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SEVP, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, has the important role of protecting national security
while supporting the international student exchange for the more than one million
international students, exchange visitors and their dependents in the United States.
SEVP is a part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s
Homeland Security Investigations directorate which is the largest
investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. SEVP supports
ICE’s mission to protect national security and enforce immigration laws.
To contribute to this mission, SEVP manages the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System,
known as SEVIS, which serves as a national security tool to monitor international students and the schools that enroll them.
SEVIS information is shared throughout HSI and ICE and with our government and law enforcement partners
including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Department of State,
and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. There are approximately 10,000 certified schools in SEVIS that can enroll international students.
Schools wishing to enroll international students first must apply and be granted
SEVP certification to accept international students.
Following certification, these schools must appoint a designated school official, known as a DSO,
to be the point of contact for students and SEVP and to facilitate the school certification process.
The certification process includes: filing the Department of Homeland Security Form I-17;
providing required evidence; receiving a school visit from SEVP; and undergoing a comprehensive adjudication process.
Once a school is SEVP-certified, schools are continuously monitored through SEVIS for compliance with federal regulations.
Schools that do not comply can lose their certification.
To ensure compliance, schools undergo a recertification process every two years.
There are three types of nonimmigrants reported in SEVIS based on their visa status: F, M and J.
F and M nonimmigrants are the more traditional academic and vocational students.
A J-1 exchange visitor participates in such programs as short term scholars, au pairs and summer work travel.
DSOs at SEVP-certified schools issue prospective F and M international students a Form I-20.
The Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
designated U.S. sponsors use SEVIS information to issue the Form DS-2019 to J-1 exchange visitor visa applicants.
A nonimmigrant applying for any of these visa categories
then uses the appropriate forms to apply for a visa at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy.
DSOs are responsible for entering the information about F and M international students into SEVIS.
SEVP and law enforcement entities monitor the F and M students’ activity for the duration of their program of study.
At SEVP, we also work to craft policies and regulations for schools and students to ensure compliance.
Through administrative actions, SEVP’s Analysis and Operations Center
works with our law enforcement partners to support HSI criminal investigations. SEVP’s Response Center
answers questions from international students and school officials.
With a multi-faceted international student process
involving several different agencies, it’s crucial that students and schools
understand and comply with immigration rules. To help,
we have a robust outreach program to communicate with our stakeholders.
The Study in the States website is a Department of Homeland Security resource
for international students and school officials,
offering government news, agency-sponsored webinars,
and the latest information they need in order to stay in compliance with immigration rules.
For more information visit StudyintheStates.dhs.gov.