A provisional credential evaluation can help when you need an evaluation report but cannot yet provide the institution-sent academic documents usually required for an official evaluation or need a faster turnaround time. It is based on scans or photocopies of the same official or original documents needed for an official evaluation, so it can be useful for quickly starting a process, meeting an early deadline, or getting a preliminary report. The key question is whether the school, employer, licensing board, or agency receiving your report will accept it.
Official evaluations require documents that are sent directly from the issuing institution to IEE. For many education, employment, and licensure situations, an official evaluation can be the safer long-term choice. For some immigration and military uses, scans or photocopies may be acceptable, but we always recommend confirming your recipient’s requirements before you submit an order.
Need help choosing the right evaluation path? Review IEE’s evaluation guidelines and documentation requirements before you order. When you are ready, start your IEE application.
What Is a Provisional Credential Evaluation?
A provisional credential evaluation is an evaluation report prepared from scanned or photocopied academic documents, rather than institution-sent official records. It gives the recipient a useful review of the applicant’s international education, but acceptance depends on the institution or agency receiving the report.
Provisional does not mean informal, careless, or low quality. The documents reviewed for a provisional evaluation must still be scans of official records. The resulting report is based on copies instead of the stronger document sources normally required for an official report, and the document source will always be noted on the evaluation.
When a Provisional Evaluation May Be the Right Choice
A provisional evaluation may make sense when timing or document access is the main obstacle. Many applicants are working across countries, time zones, university offices, and courier delays. If your official transcript is slow to arrive but you have clear scans of your official diploma and transcript, a provisional report may help you keep moving.
Common situations include:
- The recipient accepts provisional reports. Some organizations allow a provisional evaluation for an initial review, then request official documentation later.
- You have an application deadline. A school or employer may need an evaluation soon, and your institution cannot send records quickly enough.
- You only have scanned copies of the official documents. Your original documents may be abroad, in storage, or temporarily unavailable.
- Your institution is unable to send documents to third parties. Some institutions are unable to send records to credential evaluation companies. This can happen if the institution is no longer open, limited by national data privacy laws, or does not have the infrastructure to send documents.
For example, a registered nurse with a job offer from a U.S. healthcare facility may need to demonstrate educational qualifications quickly while waiting for their nursing school to send official transcripts. A provisional evaluation based on scanned copies of their diploma and transcripts can meet an early credentialing deadline while the official documents are being processed. Similarly, an international student applying for early admissions review may use a provisional evaluation to show the university their academic standing before final transcripts arrive from their home institution.
The most important step is confirmation. IEE recommends contacting the institution or agency receiving your evaluation to verify its requirements before you submit your request. A provisional evaluation is only useful if the recipient will accept it for your purpose. Some institutions do not accept provisional evaluations.
When You Should Choose an Official Evaluation
An official evaluation is the better choice when the receiving organization requires an official evaluation. It is also the better choice when the report will be used as a final credential document, not just as an early review.
Choose an official evaluation if:
- Your university, employer, board, or agency specifically asks for or requires an official evaluation.
- Your purpose is professional licensure, such as nursing, teaching, or accounting, and the board has strict documentation rules.
- Your institution can send transcripts directly to IEE.
- You want to avoid paying a revision fee later to change a provisional report to an official report.
- You are not sure whether a provisional report will be accepted.
For education, licensure, and employment evaluations, IEE requires transcripts to be originals or sent from the issuing institution. If your institution cannot send transcripts directly, you may submit your own original copy for consideration. Credentials submitted by the applicant may be subject to an additional verification fee and verification review.
Cost consideration: If you order a provisional evaluation now and later need to upgrade to an official report, a revision fee will apply. In some cases, it may be more cost-effective to wait for official documents and order directly to the official report, especially if you know the recipient requires it. IEE’s flat-rate pricing page breaks down the costs for each evaluation type.
For Students and University Admissions
Students should contact the admissions office before ordering. Some schools may accept a provisional evaluation for an initial admissions review. Others require official documents before they will make a final decision, award transfer credit, or issue an I-20.
International students on F-1 visas who need early admissions review often face a timing challenge: their home university may not send transcripts for weeks, but the U.S. admissions deadline is approaching. A provisional evaluation can bridge this gap, allowing the admissions committee to begin its review while the official documents are in transit. Just confirm that the school will accept a provisional report for at least the initial stage of review.
If a university asks for a detailed transcript review, you may also need a course-by-course report rather than a basic document report. IEE’s evaluation service chart explains the differences between report types, including Document, Document + GPA, Course, and Divisional reports.
If your school accepts provisional documents for early review, the provisional path may protect your timeline. If the school requires official records for final admission, plan ahead so your institution can send the needed transcripts.
For Professional Licensing Applicants
Licensing boards often have stricter rules than general admissions offices. Nursing, teaching, accounting, and other regulated professions may require specific documentation, coursework review, clinical hour review, or original records. In these cases, an official evaluation is usually the safer route.
For nursing specifically, state boards of nursing across the United States typically require official evaluations completed with institution-sent transcripts. IEE works with credentialing bodies for nursing licenses in 17 states, and most of these boards will not accept a provisional evaluation for final licensure decisions. If you are a nurse applying for licensure by endorsement or an international nurse seeking U.S. certification, plan for an official evaluation from the start.
Before you order, check the board’s instructions and compare them with IEE’s guidelines. If the board will not accept scans, a provisional evaluation may delay your application instead of helping it.
For Employers
Employers use credential evaluations to understand whether an international degree or diploma meets a job requirement. Some employers may accept a provisional report if they only need a practical education comparison for hiring review. Others may require an official evaluation for compliance, background screening, or internal policy reasons.
For background screening purposes, many employers and third-party verification services require institution-sent documents to confirm the authenticity of your credentials. An official evaluation provides the strongest documentation trail. If the employer has not given a specific requirement, ask whether scans are acceptable or whether they need an official report. A short confirmation email can prevent confusion later.
For Immigration and Military Purposes
For immigration and military evaluations, USCIS accepts evaluations based on scans or photocopies of documents, and IEE waives verification fees for uploaded credentials in these categories. Provisional, immigration and military evaluations state that they are based on scanned copies of academic documents.
Even so, immigration cases can vary by petition type, attorney strategy, and evidence package. If you are working with an attorney or agency, ask what documentation standard they recommend before ordering.
Ready to compare report options? Review IEE’s flat-rate pricing and FAQ, then choose the evaluation that fits your recipient’s requirements.
How Do the Documentation Requirements Differ Between Provisional and Official Evaluations?
Document language can be confusing, so it helps to separate the common terms.
- Scans: Digital images or PDF copies of your diploma, transcript, marksheet, or graduation certificate.
- Photocopies: Physical copies or copied images of academic documents.
- Original documents: Physical academic records issued by the institution at the time of graduation.
- Institution-sent documents: Records sent directly from the school, university, examination board, or issuing authority.
For provisional evaluations, scans or photocopies are sufficient. The evaluation report will note that it was prepared from copies rather than originals. For official evaluations, original transcripts or institution-sent documents are required. This difference in document source is the single most important factor when deciding which evaluation type to choose.
For official education, licensure, and employment evaluations, IEE generally requires original transcripts or transcripts sent by the issuing institution. Uploaded scans of diplomas and degree certificates are acceptable when the transcript includes information about degree conferral or graduation, although IEE may request official documents or verification at its discretion.
If you send original documents and want them returned, indicate that on your application under the Recipients section. Documents received by IEE from the issuing institution are the property of IEE and cannot be returned to the applicant.
Not sure which evaluation is right for your situation? IEE’s team can help you choose the correct report type. Review our evaluation guidelines or start your application today.
Can I Upgrade a Provisional Evaluation to an Official Evaluation Later?
Yes, if you need to switch from a provisional evaluation to an official evaluation later, a revision fee will apply. You will also need to provide official documents sent directly from your institution to IEE.
This can be a useful option if you start with a provisional evaluation to meet an early deadline and later need an official report for final admission, licensure, or employment verification. The revision fee is one factor to consider when deciding which evaluation path to take initially. If you know from the start that an official evaluation will be required, ordering it directly may save both time and money.
Which Evaluation Should I Choose for a US Visa or Green Card Application?
For most US visa and green card applications, USCIS accepts evaluations based on scanned or photocopied documents. This means a provisional evaluation is often sufficient for immigration purposes. IEE also waives verification fees for uploaded credentials in immigration and military categories.
However, every immigration case is different. Some petition types, such as EB-2 National Interest Waivers or EB-1 extraordinary ability petitions, may benefit from a more thorough official evaluation with institution-sent documents to strengthen the evidence package. If your attorney or immigration specialist recommends an official report, follow their guidance.
For H-1B petitions, a credential evaluation is a standard requirement to establish that your education is equivalent to a U.S. degree. Both provisional and official evaluations can serve this purpose, but an official evaluation provides stronger documentation if USCIS issues a Request for Evidence (RFE).
Decision Checklist: Which Evaluation Should You Order?
Use this comparison table when deciding between a provisional and official evaluation:
| Factor | Provisional Evaluation | Official Evaluation |
|---|---|---|
| Documents needed | Scans or photocopies | Institution-sent originals |
| Best for | Immigration, military, early admissions review | Education, professional licensure, employment |
| Acceptable for universities | Preliminary review only | Final admission, credit transfer, I-20 |
| Revision possible | Yes (revision fee applies) | N/A |
| Verification fee | Waived for immigration and military | May apply if applicant submits own documents |
The simplest rule: choose a provisional credential evaluation only when scans are the best available documents and the recipient accepts a report based on them. Choose an official evaluation when the recipient requires stronger documentation or when you want the most durable option from the start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are scans acceptable for immigration evaluations?
Yes, in most cases. USCIS accepts evaluations based on scans or photocopies for immigration and military evaluations, and those reports state that they are based on scanned copies of academic documents. Confirm with your attorney or requesting agency if you have case-specific requirements. IEE may ask for directly-sent documentation for further information or verification purposes.
Can I submit unofficial documents for a provisional evaluation?
No. While a provisional evaluation is based on scans or photocopies, the images must be of officially-issued documentation. We do not accept documents that are print-outs from student portals.
Can I change a provisional evaluation to an official evaluation later?
Yes, if you want to revise from a Provisional to an Official Evaluation, a revision fee will apply. You will also need to provide directly sent documents required for the official report.
Do I need to select the provisional evaluation if my study program is incomplete or in progress?
No, we can consider directly-sent documents for official evaluation for incomplete and in progress programs. In some cases, you may not yet possess official documents and will need to contact your institution to produce these documents.
Why is IEE asking me for directly sent documents when I chose a provisional evaluation?
In some cases, for a variety of reasons, we are unable to complete a provisional evaluation based on documentation scans and will ask for direct documents or the original. If our team does not have sufficient information about the institution, program, or sample documents, we will often ask for the documents to be sent from your institution. This can also happen when the records need to be updated for in progress programs or if any discrepancies are noticed. It is not guaranteed that the documents will be accepted.
Final Recommendation
A provisional credential evaluation can help you keep your application moving. If your recipient requires originals, institution-sent documents, or final verified documentation, choose an official evaluation instead.
The best next step is simple: confirm the recipient’s rules, review IEE’s guidelines, and choose the report that matches both your documents and your goal.
Start with confidence. Visit IEE’s application portal to begin your credential evaluation and review the documentation requirements per country to ensure a smooth process.
