This qualitative phenomenological study focused on the lived experiences of adult immigrants repeating courses to meet academic requirements in higher education in the United States. The problem addressed in this qualitative phenomenological study was that United States educational institutions may not recognize and validate credentials adult immigrants earned outside of the United States; hence, adult immigrants repeat academic courses to meet educational regulations in the United States. Repeating academic courses leads to emotional distress and frustration as adult immigrants attempt to find academic success in the United States. For example, some adult immigrants enter the United States as degreed and credentialed individuals, but they choose to repeat courses to meet the higher education academic requirements in the United States. This study utilized the ideas of the implicit bias theory to support the components of the study. The participants, a purposive sample of 10 students from different parts of the world, provided insight into the perceptions of adult immigrants seeking to continue higher education in the United States. The participants responded to one research question: (1) How do adult immigrants describe their lived experience of repeating academic courses to meet educational regulations in their field of study in the United States? The findings reveal that participants faced both negative and positive experiences from choosing to repeat academic courses. Despite some participants' positive experiences, most of them shared that they felt overwhelmed by the additional academic requirements. The implications are that leaders at higher education institutions should provide a clear pathway to advanced degrees for adult immigrants who already possess advanced degrees from their native countries and repeating courses. Also, higher education administrators and advocates should propose policies that aid credentialed adult immigrants in transferring conferred degrees from their native countries. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]