It is an NCAA requirement:
From the 2011-12 NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete
"Official visit.
Any visit to a college campus by you and your parents paid for by the college. The college may pay all or some of
the following expenses:
• Your transportation to and from the college;
• Room and meals (three per day) while you are visiting the college; and
• Reasonable entertainment expenses, including three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest.
Before a college may invite you on an official visit, you will have
to provide the college with a copy of your high school transcript
(Division I only) and ACT, SAT or PLAN score and register with the
NCAA Eligibility Center.
Virginia Tech's Official visit requirements state:
"(a) High school or secondary/preparatory school prospects: must present the institution with a score from a PSAT, SAT, PLAN, or ACT taken on a national resting (SIC) date under normal testing condition. The scores must be presented through a testing agency document, on an academic transcript, through the voice-automated testing agency system, or they can be confirmed through the NCAA Eligibility Center."
So, I guess a PSAT also counts? That seems strange to me, since it doesn't count for college admission.
Anyhow, you need an actual score on one of the exams to go on an Official Visit.
It is possible his transcript wasn't up to the standards (whatever they are) that are now in place.
Interesting that this was apparently scheduled and he didn't have a score.
Any visits to Auburn or Oregon must be unofficial (on his dime).