Graduation certificate vs. degree certificate: why USCIS filings need both
After completing a program, Chinese universities issue two independent documents — a graduation certificate (毕业证书, proving coursework was completed) and a degree certificate (学位证书, proving a degree was conferred) — and an EB-2/NIW filing that needs to prove an advanced degree usually needs both translated, not just one.
USCIS requirement: Under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), every non-English document submitted needs a full translation and a translator's certification. For EB-2/NIW specifically, the 'advanced degree' requirement in 8 CFR 204.5(k)(2) is proven by the degree certificate — the graduation certificate alone only proves coursework was completed, not that a degree was actually conferred.
Common mistakes that trigger an RFE
Only the graduation certificate is submitted
The graduation certificate and the degree certificate are two independent documents in the Chinese system. Submitting only the graduation certificate is a common reason officers can't confirm the degree level and issue an RFE for a case that needs to establish an advanced degree.
Major/field-of-study name translated inconsistently across documents
Chinese academic disciplines don't map one-to-one onto the US CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) system. The same major translated two different ways across the diploma, transcript, and CV can read as an inconsistency even when it's the same program.
Associate-degree (专科) diplomas treated the same as a bachelor's
China's vocational/associate-level (专科) programs issue only a graduation certificate — no degree certificate — and correspond to a US Associate Degree, not a bachelor's. The translator's certification should note this explicitly rather than let the document imply a bachelor's-equivalent.
FAQ
Do I need to translate both the graduation certificate and the degree certificate?
For EB-2/NIW cases relying on an advanced-degree requirement, yes — the degree certificate is the document that proves a degree was actually conferred, and USCIS commonly issues an RFE when only the graduation certificate is submitted.
How should the major/field of study be translated?
Use the standard English name your university itself uses (check the English-language version of your diploma or transcript, or your school's official program pages) rather than a literal word-for-word translation, and use the same wording consistently across every document that mentions it.
Is this different from a WES credential evaluation?
Yes — WES evaluates a diploma and transcript for equivalency purposes and has its own document requirements. This page covers what USCIS itself needs to see to confirm a degree was conferred, which matters even if you're not going through WES.
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