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International Services and Engagement Office ISEO
  1. ISEO
  2. Student Services
  3. iServices Instructions for Students
  4. Verification Documents and Letter Requests

Verification Documents and Letter Requests

International students can request various types of verification documents/letters from ISEO that verify their visa status as students at UC San Diego.

Visa Status or Enrollment Verification

Enrollment Verification Documents

ISEO does not issue Enrollment Verification documents. 

You can order transcripts and customizable enrollment verification documents from the Registrar's Office. These are that are generally issued within 24 hours. You can request a secure electronic version of the documents, or you can pick them up at the Registrar's Office or have them mailed to you. Use the following TritonLink pages to order your documents:

Visa Status Verification Letter

A Visa Status Verification (VSV) letter is a standardized general verification document verifying your student visa status, major, program start and estimated program end date at UC San Diego
Submit a "Letter Request" on iPortal.
  • Choose the "I am requesting a letter to for Visa Status Verification" option.
  • Your document will be issued within 5 business days.
  • A notification email will be sent to you when your document is ready.

Letter of Eligibility to Enroll at another School

You may need a Letter of Eligibility to Enroll at another School if you want to enroll at another school and one of the following situations apply:

  • You would like to enroll at another school in the Summer/vacation term and you will continue your enrollment at UC San Diego in the following Fall quarter.
  • You are maintaining full-time units at UC San Diego during the academic year (Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters) and would like to take extra classes at another school during the academic year.
  • You would like to enroll at another school in the Summer/vacation term and you are enrolled in at least 1 unit at UC San Diego.
  • You are in the final quarter of your program at UC San Diego with an approved Final Quarter RCL for that quarter, and are enrolled in at least 1 unit at UC San Diego in that quarter.
  • You are on post-completion F-1 OPT or J-1 AT.

If none of the situations outlined above applies to you, then submit a Concurrent Enrollment Authorization request in iPortal instead.

Submit a "Letter Request" on iPortal.
  • Choose the "I am requesting a letter of Eligibility to Enroll at Another Institution" option.
  • Your document will be issued within 5 business days.
  • A notification email will be sent to you when your document is ready.

Exchange Student (EAPR/Global Exchange) Verification Letter

Purpose:

  • An Education Abroad Program (EAP) Reciprocity or Global Exchange (GE) Student verification letter is a standardized verification document verifying international EAP/GE reciprocity student's enrollment at UC San Diego.

Submit Your Request:

  • Log in to iportal.ucsd.edu .
  • Go to "Services" tab.
  • Select "Letter Request".
  • Choose the "I am requesting a letter to verify my EAP/GE reciprocity student enrollment for home university" letter request type.
  • Fill out your request.
  • Upload a PDF copy of a verification form if your home institution requires our office to complete a particular form.
  • If your form requires the DATE OF ARRIVAL to the US, state this in the Comment section at the bottom of the request and upload a copy of your Form I-94 to the request.
  • "Submit" your request.

Receive Your Letter:

  • Your document will be issued within 5 business days.
  • You can check the status of your request anytime by logging in to iPortal and clicking on "My Requests" tab.
  • A notification email will be sent to you when your document is ready.

Work Authorization Verification

Social Security Administration (SSA) Application Support Letter

A Social Security Administration (SSA) application support letter is a standardized verification document verifying an international student's eligibility to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) with the SSA. For more information on the SSN, visit the following page: Social Security Number.

Submit the "Letter Request" in iPortal.

  • Choose the "I am requesting a letter to submit to the Social Security Administration" option.
  • Upload a PDF copy of your Job Offer Letter (for an SSN based on on-campus employment), or EAD card (for an SSN based on OPT).
  • Your document will be issued within 5 business days.
  • A notification email will be sent to you when your document is ready.
  • When you receive the letter, follow instructions on our Social Security Number page to apply for your SSN with the SSA Office.

*J-1 Students: An SSA letter will be prepared as part of your On-Campus Employment Authorization or Academic Training Employment Authorization.

Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) Application Support Letter

An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a tax processing number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). ITIN is for federal tax reporting only, and is not intended to serve any other purpose.

F-1/J-1 students who are otherwise ineligible for a Social Security Number (SSN), and have received scholarship/fellowship income from their academic departments at UC San Diego can request an ITIN from the IRS. One of the steps in this process is to get a support letter from ISEO. Visit our ITIN page for more information on this process.

Authorization for Work at Off-Campus Location Considered as On-Campus Employment

This letter is a letter of authorization for F-1 students to work at an off-campus location considered as on-campus employment. Student must provide a letter from the employing entity and the UC San Diego faculty advisor explaining the nature of the employment and how the entity is educationally affiliated with UC San Diego.
Submit a “Letter Request” on iPortal.
  • Choose the "I am requesting a letter of authorization for work at an off campus location considered as on-campus employment" option.
  • Upload a PDF copy of your job offer.
    • If you are also requesting an SSN letter, the job offer letter must have the following information: Job title, employment start date, number of hours per week working, Employer Identification Number (EIN), and supervisor contact information.
  • Upload a PDF copy of a letter from your faculty advisor verifying the relationship between the employer, student, and UC San Diego.
  • Your document will be issued within 5 business days.
  • A notification email will be sent to you when your document is ready.

USCIS Request for Evidence

A Request for Evidence (RFE) is issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) if they determine that more information is needed to finish processing your application. USCIS sends out Form I-797e, also called a notice of action, when it issues an RFE. 

Not all RFEs require ISEO's response. ISEO's response may be required if an RFE requests documentation or additional information specifically from a Designated School Official (DSO).

Submit a "Letter Request" in iPortal.
  • Choose the "I received a Request for Evidence or Notice from USCIS Requesting further information to support my application" option.
  • Upload a copy of your USCIS Request for Evidence.
  • Once reviewed and if necessitating a response from a Designated School Official (DSO), your document will be issued within 5-10 business days.
  • You will be notified by email when your document is ready.

Other Support Letters

Invitation Letters for Commencement

If your family members are planning to apply for a U.S. visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate in order to visit you in the U.S., they may ask you to supply them with an invitation letter. Since U.S. embassies and consulates do not require invitation letters issued by the school, ISEO does not provide any kind of invitation letters, including ones for graduation/commencement ceremony.

However, you are encouraged to write your own invitation letter. You can use this sample invitation letter, or search for another template online. Keep in mind that such a letter does not guarantee a visa will be granted during your friend's or family member’s visa interview, nor is it required for the interview.

You might also want to supplement your invitation letter with proof of your current or previous attendance at UC San Diego. The following are the most common options:

Furthermore, when you register for the commencement ceremony, you will receive a confirmation email about it, so you could include that confirmation as evidence of your commencement participation.

Driver License Residency Verification

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires verification of residency as part of the driver license application. ISEO is not authorized to issue residency verification documents for students' driver license applications. For a full list of what verification documents are accepted, please visit the California DMV website.

Other Letter

An "Other" letter is a non-standardized verification document, that is issued or completed for an international student at UC San Diego to assist with the student's special case or circumstance. A clear explanation of the student's circumstances must accompany the request for this letter

Submit a "Letter Request" in iPortal.

  • Choose the "I am requesting another letter type not listed here" option.
  • If you need our office to complete a document/form for you, or if you have additional documents supporting/explaining your case, then select the option in the request form to upload the document/form to your request.
  • If approved, your document will be issued within 5-10 business days.
  • You will be notified by email when your document is ready.