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 West Virginia (WV), as in all states, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a federal program managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). SEVIS is used to track and monitor schools, students, and exchange visitors participating in the F, M, and J visa programs. Schools in WV that wish to enroll international students must be SEVP-certified and use SEVIS to issue Forms I-20 to F or M visa students, ensuring these students maintain their legal status while studying in the United States. Similarly, exchange visitor programs must use SEVIS to issue Forms DS-2019 for J visa participants. These institutions are responsible for keeping student and exchange visitor information up to date and for reporting to DHS as required. SEVIS also undergoes regular enhancements to address security concerns, improve user experience, and enhance system performance. While SEVIS is a federal system, WV institutions that enroll international students or host exchange visitors must comply with its regulations and reporting requirements.