placement opportunity at World Education Services (WES) in 2002. That opportunity turned into a managerial position at our offices in Canada. Caroline now oversees a team of 14. Learn more about how her immigration journey ...

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10 Essential Tips for Career Success

Establishing yourself professionally in a new country can take time. As a newcomer, you might face challenging obstacles (even if you have a lot of experience from your home country). Although many factors are out of your control, you can take charge of ...

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WES Credential Evaluations for Russian Students

The estimated population of Russia is 142 million. With a literacy rate of 98 percent, Russia is one of the most educated countries in Western Europe. In this post, we will review the structure of Russian education and how Russian students translate their ...

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Spotlight on Success: Manjushree Thapa (Part 2)

[This is continued from Part 1 of Manjushree Thapa’s interview.] This is such a clichéd question, but has the proliferation of social media opened up more opportunities for writers? It has created a lot of platforms, so I think it is actually a good ...

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5 Tips for Finding a Job After College

Searching for a job can be an intimidating experience, especially when you are going through the process in a foreign country where there are different employment rules and customs. Although securing a job you love may not be easy, we have tips that ...

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Spotlight on Success: Manjushree Thapa (Part 1)

I first learned of Manjushree Thapa’s work in 2015 when I was finishing up my trip in Nepal. Her book, Forget Kathmandu: An Elegy for Democracy, was on my friend’s bookshelf, and I was immediately gripped by its unflinching, wry, and humane examination ...

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Life as an International Student in San Francisco

We recently spoke with WES expert ambassador Sara Varela-Acevedo who handles international admission at the University of San Francisco. She had many insights to share with international students about academics, student visas, housing, and life in San Francisco in general. Read on to get her thoughts. ...

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What You Should Know About Undergraduate Research Projects

Getting involved early in research projects as an undergraduate student brought me numerous benefits and taught me how to value research. It was not until my third year in college that I worked in a research position, and the whole process was eye-opening. ...

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Spotlight on Success: Mariami Lolashvili

Our new Spotlight on Success is on Mariami Lolashvili, a recent immigrant from Tbilisi, Georgia. She came to the U.S. four years ago after graduating in Norway and shortly after moving to New York, she received an offer to work with World Education ...

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5 Reasons to Consider Working at a Non-Profit

One of the defining qualities of being a Canadian is giving back to the community. Whether that community is your neighbourhood, your faith or cultural group, or an issue you care about, the desire to help others brings people who share similar values and interests together. ...

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Where to Travel on Vacation in the U.S.

Spring and summer breaks provide great opportunities to take a vacation. But you do not have to travel abroad to enjoy your time off. The U.S. is a large and diverse country and there are many places to explore for students who do ...

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Studying in the U.S. as a Science Master’s Student

We recently asked our student ambassador, Anmol Vohra, a few questions about her experience as an international student in the U.S. Read on to get her thoughts on studying in San Francisco, her science master’s program, and more. What made you want to ...

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Choosing the Right College for You

Earning a degree in the U.S. or Canada as an international student is the result of many months—if not years—of preparation. With thousands of schools to choose from in both countries, choosing a college that is right for you may be daunting. In ...

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Spotlight on Success: Nathalie Zapata

Newcomer youth in Canada face a number of unique challenges when job searching. Mastering a new language, adjusting to new systems, and lacking work experience and connections are just a few of the common barriers they face as they look for employment. Finding ...

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5 Ways to Maximize Your LinkedIn Profile

To fill in-demand roles, an increasing number of employers, recruiters, and human resources professionals are using LinkedIn to search for qualified professionals. In today’s job market, simply having a LinkedIn profile is not enough to stand out. Make the most out of your ...

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6 Things I Learned from Being in a PhD Program

Being in a doctoral program brings its own share of challenges and rewards. Currently, I have completed almost two years in my PhD program. Looking back on my progress, I can proudly say that every challenge I encountered has helped me grow both ...

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5 Tips on Preparing for the MBA Interview

Applying to a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program can be intimidating. Aside from the examinations you need to take and the documents and recommendations that need to be collected, one of the most intimidating parts of the application process is the MBA ...

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5 Barriers Skilled Immigrants Face and How to Overcome Them

Over the past decade, American and Canadian job markets have experienced a shortage in skilled workers. Despite this, there are many barriers skilled immigrants face when it comes to finding jobs in their respective fields. These challenges include encountering employers who are unfamiliar with ...

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The IELTS Test Day Experience

In the final installment of our three-part series we will share what to expect on the day of the test. Following the International Education Language Testing System (IELTS) overview and IELTS preparation information we shared in parts one and two, we want to make sure ...

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Spotlight on Success: Imane Sahir—Career Opportunities for a French-Speaking Newcomer in Canada

French-speaking newcomers have great potential to utilize their language skills in Canada. Many employers seek bilingual candidates to fill a wide range of roles within their organization and there is often less competition for these roles. By building a strong network within the ...

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Understanding the U.S. Student Visa Process

You received an acceptance letter from your school of choice and now it is time to celebrate the hard work you put in! But before you begin making travel plans, there is another process you will need to go through before arriving: the ...

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Discovering Law School Programs and Admissions Requirements

Did you know there are over 222 law schools certified by the American Bar Association? Out of those schools, Yale, Harvard, and Stanford Law are ranked as the top three law schools. Their programs are in high demand and earning a place in ...

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Top 5 Webinar Questions from 2016

At WES Global Talent Bridge, we strive to provide timely information and resources that would meet your needs as a skilled immigrant. We host webinars nearly every month that cover a variety of topics to help you on your career path. At the ...

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An Introduction to the IELTS Exam

In this, the first of a three-part series, we will take you through the ins and outs of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). We will talk about who should take the IELTS, what the test is, where you can take the ...

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How I Got Into a U.S. MBA Program

If you are a professional seeking to fast track your career to your midterm goal and believe an MBA program is your next step, then you have come to the right place! Here are some pointers from my own experience with the MBA ...

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Factors to Consider Before Taking the Job Offer

After spending so many years in school, your first job offer may seem like a final destination. In reality, your first job represents the beginning of your career trajectory, so it is important to choose wisely. To make the best decision, consider the ...

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Our Best 2016 Articles for Skilled Immigrants in Canada

Last year was memorably for many different reasons. It was a busy year for the government of Canada, as they announced changes to the Canadian immigration system. The new system, called “Express Entry,” was based on a ranking score that emphasized, among other ...

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Searching for the Perfect Volunteer Position

Volunteers constitute an integral part of any successful organization and they are greatly valued for their contribution. Although being in a doctoral program brings its own share of work, I found myself volunteering not only at school but also outside of it. The ...

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How to Share Your Ideas in the Workplace

Many successful organizations succeed because of the ideas that their employees bring to the team. However, sharing ideas can be a complex terrain if it is not done properly. There are many instances when new employees feel their ideas are not valued or ...

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Find and Apply for Financial Aid: A Step-by-Step Guide

Finding and applying for financial aid can be an overwhelming process at times. Although it is tempting to apply for everything you find to increase the odds, it is more important to be organized in your search. Instead of over applying for scholarships, ...

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Your Student Visa Work Options During and After School

Gaining valuable work experience while attending school in the U.S. is a high priority for many international students; it can even determine where an international student decides to enroll. To understand how to gain work experience in the U.S., let’s cover the options ...

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International Students in the U.S.: What Changed in 2016?

The International Institute of Education recently published new data in its 2016 Open Doors Report on international students in the U.S. What exactly changed in the past year and what were the new trends in U.S. international students? See the infographic below to ...

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Leveraging Your Language Skills for Corporate Career Success

In a global economy, employers are increasingly looking for employees who can contribute skills that can help expand their operations to diverse audiences from around the world. With this factor in mind, make sure to market your language skills in your application before ...

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6 Things to Do During Your Winter Break

Your final exams and projects are finally over, the fall semester has come to an end, and a new semester awaits. Congratulations, you, an international student, made it to winter break! These few weeks are an opportune time for you to take some ...

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How to Start Your Physiotherapy Career in Canada

The Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) is the national body responsible for the credential evaluation of internationally educated physiotherapists (IEPTs) and administers the national Physiotherapy Competency Exam (PCE) for both Canadian-educated physiotherapists and IEPTs. We do this work on behalf of our ...

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The Benefits of Being Bilingual: French Literacy in Canada

As a country with two official languages, Canada offers many opportunities for skilled immigrants who are proficient in English and French. Being able to communicate well in either language is vital in order to succeed in Canada. Being able to communicate well in ...

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What Employers Want in a Job Applicant

In our recent webinar, What Employers Want in a Job Applicant, WES Global Talent Bridge shared various ways skilled immigrants can improve their chances of finding a job in the U.S. Our presenters were Michael Lowe, senior director of human resources at World ...

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Improving the Sub-Saharan African Student Experience

In a recent report by World Education Services (WES), Improving the International Student Experience, international students were surveyed on satisfaction with their education in the U.S. The report assessed international students from varying regions, including: China, India, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East ...

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Improving Middle Eastern & North African Student Experiences

In a recent report by World Education Services (WES), Improving the International Student Experience, international students were surveyed on satisfaction with their education in the U.S. The report assessed international students from varying regions, including: China, India, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East ...

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Spotlight on Success: Anna Mkhitaryan

Our Spotlight on Success series focuses on immigrants who utilized their skills, experience, education, and personal attributes to succeed in Canada. This month, we are proud to feature one of our credential examiners at World Education Services (WES) Canada, Anna Mkhitaryan. In 2009, the ...

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Improving Latin American & Caribbean Student Experiences

In a recent report by World Education Services (WES), Improving the International Student Experience, international students were surveyed on how satisfied they were with their education in the U.S. The report assessed international students from varying regions, including China, India, Europe, the Middle East and North ...

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International Education Week Essay Contest Runners-Up

For International Education Week 2016, WES Advisor asked readers to send submissions to our annual essay contest. The prompt was inspired by a Henry Miller quote: “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” We asked readers to ...

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Top 6 Ways Your Emails Could Ruin Your Job Search

Gone are the days of printing résumés, walking into offices, and submitting them directly to the people working there. These days, most employers post job openings on websites (such as LinkedIn, Monster, and Workopolis), where job seekers can search for opportunities based on ...

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What Changes to Canada’s ‘Express Entry’ System Mean for You

On November 19, 2016, the government of Canada implemented a range of improvements to the Express Entry immigration selection system. Each candidate in the pool, as well as those thinking of creating an Express Entry profile in the near future, should be aware ...

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International Education Week Essay Contest Winners!

For International Education Week 2016, WES Advisor asked readers to send submissions to our annual essay contest. The prompt was inspired by a Henry Miller quote: “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” We asked readers to ...

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Improving the European Student Experience

In a recent report by World Education Services (WES), Improving the International Student Experience, international students were surveyed on satisfaction with their education in the U.S. The report assessed international students from varying regions, including: China, India, Europe, Latin America & the Caribbean, the ...

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What to Know about Canada’s 2017 Immigration Plan

On October 31, 2016, the government of Canada released its immigration plan for 2017, and the news was positive for anybody hoping to immigrate to Canada through one of the many economic or family sponsorship programs. In short, Canada will be accepting a ...

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A Guide to Setting SMART Goals

Setting goals for yourself as a student can enable you to achieve greater success than you would without setting goals. Goals can help you know what to prioritize, give you more certainty in your abilities, and help you know where to improve. Goals ...

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Improving the Indian Student Experience

In a recent report by World Education Services (WES), Improving the International Student Experience, international students were surveyed on satisfaction with their education in the U.S. The report assessed international students from varying regions, including: China, India, Europe, Latin America & the Caribbean, the ...

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Credentials to Support the Skilled Immigrant Workforce

Skilled immigrants bring great value to the American workforce. However, immigrants who earn an education abroad and later move to the U.S. often find themselves having to work minimum wage “survival jobs” to support themselves. According to IMPRINT, those who received an education in the ...

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Tips for Seeking Academic Resources and Help

The university experience in the U.S. consists of much more than attending daily 90-minute lectures. For international students looking to get the most out of their U.S. education, it’s important to take advantage of all the help and resources available, and there are ...

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Improving the Chinese Student Experience

In a recent report by World Education Services (WES), Improving the International Student Experience, international students were surveyed on satisfaction with their education in the U.S. The report assessed international students from varying regions, including: China, India, Europe, Latin America & the Caribbean, the Middle East ...

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Why Communication Skills Matter in Canada’s Job Market

Finding your first job in a new country is not easy. As a new immigrant myself, I can appreciate the challenges that a newcomer may face when starting their career. I moved to Canada in January of 2011, and began looking for work immediately after ...

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Questions to Ask at an Internship Interview

Internships are important for international students because they offer real-world experience in a work environment and can potentially open doors to other internship and job opportunities. Many students and young professionals make the mistake of thinking of an interview as an interrogation. Instead, ...

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Alternatives to Licensing

Although being licensed can be valuable, in certain fields it’s not necessary to be licensed to find relevant work. There may be opportunities to find employment in your profession or to find a related career path that does not require licensure or certification. ...

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How to Graduate with Little or No Debt

Attending college in the U.S. comes with many exciting opportunities; international students can learn in a new environment, meet new people, and gain new skills. However, college in the U.S. also comes with a big price tag. In fact, the average college student ...

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Tips for Finding a Job

Finding a job you want requires effort and organization. It can be easy to be overwhelmed when you are following leads and are applying for several jobs at the same time. Here are some tips to help you become organized and avoid some ...

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Identifying Transferable Skills to Build Your Career

In this series, Expert Ambassador Joanna answers career-related questions from our readers: Dear Joanna, I have finally resettled with my family in Toronto, and am a proud new Canadian! As an accomplished, internationally trained professional banker, I have started my job search by ...

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How Transferable Skills Landed Hung Le a Canadian Job

Internationally trained newcomers often possess a wide range of transferable skills that are valuable in Canada. Transferable skills are skills that you can take from one job to another, regardless of the specific role. These may include interpersonal, communication, project management, and other ...

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Adjusting to the U.S. Education System

Many students who come to the U.S. to study are unprepared for the differences in the education system in the United States as compared to their home country. The system in the U.S. can vary greatly from other countries, so it’s important to ...

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Building Your Credit as an International Student

If you are new to the U.S., you may have heard of something called a “credit score.” A credit score is based on how responsible you’ve been in the past about paying back items purchased with credit and indicates whether you are dependable ...

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Learning Job Search Skills

Searching for a job is easier if you understand that the job search process is an important step in finding employment in the U.S. and Canada. To successfully find a job you are qualified for, become familiar with common job search practices. The ...

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Using Online Education to Jumpstart Your Career

As someone with a college diploma or university degree, it can be tempting to think that your formal education will be enough to get you employed in Canada. However, with companies looking for employees with the most up-to-date and diverse skillset these days, ...

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How to Ace a Video or Phone Interview

Congratulations! After successfully submitting an application with a beautifully written cover letter and résumé, a recruiter or HR professional has requested an initial phone or video interview with you. Although it can be easy to become overwhelmed by the prospect of an interview, by ...

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Networking as a Newcomer in Canada

For newcomers to Canada, networking is a highly effective way to start a job search and meet professionals who can introduce you to new opportunities. A large percentage of jobs are not advertised, which means that who you know can lead to a ...

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How to Spend Less and Travel More

The United States is a very big country with a variety of cities, state and national parks, and vast scenery. Why stay only in the city where you are studying when there is so much to explore? Of course, traveling on a student ...

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Career Changes and Identity Loss

Immigrating to a new country can open up new opportunities for skilled immigrants and internationally trained professionals, but it can also disrupt career growth. This disruption can cause immigrants to experience “professional identity loss.” Occupation, nature of work, level of responsibility, salary, and ...

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Regulated and Non-Regulated Professions

Certain professions in Canada and the United States are regulated to protect public health and safety. The government regulates occupations that affect a large number of people directly, such as those in healthcare, engineering, law, finance, and education. In a regulated profession, you ...

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Surprising Pathways to Career Success in Canada

As the top destinations for immigrants around the world, your decision to immigrate to Canada or the United States is one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. After you have moved here, finding work in your field will ...

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Spotlight on Success: An Alternative Path to Engineering

Abdul Kader Azzam came to Canada in 2015 with a degree in Architectural Engineering from Lebanon. He had extensive work experience from nine years living and working in Dubai. After completing the Engineering Connections program at ACCES Employment, Abdul got a job as ...

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Helpful Tips for Increasing Your Productivity

Whether you have multiple projects or looming deadlines, it is very important that you work productively. But sometimes, procrastination can get the best of you, and you suddenly find yourself stressing over that test you have tomorrow but have not even studied for ...

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5 Effective Tools for Time Management

As a student, you are constantly juggling multiple things at once. Between exams, projects, group meetings, and extracurricular activities, you need to ensure that you are managing your time effectively, and there are many online tools and apps out there that can help. ...

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Budget Planning and Management for Students

Moving to a new country to study is an exciting process. You get to learn in a new environment, meet different types of people, and accumulate valuable knowledge on how to work across cultures. However, when it comes to budgeting for your studies ...

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Choosing the Right Internship for You

Internships are a great way to gain work experience as an international student. But what types of internships can you choose from, and which is the right fit for you? The type of internship you go for depends on a number of things: ...

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Strategies for Career Success in Canada

There is no secret formula for success, but there are strategies that can have a big impact on your career in Canada. We live in a diverse and welcoming country, but for newcomers, the job market can be difficult to understand, and looking ...

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Best Practices for Taking the TOEFL Exam

Welcome to the third and final part of our blog series about the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam. In our two previous posts, we gave you an introduction to the TOEFL as well as study tips for each section ...

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How to Study for the TOEFL Exam

Welcome to part two of our blog series about the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam. If you missed the first post, An Introduction to TOEFL, you can review it now to gain an understanding of TOEFL basics. Here, we ...

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Obtaining a Professional License in the U.S.

There are some professions in the U.S. that require you to obtain a license. Attaining a license can be a very complex process because each profession and state has a different licensing process. In some cases, professional associations, examination boards, and regulators work ...

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Studying Criminal Justice in the United States

Criminal justice is defined as “the system of practices government institutions make to uphold social control, deter and lower crime, or punish those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts.” It may surprise many that the study of criminal justice is ...

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Immigration to Canada: Tips for Improving Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System Scores

In January of 2015, the government of Canada introduced a system called Express Entry to manage applications for three popular Canadian immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC), Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Whereas the old system treated ...

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An Introduction to TOEFL

The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is one of the most widely administered and commonly accepted English language tests, particularly for students looking to gain admission into a U.S. university. Another common exam is the IELTS (International English Language Testing ...

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Four Roadblocks Between You and Your Dream Job in Canada

Landing work in Canada can be a challenge for anyone, and for skilled immigrants trying to get ahead, it can be even harder due to some common pitfalls. You can increase your chances of success by considering and addressing the roadblocks listed below. ...

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Workplace Culture and Communication: Building Professional Relationships

Canadian workplace culture emphasizes the importance of fostering relationships with colleagues and managers in the workplace. Building these relationships and connecting with other professionals is highly influenced by your ability to communicate effectively. In Canada, introductions and first impressions are extremely important and ...

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How to Write a Great Cover Letter

One of the most daunting tasks for any job seeker is writing a cover letter as part of a job application. Although many think cover letters are obsolete with the advent of new employment application technologies, cover letters are actually more important now because technology makes ...

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Five Things to Know About Latin American Degree Requirements

In 2014–15, over 86,000 Latin American students came to study in the U.S., which is a record number coming from the region. In recent years, both the U.S. and Latin American countries have spearheaded initiatives to encourage more students to earn degrees in ...

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A Medical Laboratory Technologist’s Path to Canadian Career Success

Ike Agbassi was an experienced medical laboratory technologist (MLT) when he arrived in Canada in June 2003. He had more than 12 years of experience and had owned two labs prior to leaving Aba, Nigeria. Now, he was starting over in a new ...

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Using Your Credential Evaluation for Employment

It can be difficult to explain how a degree from your home country is applicable to an employer in the U.S. or Canada. If you want your education to work to your advantage, you should make it easy for the employer to understand ...

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10 Things to Do Before Your First Week at College

September is fast approaching, and it’s not too early to start preparing for your new semester. Having a successful start to your first week at college requires plenty of preparation beforehand. Here are 10 things you should do before your first week at ...

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Five Things to Do Before Summer Ends

Summer is a very fun season, especially if you’re an international student experiencing your first summer in the U.S.! The start of a new school year is just around the corner, so here’s a list of the things you can do to make ...

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LinkedIn Tips for Students and New Graduates

As an international student, you may think that LinkedIn is a social networking site made only for experienced professionals. However, it can be an incredibly useful tool for international students and new graduates, especially those looking to make their way as professionals in ...

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Discover Ontario Universities and Colleges

“Yours to Discover” is the slogan on the Ontario license plates, and this couldn’t be more true for international students. As of April 1, 2016, Canada’s population is estimated to be over 36 million. Ontario is the most populous Canadian province with an estimated population of ...

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Applying for Master’s and Doctorate Degrees

In a recent webinar, we spoke with Joshua LaFave and Christopher Connor, two college admissions experts who weighed in with their best advice to international students looking to apply to master’s and doctorate programs in the U.S. Read on to discover their insights. ...

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How to Use Credential Evaluations to Further Your Education

If you started your education outside of the U.S. or Canada, then a credential evaluation will help admissions officers understand your previous academic achievements. Getting your credentials evaluated is one of the first steps toward pursuing your educational and professional goals. Below are ...

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Higher Education Options in the U.S.

There are a variety of higher education options available in the U.S. For example, you can attend community colleges, four-year universities and colleges, continuing education programs, and more. Each option allows people with different educational backgrounds, financial circumstances, goals, and interests to access ...

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Understanding the U.S. College Admissions Process

The college application process can be overwhelming, but with the right research and planning, you can easily prepare to apply for admission to the school of your choice. Before beginning your application, here are a few useful tips: Familiarize Yourself with the Process ...

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Why Evaluate Your International Academic Credentials?

In North America, challenges to the recognition of international academic credentials are numerous; however, with some basic research and planning, you can make the process advantageous for yourself and accomplish your career goals. As an international student or immigrant to Canada and the ...

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The Top U.S. Jobs for International Graduates Are in STEM

Your field of study in university can help define your future. It may also correlate with what kind of career experience and salary you can expect after graduation. So, when deciding on your major, think about your passions, interests, values, and career options. ...

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12 Tips for Writing an Effective Résumé for a Job Application

I had an uncle who emigrated from India apply for a job that was located in a small town in New York called Dobbs Ferry by calling the company and asking to speak with “Mr. Dobbs Ferry.” We laugh about it now, but ...

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How to Apply for Financial Aid

The federal government and academic institutions offer loans and grants that can help you pay to attend a U.S. college or university. The first step in applying for any type of financial aid—whether federal or institutional—is to complete the Free Application for Federal ...

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What Is Financial Aid?

Studying in the U.S. can be very expensive. You have to pay for books, room and board, and other daily expenses—in addition to tuition. Luckily there are financial aid options that can help you pay for your education. You even may be able ...

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How to Transfer Credits for Courses Taken Abroad

If you want to attend a college or university in the U.S. or Canada, you may be able to transfer some credits for courses you have already taken. The decision to accept credits earned abroad varies from school to school, but here are ...

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Personal Statement vs. Statement of Purpose

There are few consistent practices when applying to universities. Although most schools maintain a basic set of requirements, individual institutions also set their own standards. Some universities, for example, require prospective students to write a statement of purpose, whereas others require a personal ...

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Studying in Canada: Resources and Links for Students

The following links offer general information and advice for prospective international students, including college search and application services, admissions testing, and financial aid information. General Advice for International Students in Canada The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) works with other federal departments, ...

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Applying for Scholarships: The Basics

For international students wanting to study in the U.S., there are many financial aid opportunities available. Students can look for funding from nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, as well as colleges and universities. Students should begin searching and applying for scholarships as ...

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10 Things to Do This Summer Without an Internship

Summer vacation for college students in the U.S. typically lasts three to four months, which gives students time to recharge and work on self-development. Although many international students staying in the U.S. complete summer internships, there are plenty of other ways to invest ...

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The Benefits of Volunteering

Being a volunteer is not just about helping others, but also being fully engaged in an activity. Volunteering has a unique ability to make participants involve their hearts, bodies, and minds. Most people say they live busy lives and that it is hard ...

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5 Tips for Choosing the Right Classes

Each year, thousands of international students from around the world choose to study abroad in the U.S. When it comes to choosing classes, there are many things to take into consideration to select the courses that are right for you. In some countries, you are ...

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F-1 Student Visa Application Checklist

Any international student wanting to study in the U.S. will need a student visa. Because the process for obtaining an F-1 visa can be time-consuming, it is important to have all of the required documentation in place to help simplify the process. The following is ...

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Top 10 Universities for International Students Seeking Financial Aid

It is no surprise that the U.S. is a top destination for international students looking to study abroad. As a result, the U.S. hit a record high of 1,043,839 total international undergraduate and graduate students in 2016–2016, according to the Institute of International ...

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How to Get the Most Out of a Campus Visit

Campus visits represent a unique opportunity when choosing a school. While you can certainly research school campuses remotely, seeing the institution in person provides a very different experience. Here are some activities you should plan to do when visiting any school: Explore the ...

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Resources to Help You Prepare for the GMAT

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a standardized test that is required by most U.S. graduate business schools. The test aims to evaluate candidates’ abilities to make strategic decisions in the business world. In order to help you prepare for this exam, ...

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How to Conquer a Networking Event

Have you ever walked into a room full of strangers and was not sure how to approach someone and start a conversation? This is how it may feel at your first networking event. Networking events can be frightening, but you are not alone. ...

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Tips and Resources: Crack the GRE in 60 Days

Studying for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) in a short amount of time can be overwhelming. To help you plan and ace the test, we have listed some important tips and resources to help you crack the GRE: Understand the Exam Structure and ...

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What Resources Should I Look for on Campus?

Selecting the best university requires significant research. While it is important to consider whether a given school has a strong reputation and affordable tuition, it is equally important to consider the campus resources offered by the school, as it can make a difference ...

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What I Learned About Myself After Studying in the U.S.

Guest blog contributor Trishnee Bhurosy takes us through some of the lessons she learned while studying abroad in the United States. Read on for her takeaways—with advice you can use, too! After living on the island of Mauritius all my life, coming to ...

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What to Do if You Are Waitlisted by a College

If you have been waitlisted by a college, it means the college likes you, but there is not enough room to accept all of the candidates the college wants. The advantage of being waitlisted is that you have not been denied admission, and ...

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Time Management: Balancing Academics, Social Life, and Extracurricular Activities

Time management is one of the most crucial aspects of graduate life in U.S. and plays a significant role in academic success. A graduate student’s life is hectic with upcoming deadlines, assignments, and submissions throughout the semester, which can be quite different from the education system ...

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Common College Terms Explained

It can be an overwhelming process when researching and applying to a college or university as an international student, especially when the terminology seems foreign to those new to the academic world. We’ve compiled a list of terms and definitions specifically for international ...

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8 Tips for Mental Health on Campus

Mental health is defined as mental, emotional, and social well-being. According to the American Journal of Health Education, poor mental health can impact academic performance and even graduation rates. See our tips on how to maintain good mental health as an international student. International students have ...

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8 Ways to Strengthen Your English Skills

Students aspiring to study in the U.S. should familiarize themselves with the English language before doing so. English is spoken by at least 80 percent of U.S. residents and is well understood by 12.5 percent of the remaining population, so it’s important to ...

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Schools with Generous Financial Aid for International Students

Are you an international student looking to study in the U.S. – and do you need financial aid? We’ve done the work for you. Listed below are schools that offer generous aid to international students. Full-Tuition Merit Scholarships Carleton College—Northfield, Minnesota Rice University—Houston, Texas University of Miami—Coral ...

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Tips and Resources: Scholarships for International Students

Scholarship support for international students who want to study in the U.S. is limited and highly competitive. Nonetheless, here are a couple of tips and some useful resources to help you identify potential scholarship opportunities. Plan Ahead and Start at Home Before exploring ...

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Starting the Scholarship Search: Your Questions Answered

Many international students looking at colleges and graduate schools in the U.S. are asking the same question: When should I start applying for scholarships? The answer: As soon as possible! There are hundreds, if not thousands, of scholarship opportunities out there. They can ...

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Match, Reach, and Safety Schools

When you are looking for schools to apply to, there are three important categories you should keep in mind. Read more below about match, reach, and safety schools and how many you should apply to in each category. Match: The Princeton Review defines a ...

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Find Funding Sources for your International Education

A quality education comes at a price. Although the majority of international students pay tuition with their own money, some students find that they still need help covering the total cost of attendance and personal expenses. In those cases, students look to other ...

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Step Out of Your Comfort Zone: The Importance of Networking

Are you too shy to reach out to professionals? Do you lack confidence to sell your personal pitch? Have you ever felt ashamed of letting opportunities slip away? Believe it or not, I understand. One year ago, full of excitement and ambition, I ...

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6 Common Undergraduate Admissions Questions Answered

We asked Jackie Vogl, Assistant Vice President for Global Education at SUNY Plattsburgh, to help us answer some of the student questions we’ve received during our webinar on undergraduate admissions. From standardized tests to financial aid, find out more on how admissions officers ...

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Financial Documents You Will Need for a U.S. Student Visa

If you have been accepted to a U.S. university and now need to get your student visa, WES Advisor is here to help! Now that you have been admitted, the U.S. university should have provided you with an I-20 form. You will need to ...

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Salary Difference Between Master’s and Ph.D. Degrees

When undergraduates are thinking about studying abroad for an advanced degree in the U.S., they have two options: apply to a master’s degree or doctoral degree program. Here we will talk about the differences between master’s and Ph.D. degree programs and also compare ...

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6 Advantages of Studying in the Midwestern U.S.

When I moved from Sao Paulo, Brazil, with more than 11 million inhabitants, to a much smaller city in the middle of the Midwestern U.S., I was definitely expecting a lot of cultural shock and lifestyle differences. Indeed, when I first arrived here ...

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How to Adapt to Life in the U.S. as an International Student

When international students start to live in a foreign country, they encounter a lot of valuable experiences that they never had in their life before. These experiences allow them to broaden their perspective and even change their life. A new life in a new ...

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5 Common U.S. Admissions Questions Answered

In this post, we ask Jessica Sandberg, Director of International Admissions at Temple University, five common U.S. college admissions questions asked by international students. Do all U.S. universities require standardized exams for admissions into a degree program? There is a growing trend in the United ...

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Why Should International Students Get a Credential Evaluation?

A credential evaluation converts the academic credits or degrees that you earned overseas to their equivalencies in the U.S. or Canada. At the end of the process, you’ll receive a credential evaluation report. This report is easy to understand for people who are ...

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GMAT or GRE? 3 Steps to Choosing the Right MBA Program

If you are thinking about applying to business schools in the U.S., then you should be aware that the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is not the only exam you can take. Over the last few years, more than 1,100 business schools, including ...

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5 Steps to Successfully Apply to a Canadian University

When speaking with international students who had recently applied to a Canadian university, the most common words they said were, “I can’t believe how straightforward and easy the process was” or “That’s it?!” And it’s all true. Applying to Canadian universities is extremely ...

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Things to Consider When Applying for a Government-Funded International Scholarship

A large number of international students receive funding from their home government: in the past two academic years, more than 57,000 international students studying in the U.S. received financial support from the government of their home country or from a university in their ...

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Understanding Visas to Study and Work in the U.S.

Many international students wrongly assume that they are not eligible to work while studying in the U.S. But, in reality, there are several employment options and visa types that international students can take advantage of in order to gain some professional experience while studying in the ...

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Writing Great Personal Essays: Inside Tips from an Admissions Expert

In this post, WES Advisor sits down with Morgan Volkart, the director of international recruitment at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. We asked her to provide guidance to prospective international students on how to write a great personal essay. Morgan, can you explain ...

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TOEFL vs. IELTS for English Proficiency Exams

Chances are if you studied in a non-English speaking country, you will need to take an English proficiency exam. The most common exams are the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the International English Language Testing Service (IELTS). These two exams ...

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How to Choose the Best Graduate School

In this post, we sit down with Dr. Myron (“Mick”) Thomson, Associate Provost and Executive Director of the Graduate School Emeritus at State University of New York at Buffalo, to talk about the criteria for selecting a graduate school. How important is it ...

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Attract Canadian Employers by Using Your International Achievements

Watch this on-demand webinar to learn how to promote your international education, skills, and experience in today’s Canadian labour market.

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Pathways to Success: Using Your International Education in Your Professional Career in the U.S.

Whether you have recently arrived in the United States or have been here longer, you do not need to start over to build your career. Your international education and experience are the foundation for your professional success.

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Getting Your Professional Engineering License: What Internationally Trained Professionals Need to Know

Learn about the stages and requirements for getting your professional engineering license in the United States. This webinar is co-hosted by an expert from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). She shares practical advice for planning your licensing journey, ...

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Build Your Career as an Internationally Trained Accountant in the U.S.

In every industry, accountants play a vital role. They ensure the efficient operation of organizations across sectors and settings. The field of accounting offers many opportunities for internationally trained immigrants and refugees. In fact, you can build a career in this field with ...

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How to Prepare for Employment by Understanding the Future of Work

What is the “Future of Work”—and what does it mean for your job search? Join host Shaunna-Marie Kerr and a panel of experts to discuss how new technologies are changing the way we work. This interactive webinar explores how automation, artificial intelligence, and ...

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Preparing for a Skills-based Economy

Join guests to learn how to market yourself in a skills-based economy: where job candidates are assessed based on skills, qualifications, and competencies. This webinar will help internationally trained professionals understand this economy: what it is, how you can position yourself, and what ...

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Employment Pathways in the Canadian Health Sector

Join guests from the health care sector as we explore career paths in the health profession in Canada. This webinar will help you understand the employment options available to you. We will also provide information on programs and services that can help to ...

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Employment Resources: Preparing for Your Job Search

Applying for jobs as an immigrant professional in the United States requires marketing yourself to highlight your accomplishments and the value of your international experience. Whether you are just starting your job hunt in the U.S. or simply want to refresh your knowledge, ...

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Licensed Professions in Ontario: Pathways to Licensure and Employment

Are you considering re-licensing in your profession in Ontario? This webinar will provide an overview of regulated professions and trades in Ontario and the process to apply for a professional licence or certification.

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Understanding the Hiring Process

Learn directly from human resources professionals about the hiring process and how to stand out at each stage. We will discuss how a company recruits applicants, where jobs are posted, the screening process, interview tactics, and how key decisions are made on selecting ...

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Pathways to Professional Success in the Field of Education and Beyond

In this webinar, you will learn about career pathways for internationally trained educators who want to continue teaching, as well as pathways for those who want to pursue careers in other fields. In addition, WES Global Talent Bridge will discuss licensing and certification ...

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Working as a Nurse in the United States

WES Global Talent Bridge and Chicago Bilingual Nurse Consortium will help you understand the field of nursing in the United States, explain the licensing process, and discuss strategies to explore career options.

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The Value of Professional Associations for Newcomers to Canada

This webinar focuses on the value of professional associations and how they can help internationally educated professionals develop their careers in Canada. We explore services commonly offered by professional associations, how they are useful, and their benefits for career development.

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Pathways to Success: Making Your Foreign Education Count in the United States

Many internationally educated immigrants struggle to get their education recognized in the U.S. In this webinar, you will learn how to have your foreign credentials evaluated, get tips on accessing educational and professional employment opportunities, and gain access to resources for immigrant professionals.

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Exploring Online Education for Immigrant Professionals

Despite high levels of education, unemployment and underemployment of newcomers continue to be higher than those educated in Canada and the United States. Opportunities to earn additional Canadian or American credentials are essential in creating pathways to career success for skilled immigrants. If ...

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From Credential Evaluation to Credential Recognition

In this webinar, you will learn how obtaining a credential evaluation can be the first and most important step to success on your path to employment in Canada or the United States. As an internationally trained professional, a credential evaluation can help you ...

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Industry-Recognized Credentials

Industry-recognized credentials, also called professional certifications, are increasingly important in today’s labor market. This webinar explores some of the most common industry-specific credentials and certifications across Canada and the United States, focusing on their portability both geographically as well as across different sectors. ...

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Achieve Career Success as a CPA

CPAs (Chartered Professional Accountants) are always in demand by top organizations around the world and in Canada. Join Carmen Jacques, CPA, CGA, for an informative webinar session to learn how the CPA designation is your key to unlocking a successful career and prosperous ...

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10 Essential Tips for Career Success

WES Global Talent Bridge hosted a record ten webinars in 2016. This webinar is a highlight of the various topics that were discussed, and from those, the top ten most useful tips for career success.

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What Employers Want in a Job Applicant

For many foreign trained immigrants, finding a job is challenging. Many times they know they are qualified for the positions they are applying to but do not understand why employers would not contact them. During this webinar, we will learn from experts on ...

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The Great Canadian Workplace: Build Your Way to Success

In this webinar, we feature ACCES Employment and their insights on the Canadian workplace. Topics covered include: managing workplace expectations and relationships, professional networking, creating and promoting your personal brand professionally, and more.

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Career Success and Communications Skills in Canada

This webinar discusses why employers consider good communication skills to be one of the most desired attributes today. Practical tips and advice on how you can develop these skills in regulated and professional settings in Canada.

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New Online Portals to Canada’s Engineering and ICT Sectors

This webinar will introduce the new EngScape and e-Talent portals: unique, online, interactive maps that provide access to labour market information about the information and communications technology (ICT) and engineering sectors in Canada.

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Finding Career Success Through Alternative and Related Careers

This webinar includes an introduction to alternative and related careers. It also discusses professional identity loss, provides an introduction to ACAP and HealthForceOntario, and concludes with an audience Q&A.

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Your Career Success Starts with Canadian Experience

Everything you need to know about why you need, and how you can get, Canadian experience on your résumé.

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Networking to Success: Helping Immigrants Understand the Key Role Networking Plays in Job Searching

WES Global Talent Bridge, in partnership with Idealist, invites foreign-trained immigrants to join the second in our series of webinars detailing how to unleash the power of your personal network. Our recent survey of college-educated immigrant professionals identified a remarkable connection between the ...

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Job Search Strategies: The Employer Perspective

In this webinar, we’ll discuss insider tips on getting your résumé to stand out, do’s and don’ts for job search process including interviewing and advancing your career.

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Finding Your Dream Job (How to Use Idealist)

WES Global Talent Bridge, in partnership with Idealist, invites foreign-educated immigrants to join our webinar to learn how Idealist can help you find your dream job.

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Scholarship Finder

Paying for school can be expensive, so we created the Scholarship Finder to help you find the resources you need to fund your studies. Select your country of education and the type of scholarship you want. Then we will provide you with a ...

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iGPA Calculator

The iGPA (international grade point average) Calculator lets you see how your grades compare on the 4.0 grading scale used in the U.S. Conversions are based on the most common grading scales for your country of education. Have your marksheets or transcripts ready. ...

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