Office of Enrollment Management › The HUB › University Registrar's Office › Verifications, Transcripts & Other Records › Degree & Enrollment Verifications › Verification FAQs

Verification FAQs

What information is on an SIO verification letter?

A verification letter produced through Student Information Online can contain the following information:

Enrollment History: For a specific semester or all enrolled semesters. Verifies attendance, enrollment, and good standing, as well as full-time/part-time status, college, department, major, class level, and semester begin/end dates.
Awarded degrees: Includes degree, major, award date, and (if the option is selected) any additional majors and/or minors.
Expected degrees: For students who have pending degrees. Includes degree, major, expected graduation date, and (if the option is selected) any additional majors and/or minors.
QPA info: Shows semester QPA (for most recent semester where QPA is available), along with cumulative QPA if option is selected. Note: This information cannot be faxed.

Additionally, if you are registered for an upcoming semester, the option to verify registered status for the upcoming semester will show as an option when you request a verification through SIO. Enrollment is defined as being registered and attending classes, and so we cannot verify enrollment prior to the start of a semester.

How long does it take to process verification requests?

Currently enrolled students can obtain verification letters instantly through Student Information Online.

Alumni requests, special requests, or requests submitted through SIO for mail/fax delivery are typically processed within 2–3 business days. If you have a question as to the status of a request, you may email uro-verifications@andrew.cmu.edu.

I need to verify that I am on Leave of Absence; how can I get such a letter?

If you are currently on Leave of Absence, you will see a box on the right-hand side of the SIO Request Verification page that states "Leave of Absence Verification," with a link to download a PDF verification letter stating you are on Leave of Absence, along with the date your leave became effective.

How may I obtain a letter that verifies the courses I have taken and the grades I received?

Please order an official transcript.

I need to show proof of my degree for an H1B Visa; what do I do?

For proof of degree for H1B visa purposes, please see Degree Verifications. If you are planning to graduate early, please also review Early Completion Verification.

I need a letter verifying various skills acquired during my degree program. How can I obtain such a letter?

Students may request a course description letter by submitting a signed Verification Request (pdf) form to uro-verifications@andrew.cmu.edu.

I have a special form that must be filled out for my scholarship/government/internship/etc.

If you need to submit a special form to verify your enrollment or degree, please do the following:

Produce an enrollment/degree verification letter through Student Information Online
Bring both the SIO letter and the special form to The HUB to be completed and sent

Please note: If there is a section that can be completed by you, (i.e. your name and the semester for which it is relevant), please fill this out ahead of time. This will speed up processing. You do not need to fill in the information that Enrollment Services must verify.

I am attending Commencement, and I need a letter that shows my parents have permission to attend as well. How can I get this?

Many students wish to invite friends and family for a short visit to the United States, particularly for Commencement. Please refer to the Office of International Education's website regarding a B-2 Tourist Visa on the Travel Information for Family Members, Dependents & Visitors page.

I am/was enrolled in a non-credit certificate program; how can I obtain proof of this?

The University Registrar's Office is unable to verify participation in or completion of a non-credit certificate program (e.g. CIOI, CISO, Global Leadership Executive Program, etc.). In order to obtain proof that you are attending or have completed one of these programs, please contact the academic department offering the program.

I will be studying abroad and need to verify my attendance for a student visa. What do I do?

You can request Enrollment Verification to verify your enrollment status with CMU. For a letter showing Carnegie Mellon's approval for your study abroad experience, for general visa support, you should request a visa letter through Study Abroad.

For more information, visit OIE's website.

I am a recent graduate and need a degree verification; when will my verification become available and how can I access it?

Recent graduates with Carnegie Mellon email addresses (including alumni email addresses) can log onto Student Information Online (SIO) and navigate to the Academic Info tab. There, you may download a PDF version of your degree verification by selecting Request Verification.

Degrees are usually certified within two weeks of Commencement for May graduates, or by the first day of the next semester for August and December graduates. Alumni without CMU email accounts should submit a signed Verification Request (pdf) form to uro-verifications@andrew.cmu.edu.