INS Update on SEVIS Implementation
October 23, 2002
SEVIS Update
WASHINGTON - The “SEVIS Update” highlights the latest information related
to the Immigration and Naturalization Service’s implementation of the Student
and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
Currently, INS has met all milestones associated with the SEVIS implementation.
The Service is confident that the system will be fully operational by January 1,
2003 as mandated by the United States Congress. The following information
highlights the current status of the SEVIS implementation:
BY THE NUMBERS
- Schools fully approved to use SEVIS – 1283
- Schools with submitted applications – 993
- Schools with draft applications – 1101
- Total school contacts – 3377
SEVIS TIMELINE
| Action | Status |
| Proposed SEVIS vocational & academic foreign student visa rule published | Complete – May 16, 2002 |
| Roll-out of SEVIS on-line mode | Complete – July 1, 2002 |
| Kick-off voluntary participation & preliminary enrollment | Complete – July 1, 2002 |
| SEVIS batch beta testing | On-schedule – September 23, 2002 |
| SEVIS certification rule published | Complete – September 25, 2002 |
| INS begins on-campus site reviews/td> | On-schedule – October 1, 2002 |
| Roll-out of SEVIS batch mode | On-schedule – October 15, 2002 |
| DVD of SEVIS training session available | On-target – End of October 2002 |
| Final SEVIS vocational & academic foreign student visa rule published | On-target – November 2002 |
| SEVIS fully implemented | On-target – January 1, 2003 |
| Mandatory SEVIS usage date | On-target – January 30, 2003 |
COSTS
- SEVIS certification (I-17 submission) – $230.00
- On-campus site review fee – $350.00
- Total – $580.00
SEVIS ASSISTANCE
In an effort to provide comprehensive technical assistance, INS is providing
a call-in help desk. Live technical assistance is available from 8:00 a.m. until
8:00 p.m. Since July 1, the help desk has responded to more than 10,500
inquiries.
Additionally, INS has just finished the production of an hour and a half
training session. The session is available via DVD by emailing
HQADN-SEVP@usdoj.gov.
QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH
How does INS plan to certify 72,000 schools by January 30, 2003?
We don’t. It’s true that 72,000 schools have at one time or another
participated in the foreign student program. The vast majority of those
institutions are not currently active participants. Many are no longer in
business. Many only participated on a one-time basis. Many were public
elementary and middle schools that can no longer sponsor foreign exchange
students.
INS recently completed a study of the schools that sponsored foreign students
during the past three years. We determined that 7,400 schools are actively
involved in bringing foreign students to the United States. INS is confident
that we have the resources at hand to certify all schools that apply to use
SEVIS. To date, more than 3,000 schools have contacted INS requesting permission
to use the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System.
How can INS insure that only valid schools are currently participating in the
foreign student program?
That’s the beauty of the January 30, 2003 mandatory participation date. In
order to use SEVIS, schools must apply for certification. During that process,
INS will verify the validity of each school’s request to include conducting an
on-campus site review for each institution. That means as of January 30 INS will
have an active, accurate database containing only those schools recently
approved to use SEVIS and participate in the foreign student program. In order
to maintain the integrity of the information in SEVIS, each participating school
will be required to undergo re-certification every two years.
ADDITIONAL SEVIS INFORMATION/INTERVIEWS
Please direct all media inquiries about SEVIS to Chris Bentley at
410-962-4758.
—INS—