SEVIS immigration international graduate undergraduate students basic guide faculty members U.S. university college

1. SEVIS Overview
For U.S. Faculty Members
Jeff Stanton, Syracuse University

2. From ICE:
“The Student and Exchange Visitor Information
System (SEVIS; sea-viss) is the web-based system
that the Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) uses to maintain information on Student
and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified
schools and the F and M students who come to
the United States to attend those schools.”

3. Visa Types – Used with SEVIS
• F-1 visa for students attending academic
programs (including language study) – must
receive I-20 from school after receiving admission
and show financial capability; must be for full
time study; no compensated employment except
on-campus <= 20 hours/week
• M-1 visa for students pursuing technical training
– visa always has an end date
• J-1 visa for students attending cultural exchange
programs in the U.S.

4. SEVP runs SEVIS
• Information shared with a variety of government agencies
• 10,000 certified schools that can enroll international students
• Every school has a designated official who is cognizant of all
processes relevant to SEVIS; a DSO is a designated school official; a
P/DSO is a principal designated school official (both must be citizens
or permanent residents)
• SEVIS compliance is monitored and recertified every two years
• Schools issue an I-20 to students who will attend under an F-1 visa;
schools also manage dependents (who will receive F-2 and F-3
visas)
• SEVP has a response center that answers questions from schools
and students
• Primary info resource: http://studyinthestates.dhs.gov

5. The I-20
• A three page document generated from a SEVIS record;
contains a unique student ID number which follows the
student across institutions
• I-20 is used as proof at consular offices to show admission
to academic program and eligibility to enter the U.S. as a
student; I-20 is part of the basis of issuance of an F-1 visa
• The cognizant official at each university (DSO) is authorized
to provide I-20s
• The I-20 cannot be revoked but it is only valid until the
program end date that is listed on the first page
• A DSO may defer the attendance of an “Initial” status
student: This changes the program start date; only applies
to students who have not yet entered the U.S.

6. Student Registration
• SEVIS is used to transition a student’s status from
“Initial” to “Active” when they physically appear
to register for and attend classes
• SEVIS records are updated each new term to
ensure that students remain on “Active” status
• SEVIS will cancel the record if the student has not
entered the United States or terminate the record
if the student has entered the United States if no
registration event occurs once the program start
date has passed.