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Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)
Practical Law Glossary Item 4-505-8828 (Approx. 3 pages)
Glossary
Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)
A web-based system to track and monitor:
- Schools with foreign student programs.
- Foreign students and their dependents.
- Exchange visitor programs.
- Exchange visitors and their dependents.
SEVIS is managed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a unit of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Participating schools and exchange program sponsors transmit current information and event notification about foreign students and exchange visitors. Tracked events include:
- US entry and exit data.
- US residential address changes.
- Program extensions.
- Employment notifications.
- Program of study changes.
The information is available to US government agencies that inspect and authorize foreign students and visitors and their dependents, and administer programs authorized to sponsor foreign participants. This includes the following government agencies and their respective departments:
- Department of State:
- Bureau of Consular Affairs, which processes visa applications; and
- Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, which authorizes and administers exchange visitor programs.
- Department of Homeland Security:
- US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which inspects and admits foreigners to the US;
- US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which processes and administers legal immigration benefits; and
- ICE, which monitors programs and foreign participants, and enforces immigration laws.