Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS): A Comprehensive Overview

Generally, foreign nationals who wish to travel to the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for a temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. A student visa (F or M visa) is required to study in the United States. Understanding the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is crucial for international students and exchange visitors planning to study or participate in exchange programs in the U.S. This article provides a detailed overview of SEVIS, its history, functionality, and significance for those navigating the U.S. immigration system for educational purposes.

The Necessity of a Student Visa

To study in the United States, you must have a student visa (F or M visa). Studying on a visitor (B) visa is prohibited unless you are eligible and have obtained a change of status from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or through the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). However, a visitor (B) visa permits enrollment in a short recreational course of study that does not contribute to a degree or academic certificate. Receiving a degree or certificate is not permitted on a visitor (B) visa, even for a short duration.

Initial Steps to Studying in the U.S.

The first step to studying in the United States is applying to a SEVP-approved school. If the SEVP-approved school accepts your enrollment, you will be registered for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee.

Applying for a Visa: A Step-by-Step Guide

There are several steps to apply for a visa:

Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160: Complete the DS-160 form online.
Photo: Upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160.
Interview: Interviews are generally required for visa applicants, with certain limited exceptions. Schedule an interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live. Wait times for interview appointments vary by location, season, and visa category, so you should apply for your visa early.
Fees: Pay the non-refundable visa application fee before your interview, if required. If your visa is approved, you may also pay a visa issuance fee, if applicable to your nationality.

Required Documents for Visa Application

Several documents are essential for your visa application:

Passport: A passport valid for travel to the United States, with a validity of at least six months beyond your intended period of stay (unless exempt by country-specific agreements).
Photo: A photo to be uploaded while completing the online Form DS-160.
Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20): A Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status for Academic and Language Students, or a Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (M-1) Student Status for Vocational Students. Your school will send you a Form I-20 once they have entered your information in the SEVIS database. You and your school official must sign the Form I-20.

The Visa Interview and Subsequent Steps

All students must be registered in the Student and Exchange Visitor System (SEVIS). A consular officer will interview you to determine whether you are qualified to receive a student visa. Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans are taken as part of the application process.

After your visa interview, the consular officer may determine that your application requires further administrative processing. After the visa is approved, you may need to pay a visa issuance fee (if applicable to your nationality) and arrange for the return of your passport and visa.

Important Considerations After Visa Approval

A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. You must still seek permission to enter the United States at a port-of-entry (generally an airport). Failure to depart the United States on time will result in being out of status and may also make you ineligible for future visas in certain cases. While in the United States, receiving a change of status from USCIS does not require you to apply for a new visa.

Family Visas

Your spouse and unmarried, minor children who intend to reside with you during your study may apply for F-2 or M-2 visas. Although SEVIS fee payment is not required for dependents, your school must issue them an individual Form I-20, which is required to apply for their visas.

Visa Validity and Reapplication

A visa in an expired passport is still valid unless canceled or revoked. If you have a valid visa in your expired passport, do not remove it. You may reapply if you believe you have additional evidence of your qualifications for a student (F or M) visa, or if your circumstances have changed. Contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate handling your visa application for status information.

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Restrictions on Early Entry

Students on F or M visas are not permitted to enter the United States earlier than 30 days before the start date of their program. If you wish to enter earlier than 30 days before your start date, you must separately apply and qualify for a visitor (B) visa or apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for a change of status to student (F or M) status before the start of your program. Note that you may not begin your course of study until the change of status is approved, and you may encounter lengthy processing times. Alternatively, you may depart the United States and re-enter on your student (F or M) visa.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Students who are authorized for Optional Practical Training (OPT) must have a Form I-20 endorsed for OPT and must apply to USCIS for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). OPT is temporary employment directly related to the eligible F-1 student's area of study.

What is SEVIS?

SEVIS is an Internet-based system that provides tracking and monitoring functionality, with access to accurate and current information on nonimmigrant students (F and M visa) and exchange visitors (J visa), and their dependents (F-2, M-2, and J-2).

SEVIS enables the submission of designation applications to DoS (Form DS-3036) for review and will be informed of status events for students and exchange visitors including, but not limited to, entry/exit data, changes of current United States address (residence), program extensions, employment notifications, and changes in program of study.

The Role of SEVP

The Department of Homeland Security manages foreign students and exchange visitors in the United States through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and SEVIS. The SEVP encompasses the F status (for foreign students in academic programs and their dependents), J status (for exchange visitors and their dependents), and M status (for foreign students in vocational programs and their dependents).

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It is important to note that the SEVP does not manage the issuance of visas. Visas are issued at United States consulates and embassies in other countries, which fall under the United States Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs.

Historical Context of SEVIS

The development of SEVIS was influenced by events such as the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Following this event, the Department of Justice's Office of Investigative Agency Policies recommended subjecting foreign students to thorough scrutiny. In June 1997, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) launched a pilot program called the Coordinated Interagency Partnership Regulating International Students (CIPRIS), a centralized electronic reporting system for institutions.

The CIPRIS pilot officially ended in October 1999, and the INS began working on the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) with the associated information system called the Student and Exchange Visitor Information Service (SEVIS). During the rollout, CIPRIS and SEVIS met with considerable opposition from the Association of International Educators and the American Council on Education.

The September 11 attacks in 2001 and the subsequent Patriot Act further increased scrutiny of student visas, accelerating the adoption of SEVIS.

SEVIS Releases and Updates

SEVIS has undergone six major releases since its launch. The release is numbered using a major release version number followed by a dot and a minor release version number. These releases include:

Data cleaning/migration
New payment tracking log for school payments
Modification of the re-designation list and alert
Display of the visa expiration date for Exchange Visitors and dependents

Accreditation of English Language Training Act

During the first half of 2012, changes that affect all colleges, universities, and other educational institutions that provide English language training ("ESL") programs began. These changes stem from the Accreditation of English Language Training Act ("Accreditation Act"), which became effective in June 2011. Pursuant to the Accreditation Act, ESL programs that enroll foreign nonimmigrant students must obtain accreditation from a regional or national accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.

The Accreditation Act applies to two types of ESL programs:

Stand-Alone ESL Schools: Schools whose officials have indicated on the school's Form I-17 the intention to offer only ESL programs of study.
Combined Schools: Schools whose officials have indicated on the school's Form I-17 that the school offers an ESL program of study, as well as other programs of study.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the SEVP program initially allowed international students to take more online coursework in the spring and summer semesters of 2020. However, on July 6, 2020, ICE issued a regulation that stated that for international visitors under SEVP to remain in the country for the fall 2020 semesters, they must return to taking most of their coursework in person, limiting any online coursework to a maximum of one class or three credit hours online, or be enrolled in a hybrid system but still required to take some physical classes. This regulation faced significant legal challenges and was later rescinded.

The I-901 SEVIS Fee

In 2004, the United States Congress mandated that all international students and exchange visitors pay the I-901 SEVIS fee, which funds the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and SEVIS. The fee can be paid online at fmjfee.com. The fee needs to be paid only for the principal (the F-1, J-1, or M-1). Dependents (F-2, J-2, and M-2) do not need to pay the fee.

Forms Used in SEVIS

SEVIS tracks students in F-1 status as well as trainees in M-1 and J-1 status, including their dependents. Schools and programs approved to host students and scholars on these visas are required to report certain information. The system uses forms such as the DS-2019 and I-20.

Form DS-2019: This is a one-page form with a unique bar code. The DS-2019 for the principle will contain an addendum that lists the dependents.
Form I-20: The I-20 will have only one page rather than two and contain a unique identifying bar code.

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