✅ Student Verification: The Complete Playbook
TL;DR: Getting your student perks rejected? This guide covers every trick to get verified — from photo techniques to dealing with stubborn automated systems.
🚨 Before You Start
Most verification failures happen because of these three simple mistakes:
| ❌ Common Mistake | ✅ What To Do Instead |
|---|---|
| Using a VPN or proxy | Connect from campus WiFi or home without VPN |
| Desktop webcam photos | Use your phone’s rear camera for sharper images |
| Uploading scanned PDFs | Take a live photo of your physical document |
🔧 Verification Methods
Method 1: The “Context Photo” Technique
Best for: When your ID keeps getting rejected as “looks manipulated”
This method proves your ID exists in the real world:
- Open your university portal (Canvas, Blackboard, or student information system)
- Place your physical ID card on your laptop keyboard
- Take one photo capturing both the ID and the logged-in screen
- Submit this single image — it shows your ID is real and matches your account
Why it works: The bot sees shadows, reflections, and lighting that prove the ID is physical. The screen corroborates your identity.
Method 2: The “Date Combo” Technique
Best for: IDs without expiry dates or semester information
Many student IDs lack a printed date, which causes rejections:
- Find a dated document — Certificate of Registration (COR), study load, or tuition receipt
- Lay the dated document flat on a table
- Place your ID card on top (don’t cover the date)
- Take one photo showing both documents
- Optional: Lightly circle the date in pencil if it’s hard to read
Method 3: Manual Review Escalation
Best for: After 3+ automated rejections
When the bot is stuck on rejecting you:
- Wait 48-72 hours between attempts
- Contact GitHub Education Support
- Use this template:
Subject: Manual Verification Request - [YourGitHubUsername]
Hello,
My student verification application was rejected by the automated system.
I have attached valid proof of enrollment. My school does not issue .edu
email addresses.
Account: [your username]
School: [your school name]
Country: [your country]
[Attach your Method 1 or Method 2 photo]
Thank you.
🌏 Region-Specific Guides
Philippines 🇵🇭
Schools like STI, AMA, and state universities often use .com or .ph domains:
| Document | Use Case | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Study Load / COR | Primary proof for IDs without dates | Add English translation on sticky note if in Filipino |
| School Receipt | Alternative dated document | Must show current semester |
| Enrollment Certificate | Formal backup option | Request from registrar if needed |
Distance learners: Enable GPS location services and add a note explaining: “I am a distance learning student in [Province], enrolled at [School] in [City].”
📸 Photo Checklist
Run through this before submitting:
- No VPN active — Disconnect completely
- Location services enabled — Browser must detect your location
- Disable adblockers — uBlock Origin can interfere with scripts
- Natural lighting — Avoid flash glare on glossy IDs
- Readable text — Zoom in to confirm all text is sharp
- Automatic time — System clock must be synced
🔁 Troubleshooting
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| “Image looks manipulated” | Use Method 1 (Context Photo) |
| “Cannot read text” | Improve lighting, use rear camera, avoid shadows |
| “Date not found” | Use Method 2 (Date Combo) with dated document |
| “Location mismatch” | Disable VPN, enable GPS, try again on campus |
| Rejected multiple times | Wait 3 days, then use Method 3 (Manual Review) |
🆘 Still Stuck?
Open a discussion in the GitHub Discussions or create an issue. Include:
- Your country
- Type of school (university, college, vocational)
- What verification method you’ve tried
- Any error messages received (screenshot if possible)
This guide is maintained by the Student Perks community. If you found a new verification trick that worked for you, consider contributing!