Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is the web-based system that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—and its Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency—use to maintain information on Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified schools; F-1 and M-1 students who come to the United States to attend those schools; U.S. Department of State-designated Exchange Visitor Program sponsors; and J-1 visa Exchange Visitor Program participants.

SEVIS is a critical tool in the ICE’s mission to protect national security while supporting the legal entry of more than one million F, M, and J nonimmigrants to the United States for education and cultural exchange.

Schools use SEVIS to petition SEVP for certification, which allows the school to offer programs of study to nonimmigrant students. Designated school officials of SEVP-certified schools use SEVIS to:

• Update school information and apply for recertification of the school to continue to issue Forms I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status to nonimmigrant students and their dependents;

• Issue Forms I-20 to specific nonimmigrants to obtain F or M status while enrolled at the school;

• Fulfill the school’s legal reporting responsibility regarding student addresses, courses of study, enrollment, employment, and compliance with the terms of the student status; and

• Transfer the student SEVIS records to other institutions.

Exchange Visitor programs use SEVIS to petition the Department of State for designation that allows the sponsor to offer educational and cultural exchange programs to exchange visitors. Responsible officers (RO’s) of designated Exchange Visitor programs use SEVIS to:

• Update sponsor information and apply for re-designation every two years;

• Issue Forms DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status, to specific individuals to obtain J status;

• Fulfill the sponsor’s legal reporting responsibility regarding exchange visitor addresses, sites of activity, program participation, employment, and compliance with the terms of the J status; and

• Transfer exchange visitor SEVIS records to other institutions.

SEVIS Enhancements

SEVIS is constantly evolving to:

• Address national security and public policy concerns

• Improve the user experience

• Improve system performance

In Arkansas, as in all states, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a nationwide, online system used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to maintain information on SEVP-certified schools and the international students (F-1 and M-1 visa holders) and exchange visitors (J-1 visa holders) attending these institutions. SEVIS enables schools in Arkansas to petition for certification to enroll international students, issue the necessary Forms I-20 for F or M visas, and manage their reporting responsibilities regarding the students' stay in the U.S. Similarly, Exchange Visitor Programs use SEVIS to manage their J-1 visa participants, including issuing Forms DS-2019 and handling reporting duties. The system is critical for maintaining national security and facilitating the legal entry of international students and exchange visitors, while also undergoing continuous enhancements to address security concerns, improve user experience, and enhance performance. Arkansas institutions that are SEVP-certified must comply with federal regulations governing SEVIS, including timely updates and accurate reporting on the status of their international students and exchange visitors.