Chinese Degree Evaluation Issues: Names and Passport Numbers
Name and passport-number problems on Chinese degrees: how to find the name your university filed with CSSD, and what to do when the passport number is unknown or inconsistent.
Names, Passport Numbers & Transcripts: CHSI / CSSD Problems
Six common blockers and how we approach them.
Names, passport numbers and transcripts are the three things that most often go wrong in CHSI/CSSD verification. Here are the typical situations and approaches.
Mismatched names
Name changes, different romanisations, a wrong character in the school’s records: when documents are complete, WES usually does not reject because of this. The key is to find which name the school filed with CSSD and, where needed, get a clarifying letter from the school. When a degree is very old and the name and ID used back then are no longer in use, the school can also issue a letter.
Passport-number problems
For foreigners who studied in China, the passport number on school records may differ from the current one, or the school may supply an unknown number. You need to work out which passport number to use when registering the CSSD account. If the CSSD report contains a wrong name or passport number, starting again with a new CSSD account is sometimes necessary.
English-only transcripts rejected by CSSD
CSSD may reject an English-only transcript. You can translate it back into Chinese (inexpensive) and explain the situation to CSSD.
Transcripts not recently issued
CSSD may ask for a recent transcript. You can first try submitting an older one and explain why.
“identification number has been used”
Very common among international students. It can be resolved quickly through CSSD’s official WeChat channel.
No Chinese phone number
You can register with an overseas number, though codes occasionally fail. A Chinese number remains the most reliable.
A wrong grade on a transcript
We handled a case where a 90 was typed as 0. The school archive would not cooperate, and the grade was finally corrected another way.
Videos share real case experience and are not fixed policy of WES or CSSD. Always judge by your own circumstances.
FAQ
Related questions
My name or passport number does not match my documents. Can it still be evaluated?
Often yes. Name changes, different romanisations, or a wrong character in the school’s record are usually not blockers when documents are complete. The key is finding the name the school filed with CSSD and, where needed, a letter from the school. See the names and passport guide.
I am a foreigner without a Chinese phone number. Can I register a CHSI / CSSD account?
You can register with an overseas number, though SMS codes sometimes fail and a Chinese number is still the most reliable. If you see “identification number has been used”, it can be resolved through CSSD’s official WeChat channel. We have videos that walk through both.
Related videos
Keep watching
Understanding Name Changes on Your WES Report: Real-Life Cases Explained
Do name changes or different transliterations matter on a WES report? Three real cases show how WES treats different names and school misspellings.
CSSD account creation: identification number has been used
Seeing “identification number has been used” when creating a CSSD account? Fix it through CSSD’s official WeChat channel, with real screenshots.
EP 17 Solutions for WES Degree Evaluation Issues for Chinese degrees
EP17: four common problems for foreigners with Chinese degrees: English-only transcripts rejected by CSSD, name inconsistencies, transcripts not recently issued, and errors in CSSD reports.
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