SEVIS

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SEVIS

• What is it and how does it affect you?

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What Is SEVIS?

• The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)
  manages the Student and Exchange Visitor
  Information System (SEVIS). SEVP is a program
  under the Immigration and Customs Enforcement
  (ICE) agency within Department of Homeland
  Security (DHS)
• An electronic means of providing information to
  the U.S. Government on all F-1, M-1, J-1
  students, scholars and their dependents
• A system for tracking a students immigration
  history

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How Does SEVIS Work?

• U.S schools are notified by USCIS when a student
  arrives at a port of entry
• Schools are required to report to USCIS if the
  student fails to enroll in classes

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How Does SEVIS Work.

• Schools are required to use SEVIS for the
• following purposes
• Issuing I-20 forms to students
• Recommending off-campus employment
• Maintaining up-to-date records on the status of
  each student

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What Data Will SFSU Collect and Report in SEVIS?

• Data required for the issuance of a visa document
  (form 1-20) and initialization of SEVIS record
• Employment
• Termination/departure
• Enrollment FT/PT
• Current U.S. and foreign addresses
• The start date of the students new term
• Changes of major
• Transfers and changes of degree level
• Program end date

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What Data Will SFSU Collect And Report in SEVIS.?

• Any student who has failed to maintain status or
  complete their program
• A change of the student or dependents legal name

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What Data Will SFSU Collect And Report in SEVIS.?

• Any student who has graduated prior to the
  program end date listed on SEVIS Form 1-20
• Any disciplinary action taken by SFSU as a result
  of the student being convicted of a crime
• All status violations will be reported to DHS via
  SEVIS

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Who Has Access To SEVIS Information?

• Office of International Programs (OIP)
• Office of Undergraduate Admissions
• Graduate Studies Office
• College of Extended Learning
• American Language Institute (ALI)
• The U.S. Immigration Service
• U.S. Consulates Embassies

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Important SEVIS Regulations

• Full-Time Enrollment Requirement 
• Undergraduates are required to enroll in and
  complete at least 12 units each Fall Spring
  Semester 
• Graduates are required to enroll in and complete
  at least 8 units each Fall Spring Semester

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Important SEVIS Regulations

• No withdrawals - W (Withdrawal) or WU
  (Unauthorized Withdrawal)
• Incompletes I must be finished within one year
  (no Incomplete Charged IC)
• No more than 3 units per semester of distance
  learning or on-line courses

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Important SEVIS Regulations

• Students are required to obtain permission from
  the
• Office of International Programs (OIP) before
• dropping below a full-time course load.
  Otherwise,
• will be violation of F-1 status, and that
  information will
• have to be reported to the Immigration Service.

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Important SEVIS Regulations

• Exceptions to the full-time enrollment
• requirement/Reduced Course Load (RCL)
• Academic difficulties
• -Initial difficulty with English language
  (first semester in the U.S. only)
• -Unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods
  (first semester in the U.S. only)
• -Improper course placement
• -Minimum units required (4 for grads/6 for
  undergrads)

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Important SEVIS Regulations

• Reduced Course Load (RCL)
• Medical Condition
• -Written documentation from a doctor required
• -Maximum of 12 months
• Completion of Study
• Final Semester only
• Thesis/M.A. Project

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When Do You Need To Request A New I-20?

• Change of completion/graduation date
• Change of major
• Change of degree level (B.A. to M.A.)
• Change of financial sponsorship
• Other reasons as determined by OIP
• Note SEVIS creates a new I-20 as data transmits
  occur through the system. Thus, you may have
  multiple I-20s.

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What Are My Responsibilities For SEVIS Compliance?

• Obey all federal, state and local laws and
  regulations
• Maintain your lawful status and dont work unless
  you have an off-campus work permit
• Send any necessary documents to the U.S.
  Government in a timely manner
• The immigration status of your
• dependents is tied to yours

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Responsibilities For SEVIS Compliance.

• Update any local/overseas address changes for you
  and your dependents on My SFSU within 10 days
• Update any name changes for you or your
  dependents
• Update any passport changes
• Meet with an OIP advisor before you stop studying
  at SFSU

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Responsibilities For SEVIS Compliance.

• Obtain approval from an OIP advisor BEFORE
  dropping below full-time status
• Talk with an OIP advisor if you cannot complete
  your academic program by the date in Item 5 of
  your SFSU I-20 form
• Notify OIP if you graduate BEFORE the date in
  Item 5 of your SFSU I-20 form

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Responsibilities for SEVIS Compliance.

• Obtain a travel signature on page 3 of your SFSU
  I-20 from an OIP advisor 2-3 weeks BEFORE you
  travel outside of the U.S.
• If you have any F-2 dependents (spouse/children)
  they will each need to have their own SEVIS I-20
  form
• Remember to ask an OIP advisor if you have any
  questions about your student status!

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Responsibilities for SEVIS Compliance

• Individuals in F-2 or B-1/B-2 status cannot begin
  their studies until the U.S. Immigration Service
  approves of their request to change to F-1
  student status!
• This process may take several months
• If change of status to F-1 student is not
  approved before classes start, student will need
  to reapply to SFSU for the next semester!

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SEVIS Fee

• Effective September 1, 2004
• The SEVIS fee is a U.S. government fee paid
  directly to DHS. It is not a University fee and
  provides no funds to SFSU!
• 200 non-refundable fee for all F, M most J
  students/exchange visitors
• Fee must be paid prior to visa issuance or
  re-entry to the U.S.

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Who Pays The SEVIS Fee?

• Students who violate their status and are
  traveling outside of the U.S. to regain F-1
  student status (i.e. Travel Reinstatement)
• Students who have been out of status for more
  than 5 months and wish to apply for reinstatement
  within the U.S.
• Students who have been absent from the U.S. for
  more than 5 months and wish to enter the U.S. to
  begin their studies again.

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Who Is NOT Required To Pay The SEVIS Fee

• F-1 students continuing their current programs at
  SFSU
• F-1 students changing program level or
  transferring to a new school
• Dependents of a student in F-1 status

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SEVIS Fee Payment Options

• Must use form I-901 (form is available at
  www.FMJfee.com)
• Pay by check drawn on U.S. funds, by mail
• Pay on-line with credit card or debit card
• Payable at a U.S. consulate (pilot program in
  China India only)
• Proof of payment will be required before a visa
  is issued
• More detailed fee payment instructions and
  processes can be found at www.FMJfee.com

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More Information

• For additional information about the new SEVIS
  fee, including methods and deadlines for payment,
  please see the following web-site
• http//www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm

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Summary

• All reporting will have to be done within a
  certain time period.
• SEVIS requires reports on students who are not
  maintaining full-time status.
• It is very important that students understand the
  immigration regulations and how they affect your
  lawful status in the U.S.
• Refer any questions or problems immediately to
  OIP.
• Plan your course schedules carefully, make travel
  arrangements early and keep all documents
  up-to-date.

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The End!