SEVIS Information
What is SEVIS? The Student and Exchange Visitor
Information System (SEVIS) is the system that is being
implemented by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization
Service for electronic reporting and record keeping. A 1996
U.S. law mandated that such a system be developed. It is
planned that all U.S. ports of entry, embassies and
consulates will have access to the data in SEVIS. All those
who have or want to have F-1, F-2, J-1 or J-2 status must
have their information entered into the SEVIS system.
Who will enter information into SEVIS? The Office of
International Programs (OIP) will be the only office on
campus with the ability to enter records into SEVIS, but
the student/scholar/dependent has a legal obligation to
report some of the information to the OIP. By law, the
student/scholar/dependent family member must report to the
OIP any change of address or legal name change within 10
days of the change. See below for the procedure that will
be used for name/ address reporting to the OIP. The
Immigration and Naturalization Service says that it is
still the non-immigrants responsibility to make sure that
he/she stays in compliance with the laws at all times. The
OIP wants all UM students and scholars to be able to focus
on their studies and research so it is very important that
you stay in contact with the OIP as a source to get the
latest news. Please visit the office before planning any
out of the country trips for you or your family members to
make sure all documents are in order. Check the OIP
newsletter http://www.globe.olemiss.edu.
What information about F-1s, F-2s, J-1s and J-2s must be
put into SEVIS and when must it be done? January 30, 2003
is the date by which SEVIS must be implemented and all new
I-20s and DS-2019s must be issued through SEVIS. All
continuing students and exchange visitors and their
dependents will need to be issued SEVIS documents no later
than August 1, 2003. The OIP will begin entering
information in February. Anyone wishing to enter the
country in F or J status after August 1, 2003 must use a
SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019.
Timeline for information entered into SEVIS:
As needed to issue a document:
All information that is on an I-20/ DS-2019 and
address (abroad and in U.S.) Any information needed
to apply for a benefit such as practical training
Within 21 days of the occurrence:
Change in legal name or address (physical and
mailing address) Any student who fails to maintain
status or complete his or her program Any student
who graduates prior to the end date on the I-20 Any
disciplinary action taken by the school against the
student as a result of the student being convicted
of a crime Any other notification requested by
SEVIS regarding the status of a student or
scholar.
Each term or session and no later than 30 days after the
deadline for registering for classes
Whether a student has enrolled Whether a student
has dropped below a full course of study without
prior authorization by the designated official in
the OIP Current address Start date of the students
next semester.
Within 30 calendar days of an Exchange Visitors program
participants start date
Verification that a scholar has begun his/her
program, updates regarding a scholars program
When all of the ports of entry, consulates, and embassies
are connected, information about visa applications, exits
and entries to the U.S. will also be in the system. The
University of Mississippi will only have access to the
information that is relevant to the students involvement at
this university. How will I know when my information is
initially entered into SEVIS? As information about the
current students, scholars and their dependents is entered,
the OIP will be sending e-mail messages to inform you that
a new I-20 or DS-2019 has been prepared for you. The SEVIS
I-20s and DS-2019s will have a barcode on them that can be
scanned to record entries and exits to the U.S. Each
dependent family member will be issued his or her own form.
Be sure to inform the OIP of any F-2 or J-2 family members
who are in the U.S.
What is the address reporting procedure? By law, students,
exchange visitors and their dependents must inform the OIP
of address changes within ten days of the change. The OIP
will have a form that must be used to officially report the
change. A staff member at the OIP will then give the
student/ exchange visitor/ dependent a signed paper with
confirmation that the change of address has been reported
to the OIP.
by 