What is SEVIS?

SEVIS is an internet-based system that provides tracking, monitoring, and access to accurate and current information on non-immigrant students (F and M visa) and exchange visitors (J visa).

SEVIS enables schools and program sponsors to transmit electronic information and event notifications via the internet to the INS and the Department of State throughout a student or exchange visitor’s stay in the U.S.

SEVIS also allows the printing of appropriate forms, e.g. I-20 and provides reminders, alerts, and basic reporting capabilities.

Is SEVIS new?

Yes and no.  The requirement that schools provide the federal government with information about non-immigrant students is not new.  Most of the information that is required by SEVIS has been required by INS for many years.

In 1996, Congress passed legislation directing the INS to move to an electronic data collection system.  Additional biographical and academic-program-related information has been added to the list of data to be collected by schools/colleges.

In October 2001, Congress passed the USA Patriot Act requiring nationwide compliance by January 30, 2003.

What data does SEVIS collect?

• Biographical data: name, date of birth, city, gender, countries of birth, citizenship, address
• Dependents: name, date of birth, countries of birth, citizenship, relationship
• Program of study: level of education, major, program enrollment date, termination date and reason
• Academic status: full or part-time, number of credits completed per year
• Conduct violation: probation or suspension
• Finances: costs, financial support sources
• Immigration: visa, passport, I-94
• Port of entry, date of entry
• I-20 and I-20 application
• Optional practical training
• Curricular practical training
• School transfer
• Program extension
• On-campus and off-campus employment

How does SEVIS affect an F-1 student?

The implementation of SEVIS means a new set of procedures will be in place.  The staff of the International Student Services Office is aware of the changes and will be able to help any international student who has questions concerning SEVIS.

Pre-SEVIS I-20

Pre-SEVIS I-20 is multi-copy and paper-based.  Page 1 of the I-20 is known as the “School copy”.   Page 3 of the I-20 is known as the “Student I.D.” copy.  When a student enters the U.S., an INS inspector stamps both page 1 and 3 of the I-20.  Page 1 is removed from the I-20 and sent to INS Service Center.  Page 3 is returned to the student.  Eventually, page 1 of the I-20 will be sent back to the school for record keeping.

SEVIS I-20

Post-SEVIS I-20s are generated by SEVIS.  After a student is accepted, the Designated School Official (DSO) will enter a student’s information into SEVIS.  An I-20 will then be printed.  The SEVIS I-20 does not contain multiple copies.  Since all the information is already stored in SEVIS, there is no need for an extra copy to be sent to INS.

SEVIS I.D.#

All SEVIS I-20 contains a system generated I.D. #.  The SEVIS I.D.# remains the same as long as the student maintains his/her non-immigrant status.

SEVIS I-20 is used for the following:

• Entry into the U.S.
• Change of non-immigrant classification
• School transfer
• Program extension
• Reinstatement
• Or any other F-1 related matters

What will happen during the phase-in period when some students will use the SEVIS I-20 and others the paper-based I-20?

The SEVIS nationwide compliance date is January 30, 2003.  INS expects the phase-in period to be completed by the end of the school’s next academic cycle.  Paper-based I-20 will be accepted during the phase-in period.  For schools that used the semester system, this will mean by the end of the Fall 2003 semester.

By Fall 2003, all students should be issued the SEVIS I-20.  The paper-based I-20 will no longer be accepted. 

• Effective immediately, all new students entering Saint Martin’s University are issued SEVIS I-20.
• Current Saint Martin’s students who request a new I-20 will be issued a SEVIS I-20.
• All Saint Martin’s students will be issued the SEVIS I-20 no later than Fall, 2003.

FULL COURSE OF STUDY

Changes in regard to full-course of study

• The new regulation limits the time during which an F-1 can drop below a full course of study.
• A DSO cannot authorize an F-1 student to drop below a full course of study for more than 1 semester.
• A DSO may not authorize a student, other than one experiencing illness or other medical condition to completely withdrawn from all classes.  The reduced class load must include at least some classes in order for the DSO to grant authorization.
• A student who is unable to resume a full course of study within the allowable time period will not be able to continue that status and will either have to leave the U.S. or apply for a change of status.

SCHOOL TRANSFER PROCEDURES

(Please note significant changes occur in the school transfer procedures.)

• The school where the student is transfer to has to make sure that the student was in status at the old school and therefore eligible to transfer.
• The student intending to transfer has to notify the current school of his/her intent to transfer.
• Upon notification, the current school will update to SEVIS the student as a “Transfer out” to the new school.  DSO will indicate in SEVIS a “Release date” (usually the current semester completion date or the date of unexpected transfer).
• The current school will remain responsible for the student until the “Release date”.
• The student must also notify the new school of his/her intent to transfer.
• Upon reaching the “Release date”, the new school will be granted full access to the student’s SEVIS record, may then issue a new SEVIS I-20 and becoming responsible for the student’s record.
• PLEASE NOTE: THE NEW SCHOOL MAY NOT ISSUE A NEW SEVIS I-20 UNTIL AFTER THE “RELEASE DATE”.
• The student is required to report his/her presence to the new school within 15 days of the program start date indicated on the SEVIS I-20 so that the new school can acknowledge student’s attendance, obtain the student’s current address, and confirm that the student has completed the school transfer process.
• The new school has to notify SEVIS within 30 days, in accordance with 8CFR 214.3(g)(3)(iii) that the student has enrolled in classes.

CURRICULAR PRACTICAL TRAINING

An international student requesting curricular practical training (CPT) has to fill out a “Curricular Practical Training Application Form”.  The form is available from the International Student Services Office.

• The DSO updates SEVIS anytime a DSO authorizes a student’s request for curricular practical training, i.e. a work/study program, internship or practicum that is an integral part of a curriculum.
• The DSO must verify that the student meets the eligibility requirements and must also update SEVIS to show whether the work is a) full or part-time, b) the start and end date of employment, c) the name and location of the employer.
• The DSO then print a SEVIS I-20 that indicates that CPT authorization has been granted.  The DSO also should sign, date, and return the SEVIS I-20 to the student prior to the student’s commencement of employment.
• A student is not eligible to begin work until the DSO has updated SEVIS to show that CPT is authorized and has printed the SEVIS I-20 for the student to provide to the employer.
• Form I-538 is no longer needed when authorizing CPT.

OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT)

A student may be authorized for up to 12 months of Optional Practical Training for each program level that he/she undertakes; e.g. a student who has engaged in 12 months of practical training during study for an undergraduate degree becomes eligible for another 12 months of practical training when he/she changes to a higher education level, such as a master’s degree.

• Optional practical training is approved by the Service, based on the recommendation of the DSO.
• A student seeking OPT has to file the I-765.
• DSO will recommend the student for OPT in SEVIS and print the SEVIS I-20 to be sent to the appropriate INS Service Center in conjunction with the I-765.
• I-538 is no longer needed for OPT.
• When should a student apply for OPT?
• F-1 students must apply for OPT prior to completion of all course requirements or completion of studies.  The old “graduation date + 60 days” no longer applies.

PROGRAM EXTENSION

Reasons for program extension:

• Delays are caused by compelling academic or medical reasons, such as changes of major or research topics, unexpected research problems or medically documented illnesses.
• Delays caused by academic probation or suspension is not acceptable reasons for program extension.
• DSO may not grant an extension if the student did not apply for an extension until after the program end date noted on the I-20.  An F-1 student who is ineligible for program extension is considered “out-of-status”.

To be eligible, an F-1 student has to be in lawful status at an approved school in order to apply for an extension of status.

• The DSO will approve program extension and then enter the new program end date.
• The DSO will then print the new SEVIS I-20 reflecting the new program end date.
• Student can apply for program extension at any point prior to the program end date listed in the I-10.
• No grace period is allowed on the program end date.
• I-538 is no longer needed for program extension.

REINSTATEMENT

The following are reasons that an F-1 student may lose the student status:

• Remaining in the U.S. beyond the authorized period after completion of study
• Engage in employment without authorization
• Dropping out of school
• Failure to carry a full load of study
• Not showing satisfactory progress towards graduation

New regulations regarding reinstatement

An F-1 student is not eligible to apply for reinstatement if he/she is out-of-status for more than 5 months, i.e. reinstatement has to be done within 5 months.

• New rules also limit the circumstances under which reinstatement is available.
• Student has to demonstrate failure to receive reinstatement would result in
• extreme hardship,
• the circumstances are beyond the student’s control.  Such circumstances may be: a) serious injury or illness, b) closure of
  the institution, c) a natural disaster.
• Circumstances beyond the student’s control would not include cases where inadvertence, oversight, neglect, or a willful failure on the part of the student or the DSO that resulted in the need for reinstatement.
• Reasons for reinstatement will be closely scrutinized.

Reinstatement Procedures

The school that the student most recently attended will update the student’s record in SEVIS and print out a new I-20 which indicates the student is requesting to be reinstated.

• The student should submit the new SEVIS I-20 and I-539 by mail to the district director.
• Once the request has been adjudicated, the student will receive his/her I-20 with the decision of the district director.
• The district director will update SEVIS to indicate the decision on the request for reinstatement.
• SEVIS will provide notification to the school of the reinstatement decision.

OTHER CHANGES:

Advance admission is only 30 days as opposed to the old regulation of 60 days.

Dependents (F-2)

• F-2 will receive his/her SEVIS I-20 with a unique I.D. # that they are a dependent.
• F-2 can enroll in vocational or recreational courses.
• If F-2 wants to go to school full-time, he/she has to change his/her status to F-1.