SEVIS

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a networked computer system set up in the United States to track information on non-immigrant international students and scholars attending school in the U.S.

The SEVIS requires authorized educational institutions, such as universities, laboratories, non-profit organizations and secondary schools, to monitor international students and scholars and maintain their records. The SEVIS can only be accessed by the Designated School Officials (DSOs), who are authorized by the Department of Homeland Security to utilize the system. The DSOs must keep records of any "reportable events" on international students and scholars, such as arrival/departure, school transfer, no-show, leave of absence, extension/termination of educational program, change of major, change of academic level, dependent/family information and work authorization among others. International students and scholars who violate their visa requirements become subject to investigation by the officials of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and possible removal (deportation) from the United States. International students who leave the US, even briefly, without their SEVIS I-20 paperwork will not be allowed to return until it is in their possession.

While SEVIS was created in response to the September 11th terrorist attacks 2001, its existence was mandated by a law passed in 1996, the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA). Back in 1997, the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) started the pilot program called Coordinated Interagency Partnership Regulating International Students (CIPRIS). The system was set up by the INS in collaboration with the State Department and the Department of Education. The CIPRIS was used in 21 higher education institutions in mainly Southern States as well as the Atlanta Hartsfield Airport and the INS Texas Service Center.

The IIRIRA and SEVIS have drawn some criticism from a few foreign governments, civil rights groups in the U.S., and secondary schools, some of which derive a large part of their tuition income from foreign students. As of September 30, 2005, students registered to SEVIS and considered to be “in status” numbered 639,755, and Active Exchange Visitors (J-1) numbered 178,543.

SEVIS is administered by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The Director of SEVP is Louis M. Farrell.

ources

* [http://qna.educouncil.org/Visa_and_Immigration/nZxyNXyYOyY.html What is SEVIS?]

ee also

* Department of Homeland Security
* U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
* U.S. Customs and Border Protection

External links

* [http://www.ice.gov/sevis/index.htm Official DHS SEVIS website]
* [http://www.cnn.com/2003/EDUCATION/08/01/student.tracking/index.html International student registry deadline arrives] , CNN, August 1 2003