Terms & Conditions

Acceptance

Foreign Credential Evaluations, Inc.® (FCE), is an Endorsed Member of AICE, the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc.®. Our evaluations are usually accepted by USCIS, U.S. employers, and many universities in the United States and abroad. FCE does not guarantee acceptance, and it is the responsibility of the applicant to find out if an evaluation from a specific agency or from a list of approved agencies is required.  

Altered or Forged Academic Credentials

An evaluation will not be prepared and fees will not be refunded in the event FCE determines that the educational credentials submitted for evaluation are inauthentic and/or have in any way been altered, tampered with or forged. The institution or agency for which the evaluation is intended, U.S. government agencies, and other evaluation services and academic institutions may be notified.

Delivery

Delivery times are only estimates and not a guarantee.  Actual delivery time may vary.  We have no control over USPS, FedEx, or customs delays. FedEx provides a money-back guaranteed delivery, barring customs delays and delays due to inclement weather. Their guarantee is also suspended during some holidays.  

FCE RECOMMENDS THAT YOU EITHER (1) PROVIDE A PRE-PAID ENVELOPE THAT INCLUDES A TRACKING NUMBER OR (2) PAY FCE TO RETURN YOUR DOCUMENTS SECURELY BY A DELIVERY METHOD THAT INCLUDES A TRACKING NUMBER, SUCH AS FEDEX, UPS, OR USPS.  FCE ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS THAT A CUSTOMER REQUESTS TO BE RETURNED BY REGULAR, FIRST-CLASS U.S. MAIL.

If no instructions are received regarding the return of educational documents, FCE will hold the materials on file for up to two calendar years following the completion of the report.  Likewise, materials belonging to a case that has been placed on “hold” will be maintained for up to two calendar years following the assignment of “hold” status. After two years, FCE is no longer liable for keeping original or attested documents.

Equivalency Recommendations & Guarantees

The U.S. educational equivalencies recommended in FCE evaluation reports are in accordance with established guidelines and represent the considered judgments of qualified evaluators. Evaluation policies are subject to change based on ongoing research in comparative education. FCE evaluation reports are advisory in nature and not binding on any institution, agency, or third party. FCE does not guarantee that an applicant, agency, or any third party will agree with its educational equivalency recommendations. FCE does, however, embrace the standards established by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) and by the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).

Evaluation Expiration

Evaluation Reports issued by FCE do not have an expiration date and Extra Copies may be requested at any time following the completion of an evaluation order. Extra Copies requested after two years will be subject to a $50 re-evaluation fee, in addition to the $25 fee for an extra copy that is issued at a later date than the original copy (for a total of $75), to comply with current evaluation policies.

Evaluation Results

FCE will not release the results of an evaluation on the telephone or by fax to the applicant. The fee for the evaluation includes an e-mailed copy. Extra copies can be ordered for an additional amount either with the evaluation or up to the period determined by FCE after the evaluation is completed.

Evaluation Review

Once an evaluation has been completed, any questions regarding the evaluation report must be submitted in writing to FCE within the first two months of the completion date. Requests for review of the evaluation or questions concerning the evaluation submitted after two months of the date the evaluation was completed will be subject to a review fee determined by FCE.

Fees and Payment

As consideration for the services you purchased, you agree to pay Foreign Credential Evaluations, Inc. (FCE) the applicable service(s) fees set forth on our Website at the time of your selection, or, if applicable, upon receipt of your invoice from FCE. Fees are payable in advance and are non-refundable, except (1) as otherwise expressly noted, (2) as required by applicable law, or (3) as such fees are billed by FCE under an invoice to a Customer that expressly permits payment for Services by a Customer within thirty (30) days after placing an order.

Insufficient Documentation

It is the responsibility of the applicant to submit all required, original documents to FCE. FCE will contact the applicant or the agent representing the applicant if additional information, documents, or fees are needed to prepare the evaluation. This may take additional time and delay the evaluation process. The evaluation will not be processed until all documentation has been received.

Re-Activation and Abandoned Orders

Applicants are contacted via email in the event additional documentation or information is required to process the order. If an applicant fails to respond or provide the required information after two email attempts within 90 days, FCE will contact the applicant one final time (three total) via email and also upload a notice to the account informing the applicant that the application will be marked as ‘Abandoned’.

If the applicant does not contact FCE within the allotted 90 days, FCE reserves the right to update the status of the application to 'Abandoned'. After 90 days, an application may be re-activated for a $50.00 re-activation fee.

Re-Evaluations

Re-evaluations of credentials not submitted with the original application request are treated as new evaluations and a second payment of the evaluation report is required. Requests to change a report type (e.g. Document-by-Document evaluation to a Course-by-Course evaluation or vice-versa), once an evaluation has been completed, requires a new fee determined by FCE up to the fee of a new evaluation.

Refunds

Fees are non-refundable once an order for credential evaluation has been submitted.

Unaccredited Institution Report

FCE only evaluates credentials issued by institutions which have regional academic accreditation at the time the program of study was completed. Should an applicant submit documentation issued by an unaccredited institution, FCE will release an Unaccredited Institution Report. FCE will retain the fee equal to the price of a Document-by-Document evaluation prepared by our agency.

Verification of Educational Credentials

FCE reserves the right to verify documents submitted for evaluation with issuing institution(s).

Limitation of Liability

IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES FCE’s MAXIMUM LIABILITY IS LIMITED TO THE LISTED FEES OF THE SERVICES OFFERED. FCE SHALL NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, BE LIABLE UPON A CLAIM OR ACTION IN CONTRACT, TORT, INDEMNITY OR CONTRIBUTION, OR OTHER CLAIMS RELATING TO THE SERVICES IT OFFERS WHICH EXCEEDS THIS LIABILITY LIMIT. FCE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR THIRD PARTY CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CUSTOMER, OR FOR MALFUNCTION, DELAYS, INTERRUPTION OF SERVICE, LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OR DAMAGE TO EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, WHETHER OR NOT FCE HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH CLAIMS OR DAMAGES.

Legal Fees

You hereto agree that the non-prevailing party in any dispute, claim, action or proceeding between the parties hereto arising out of or relating to these Terms and Conditions or any provision thereof (a "Dispute"), shall reimburse the prevailing party for reasonable attorney's fees and expenses incurred by the prevailing party in connection with such Dispute.

Governing Law

In the event of any disputes with FCE, Inc., such disputes shall be governed by North Carolina law and shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Henderson County Courts.