NAFSA 2019 Annual Conference & Expo

Join peers and experts at the premier global professional learning and networking event for all international educators and organizations that support international education for the NAFSA 2019 Annual Conference & Expo, "Global Leadership, Learning, and Change."

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SEVP Director Open Meeting at the NAFSA Annual Conference

At each NAFSA conference, an Open Meeting with the Director of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) offers an opportunity for NAFSA members to directly share with the SEVP Director and SEVP staff information about:

  • What SEVP is doing well
  • What SEVP should improve?
  • How SEVP policies and processes are affecting: You; Your students; Your institution
  • What burdens SEVP should eliminate or reduce
  • What innovations SEVP should consider

The issues and recommendations presented to SEVP at the Open Meeting are developed in advance, in a separate member-to-member round-table engagement at the conference, with each table determining and prioritizing its principal issues with SEVIS or SEVP regulations, policy, or practice. A spokesperson from the table then presents the table's "top issue" in the subsequent SEVP Open Meeting. NAFSA also forwards to SEVP the "table work" developed in the prep session. SEVP carefully considers the information it receives, and later provides feedback on the issues it received.

Recommendations and feedback from SEVP Director annual conference engagements

Conference

Materials
2017

Los Angeles, CA

Download the slides that presented NAFSA's recommendations to SEVP Director Rachel Canty, in a session on Wednesday, May 31, 2017. The recommendations were based on feedback developed in a preparatory open meeting held on Tuesday afternoon.
2016

Denver, CO

Priority issues presented to SEVP at the 2016 Conference. Inventory of top issues presented to SEVP at the 2016 SEVP Director Open meeting. SEVP is working on a Response Report for these issues.
2015

Boston, MA

2015 SEVP Stakeholder Issues Response Report. In response to feedback and suggestions received during the NAFSA 2015 Annual Conference open meeting "Discussion of Trends and Issues with SEVP Director Lou Farrell," the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) issued this “Stakeholder Issues Response Report.” The report addresses 15 key issues for students, schools, and Designated School Officials, including Form I-17 update processing times, nontraditional programs, and the temporary absence process. In addition to noting progress in certain areas and timelines for further progress, the report explains challenges faced by SEVP in making some of the requested improvements