What is SEVIS?
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a U.S. government database developed to maintain information on international students and exchange visitors and their dependents. U.S. schools and universities are required to use this system to report certain information about students and exchange visitors coming to their institutions. Thus, SEVIS maintains information about F and J visa holders from the time they receive their documents (I-20, DS-2019, visa, etc.) until they complete their programs in the U.S. This information can be accessed by the home university, US embassies and consulates, US ports of entry, US immigration agencies, the Department of State, and exchange visitor programs.
I am an F-1 student. How does SEVIS affect me?
SEVIS maintains the same information that appears on your printed I-20. In addition, IUPUI is required to report the following types of information about you into SEVIS:
- Start date of your next academic term [i.e. the required date for full-time enrollment], and whether or not you are enrolled full-time by that date
- Withdrawals below a full-time course load without prior approval from the Office of International Affairs (OIA)
- Address and name changes. You are required to update all address changes to your student insite account within 10 days of moving.
- Actions that affect your study program, such as change of major, I-20 extensions, graduation, etc.
- Off-campus employment authorizations
If you do not enroll full-time, or you withdraw to less than full-time without advance approval from OIA, your SEVIS record will be terminated. This means that you will have lost your legal status and accompanying benefits (such as eligibility to work on-campus). In this case, you would need to either apply to US Immigration for reinstatement or travel outside the U.S. and request re-admission as a student. Either option carries risks, and there is no guarantee that you would be able to regain legal status. Please review the Maintaining Your Student Status page to make sure you fully understand the requirements of your student visa.
I am a student on a J-1 visa. How does SEVIS affect me?
SEVIS has fewer effects on J-1 students than on F-1 students because the enrollment reporting regulations for J-1 students are less stringent. However, you are still required to maintain full-time enrollment. Dropping to less than full-time without a valid academic or medical reason would require that this be reported to SEVIS and your SEVIS record terminated. You can ensure that you maintain your J-1 legal status by following all the guidelines at Maintaining Your Student Status.
I am a visiting research scholar/professor on a J-1 visa. How does SEVIS affect me?
SEVIS has fewer effects on scholars than on students. However, a current problem is that your record will be terminated in SEVIS if it is not validated within 30 days of the start date on your DS-2019 to confirm that you have arrived at IUPUI. If you need to delay your travel to the U.S., this can create serious problems. You can avoid problems by following these guidelines:
- Notify the Office of International Affairs (OIA) of any delays in your arrival date
- Attend a scholar check-in session at OIA within the first week of your arrival in the US
To ensure that your current US address information is properly maintained in SEVIS, be sure to report all address changes to OIA within 10 days.