SEVIS Information

June 2, 2009
I-901 SEVIS Fee Credit Card Advisory

April 30, 2009
SEVP To Fix SEVIS 6.0 OPT Batch Glitch

April 29, 2009
SEVP Announces Anti Fraud Measures For SEVIS I-901 Fee Chargebacks

New Contact Information for SEVP Offices

April 3, 2009
SEVP has a new ZIP CODE: 20536. This zip code is the official zip code that should be used for all correspondence with this office. Please update your contact lists.

SEVP recommends that all correspondence, including I-515A, be mailed to the following mailing address:

Student and Exchange Visitor Program, Attn: (Branch Name)
Potomac Center North
500 – 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20536

The new main telephone number is (703) 603-3400. E-mail addresses have not changed, so inquiries may be sent to SEVP staff through their previous e-mail or through SEVIS.Source@dhs.gov. Also, note that the ICE Web Site layout has changed, including the SEVP pages.

NAFSA note: The physical address of the SEVP office, which SEVP had originally posted on their Web site (2450 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA), cannot receive mail. SEVP has confirmed that all correspondence, including I-515A, should be sent to the Potomac Center North address.

See the column at right for other current telephone numbers. Continue to use the SEVIS Help Desk number (800) 892-4829 for technical SEVIS database issues. For I-901 inquiries, call the I-901 Customer Service hotline at (314) 418-8833.

SEVP Slideshow Presentations at NAFSA Regional Conferences

• SEVP Developments Presentation 2008
• Recertification Primer for Certified Schools

NAFSA note: the dates for SEVIS II implementation in these presentations were estimates only and are subject to change.

Navigating SEVP's New Web Site Layout

In November, 2008, the design of the ICE Web site changed, including the SEVP portion of that site. Information on the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) can still be found at www.ice.gov/sevis, but the layout of the site is new. See a brief NAFSA practice update.

Summaries of Liaison Calls

NAFSA summaries of information obtained through its monthly liaison calls with SEVIS-related divisions within the Departments of State and Homeland Security. Click on the call date link to view the questions and answers.

2009 Calls
April 22 Travel Signature Validity M-1 Extend Program and OPT Dates on Form I-539 for M-1 extensions M-1 extension I-20 notations Flag Removal OPT Batch Issues
April 10 Updates on timeframes for I-17 Requests Please add SEVIS ID number to Help Desk ticket resolution notices Issue with Data Pull from SEVIS to CCD Procedure for students who depart the US during the 30-day I-515A period DMV/SAVE Issues Cap Gap Functionality Batch error: Updating Employer Info
February I-515 Mailing Address Procedure for students who depart the US during the 30-day I-515A period E-verify Client Number for STEM OPT Extension USCIS NCSC Scripts are Inaccurate for F-1 Issues SEVIS 6.0: Impact of certain OPT fields becoming optional SEVIS 6.0: In Alpha environment, all existing OPT records default to pre-completion SEVIS 6.0: Impact of post-completion OPT indicator on program extension SEVIS 6.0: Filed/Waitlisted Cap-Gap Extension Indicator Delegation of President’s Signing/Appointment Authority Cancel Form Tolling Unemployment for Lost EAD

2008 Calls
December (268kb ) Status of Updated OPT Policy Guidance Termination versus Completion for Students who have Ended OPT Temporary Leave of Absence Procedures Tolling Unemployment for Lost EAD OPT for students who have completed all coursework
September, October, November SEVP canceled calls scheduled for September and October. Calls are generally not held in November because of NAFSA regional conferences.
August Notes on the August call are pending clearance at SEVP. SEVP has not held conference calls since then, however see above for SEVP's regional conference presentations.
July (92kb ) Regular pre- or post-completion OPT STEM OPT Extension H1-B Gap Cap F/M School Certification/Recertification J-1 Issues SEVIS Data Entry
March (68kb ) OPT eligibility and duration Reduced Course Load New “Requested” status in SEVIS 5.8 I-17 update recommendations OPT validation project Procedures for opening branch campuses Distance education during final semester of study Resolving Form I-515 if student/EV departs and reenters within 30-day period CLAIMS termination of SEVIS records when COS approved Time-out of J redesignation application
February (42kb ) SEVIS forced log-outs Status of updating SEVIS records after Service Center actions Fact that Registration event no longer accepts Next Session Start Date beyond current Program End Date creates extra work for DSOs Requested F-1 SEVIS enhancement: Allow CPT to be canceled Requested J SEVIS enhancement: Link to EVP resources Updates on SEVIS II? Updates on F/M school recertification; SEVIS fees; OPT extension? Use of “FNU” notation where student or scholar has only one name (deferred until next call) Leave of absence functionality? (deferred until next call)
January (100kb ) Travel and M-1 extensions for full-time Canadian students commuting from Canada F-1 and M-1 file retention and storage Plans for additional stakeholders meetings? Procedures in case of student or EV name change? Reporting and check in standards for transfer-in school Documentation retention requirements for DSOs? SEVIS II functionality suggestion Leave of absence functionality? Proper procedures for DSO/ROs? Status of transfer of student regs from USCIS to ICE? Procedures for F-1 students at public high schools to transfer to a private school or move from high school to college Policy on splitting 12 months of OPT between two degrees at same degree level Policy on accessing remainder of post-completion OPT time if less than 12 months was originally requested M-1 practical training and Form I-539 SEVIS Fee Rule at OMB Can a school request an extension of status and recommend OPT at the same time? Can SEVP comment on discussions regarding extending the duration of OPT from 12 months to 29 months Louis Farrell named Director of SEVP

2007 Calls (combined Policy and Tech)
The December call was canceled
The November call issues were deferred until January 2008
October (28kb ) Procedures for F-1 students at public high schools to transfer to a private school or move from high school to college (response deferred until January 2008) Issue with M-1 extensions in SEVIS 5.7 SEVIS delays during 2007 registration period Policy on splitting 12 months of OPT between two degrees at same degree level (initial response deferred until January, 2008) Policy on accessing remainder of post-completion OPT time if less than 12 months was originally requested (initial response deferred until January, 2008)
September (29kb ) Policy on splitting 12 months of OPT between two degrees at same degree level (deferred until January, 2008) Policy on accessing remainder of post-completion OPT time if less than 12 months was originally requested (deferred until January, 2008) Eligibility for EV to extend to five years if waiver recommendation received prior to effective date? Slight change in flag removal request procedures? Some records of students being completed prior to OPT being approved Data collection on students with OPT pending? Ability to Edit Initial DS-2019 Checkbox for 212(e) After Funding Source Change
August (27kb ) I-17A Signature Entering I-94 Admissions Number in SEVIS Ability to Edit Initial DS-2019 Procedures for leave of absence Checkbox for 212(e) After Funding Source Change
July (145kb ) Susan Geary, director of SEVP, moves to Department of State Exchange Visitor Program Technical issues & SEVIS Functionality Improvements Authority over Student Regulations “Flags” and non-adverse SEVIS record terminations SEVIS Next Generation (SEVIS II) Optional Practical Training upon transfer versus changing education levels Correcting information in SAVE Change of Education Level Transfers
The May and June calls were canceled
April (26kb ) Proper procedures for updating Form I-17A when adding, deleting, or editing DSOs SEVIS Validation Project Reports Country of Citizenship Codes for Serbia and Montenegro
March (31kb ) Multiple e-mail notifications Status of practical training FAQ update Proper procedures for adding an RO/ARO Status of January and February conference call summaries
February (34kb ) Some confusion on reinstatement processes Proper procedures for adding a DSO SEVIS errors or glitches reported Communication to schools about SEVIS problems M-1 practical training and Form I-539 (deferred by SEVP)
January (29kb ) SEVIS site response time Termination reasons Data security and integrity via e-mail DSOs not receiving broadcast messages from SEVP Student told SEVIS fee payment not required when applying for F-1 visa after having held J-1 status F-1 to H-1B CLAIMS terminations for consular processing Is regular Form I-515 still being used? What is the effective date of the five-year professor/research scholar J rule? Correct Minor or Technical Infractions

2006 Calls	Focus
December	No call
November	No call
October	Combined Policy and Tech
September	Policy	Technical
August	No Call	Technical
July	Policy	Technical
June	Policy	Technical
May	No Call	No Call
April	Policy	Technical
March	No call	Technical
February	Policy	Technical
January	Policy	Technical

2005 Calls	Focus
December	Policy	No call
November	No call	No call
October	No call	Technical
September	Policy	Technical
August	Policy	No call
July	Policy	Technical
June	Policy	Technical
May	No call	No call
April	Policy	Technical
March	No call	Technical
February	Policy	Technical
January	Policy	Technical