Student and Exchange Visitor Information System
Encyclopedia
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a web-accessible database used by the Department of Homeland Security to collect, track and monitor information regarding exchange visitors, international students and scholars who enter the United States
on F, M or J visas
. SEVIS is managed by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
.
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA)
, passed by Congress in 1996, mandated the creation of an electronic system to track certain international students and visitors. This was sparked in part after it was discovered that the driver of the Ryder van used to blow up the World Trade Center
in the 1993 terrorist attack
in New York, Eyad Ismoil
, had entered the country on a student visa to attend Wichita State but had dropped out of college and gone underground, only to resurface in the attack. "Falsifying documents to get student visas was simple, and INS processing used an antiquated paper system and hand entry of data. It could take two years to detect fraud, plenty of time for a new entrant to disappear into the population and cause mayhem," writes Daniel Benjamin and Steve Simon, authors of "The Age of Sacred Terror: Radical Islam's War Against America" and former staffers in the counter terrorism office of President Bill Clinton's National Security Council.
In 1997, the Immigration and Naturalization Service
(INS
) -- now dismantled and recreated in the services-oriented U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the enforcement-oriented US Immigration and Customs Enforcement -- developed a pilot program called Coordinated Interagency Partnership Regulating International Students (CIPRIS) in collaboration with the Department of State. Due to logistical problems and lobbying from some schools opposed to increased regulation, CIPRIS was not implemented beyond initial testing and was retired in 1999.
After the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon
, it was again discovered that the student visa system had been exploited by terrorists to enter the country. Hani Hanjour
entered the United States on a student visa but never even showed up on campus. No timely notifications were made, and he was not heard from again until the day of the attacks. As part of the response to the attacks, Congress passed the USA Patriot Act
, which again mandated the creation of a new digitized system to track international students and visitors in the United States. Funding was established for this system, which later became known as SEVIS—the Student Exchange and Visitors Information System. All schools and programs in the United States hosting international students and scholars were required to begin using SEVIS by January 30, 2003. SEVIS has since gone through six major release versions to resolve technical problems and accommodate new reporting requirements set by federal law, as well as to simplify the process and make the system easier to use for students and universities alike.
and vary according to visa type.
Information that must be reported includes:
In addition, schools and programs are required to report certain events that constitute a violation of the international visitor’s visa status, such as academic suspension, criminal conviction, failure to enroll and unauthorized off-campus employment.
All required information must be reported in SEVIS within 21 days of notification of the change or event. Failure to report information in a timely fashion may result in the loss of the school or program’s certification to host international students and/or scholars.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on F, M or J visas
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
. SEVIS is managed by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security , responsible for identifying, investigating, and dismantling vulnerabilities regarding the nation's border, economic, transportation, and infrastructure security...
.
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA)
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, Division C of vastly changed the immigration laws of the United States.This act states that if an immigrant has been unlawfully present in the United States for 180 days but less than 365 days...
, passed by Congress in 1996, mandated the creation of an electronic system to track certain international students and visitors. This was sparked in part after it was discovered that the driver of the Ryder van used to blow up the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
in the 1993 terrorist attack
1993 World Trade Center bombing
The 1993 World Trade Center bombing occurred on February 26, 1993, when a truck bomb was detonated below the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The 1,336 lb urea nitrate–hydrogen gas enhanced device was intended to knock the North Tower into the South Tower , bringing...
in New York, Eyad Ismoil
Eyad Ismoil
Eyad Ismoil , also transliterated as Eyad Ismail, is a Jordanian citizen who, for his role in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, was convicted by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York of conspiracy in 1997.-World Trade Center bombing:On February 26, 1993, Ismoil,...
, had entered the country on a student visa to attend Wichita State but had dropped out of college and gone underground, only to resurface in the attack. "Falsifying documents to get student visas was simple, and INS processing used an antiquated paper system and hand entry of data. It could take two years to detect fraud, plenty of time for a new entrant to disappear into the population and cause mayhem," writes Daniel Benjamin and Steve Simon, authors of "The Age of Sacred Terror: Radical Islam's War Against America" and former staffers in the counter terrorism office of President Bill Clinton's National Security Council.
In 1997, the Immigration and Naturalization Service
Immigration and Naturalization Service
The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service , now referred to as Legacy INS, ceased to exist under that name on March 1, 2003, when most of its functions were transferred from the Department of Justice to three new components within the newly created Department of Homeland Security, as...
(INS
Immigration and Naturalization Service
The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service , now referred to as Legacy INS, ceased to exist under that name on March 1, 2003, when most of its functions were transferred from the Department of Justice to three new components within the newly created Department of Homeland Security, as...
) -- now dismantled and recreated in the services-oriented U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the enforcement-oriented US Immigration and Customs Enforcement -- developed a pilot program called Coordinated Interagency Partnership Regulating International Students (CIPRIS) in collaboration with the Department of State. Due to logistical problems and lobbying from some schools opposed to increased regulation, CIPRIS was not implemented beyond initial testing and was retired in 1999.
After the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
, it was again discovered that the student visa system had been exploited by terrorists to enter the country. Hani Hanjour
Hani Hanjour
Hani Saleh Hasan Hanjour was the hijacker-pilot of American Airlines Flight 77, crashing the plane into the Pentagon as part of the September 11 attacks....
entered the United States on a student visa but never even showed up on campus. No timely notifications were made, and he was not heard from again until the day of the attacks. As part of the response to the attacks, Congress passed the USA Patriot Act
USA PATRIOT Act
The USA PATRIOT Act is an Act of the U.S. Congress that was signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 26, 2001...
, which again mandated the creation of a new digitized system to track international students and visitors in the United States. Funding was established for this system, which later became known as SEVIS—the Student Exchange and Visitors Information System. All schools and programs in the United States hosting international students and scholars were required to begin using SEVIS by January 30, 2003. SEVIS has since gone through six major release versions to resolve technical problems and accommodate new reporting requirements set by federal law, as well as to simplify the process and make the system easier to use for students and universities alike.
Access to SEVIS
Only United States permanent residents and citizens may be given access to SEVIS. School and program officials authorized to access SEVIS for F and M students are identified as Designated School Officials (DSO’s), with a single Primary Designated School Official. School and program officials authorized to access SEVIS J students and scholars are identified as Alternate Responsible Officers, with a single Responsible Officer. Schools and programs are given ten slots for accessing F and M records, and ten slots for accessing J records.Mandatory reporting requirements
Schools and programs approved to host students and scholars on an F, J, or M visa are required to report certain information about international visitors in SEVIS. Reporting requirements are established by federal lawFederal law
Federal law is the body of law created by the federal government of a country. A federal government is formed when a group of political units, such as states or provinces join together in a federation, surrendering their individual sovereignty and many powers to the central government while...
and vary according to visa type.
Information that must be reported includes:
- Change of legal nameLegal nameLegal name is the name that an individual is given at birth and/or recognized by a government or other legal entity, or which appears on a birth certificate , marriage certificate , or other government issued document on which a legal name change is evidenced and...
- Change of U.S. address
- Change of major field of study
- Change of education degree level
- Change of funding
- Authorization for on-campus employment
In addition, schools and programs are required to report certain events that constitute a violation of the international visitor’s visa status, such as academic suspension, criminal conviction, failure to enroll and unauthorized off-campus employment.
All required information must be reported in SEVIS within 21 days of notification of the change or event. Failure to report information in a timely fashion may result in the loss of the school or program’s certification to host international students and/or scholars.
Administration
SEVIS is administered by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The technical operations of SEVIS are under the control of SEVP for all students and scholars with an F, M, or J nonimmigrant classification. Policy making for these classes of nonimmigrants has been delegated to ICE/SEVP. SEVP works closely with USCIS in developing policy. SEVP is under the direction of Mr. Louis M. Farrell.See also
- Department of Homeland Security
- U.S. Immigration and Customs EnforcementU.S. Immigration and Customs EnforcementU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security , responsible for identifying, investigating, and dismantling vulnerabilities regarding the nation's border, economic, transportation, and infrastructure security...
- U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionU.S. Customs and Border ProtectionU.S. Customs and Border Protection is a federal law enforcement agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security charged with regulating and facilitating international trade, collecting import duties, and enforcing U.S. regulations, including trade, customs and immigration. CBP is the...
External links
- Official DHS SEVIS website
- International student registry deadline arrives, CNN, August 1, 2003