SEVIS

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SEVIS, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, is the electronic reporting system for the Department of Homeland Security. It is managed by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) bureau. Information from different parts of the system can be accessed, or viewed, by various government agencies in the Department of Homeland Security, Social Security, and the school or agency which issues your I-20 or DS-2019.

The U.S. Congress mandated that an electronic system be developed to track international students. They further mandated that the system be supported by the international visitors. The SEVIS fee was instituted to pay for the operation of the system.

When a student is admitted to the university and qualifies for the I-20 or DS-2019, the university staff will submit the information to the SEVIS system, requesting an I-20 or DS-2019. The I-20 or DS-2019 is then returned to the university for signature.

Both the university and the student or scholar are responsible for keeping the information in the SEVIS system accurate and current. Both have deadlines to meet when there is a change in information. This includes biographic data, enrollment, and employment.

You will find that International Advising often gives deadlines for reporting changes, and for certain applications. These deadlines are to keep both you, the student or scholar, and the university compliant with the regulations.

Further information about SEVIS, and the SEVIS (I-901 fee), can be found at http://www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/index.htm, and also in our SEVIS Fee FAQs page.