SEVIS

SEVIS stands for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, a United States government web-based database used to manage information on international students and exchange visitors in the United States. It supports the monitoring and administration of nonimmigrant programs, particularly those under the F-1 student and J-1 exchange visitor classifications.

The system is administered by the Department of Homeland Security through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Designated School Officials (DSOs) at participating schools and Responsible Officers (ROs) at sponsoring organizations enter and maintain records in SEVIS. The data collected supports visa issuance, status monitoring, and enforcement activities, helping agencies verify program participation and compliance.

Participating institutions must enroll in SEVIS and create individual records for each student or exchange visitor. For F-1 students, schools issue Form I-20; for J-1 participants, Form DS-2019. SEVIS records capture a range of information, including visa category, program sponsor, school, program start and end dates, level of study, major, personal and contact details, and current enrollment status. The system also tracks changes in status, such as updates to address, changes of level, withdrawals, and authorizations for approved work arrangements.

Key data elements in SEVIS include a unique SEVIS ID, student or exchange visitor status, enrollment dates, and eligibility details for employment authorizations (e.g., CPT and OPT for F-1 students or Academic Training for J-1). Institutions are required to provide timely updates to reflect changes in a participant’s status to maintain lawful status and to support post-issuance checks by consular officers and federal agencies.

SEVIS has become central to the management of most nonimmigrant student and exchange programs in the United States, coordinating data across schools, sponsors, and government agencies.