SEVIS

SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) is a web-based database maintained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the Department of Homeland Security that tracks all F-1, J-1, and M-1 nonimmigrant students enrolled at U.S. educational institutions and participating in approved exchange-visitor programs. Schools and exchange sponsors enter student information into SEVIS, which generates the I-20 or DS-2019 certificate and assigns a unique SEVIS ID. Students must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee (approximately USD 200 for F-1 and M-1, USD 220 for J-1) to activate their record before applying for a visa or entering the United States. SEVIS serves as the foundation for F/J/M student compliance, status maintenance, and immigration enforcement.

Key facts

Eligibility / Prerequisites

• Acceptance to and enrollment at a SEVP-certified school (for F-1/M-1)
• Acceptance to and enrollment in a State Department-approved exchange visitor program (for J-1)
• Receipt of valid I-20 (F-1/M-1) or DS-2019 (J-1) from the sponsoring institution
• Ability to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee (USD 200 for F-1/M-1, USD 220 for J-1 as of 2026)
• Internet access to pay I-901 fee and access SEVIS portal
• Email address for SEVIS account creation and correspondence

Required documents / Information (for SEVIS enrollment)

SEVIS records are created by schools and exchange sponsors, not by students directly. However, students must provide the following information to their schools/sponsors for SEVIS record creation:

• Full legal name: As it appears in passport, including middle names and transliteration (if applicable)
• Date of birth: Day, month, year
• Country of citizenship: Official country code
• Passport number and expiration date: Information copied from passport ID page
• Current address: Home country address
• Contact information: Email, phone number(s)
• Emergency contact: Name and relationship of family member or reference person
• Education history: Previous institutions attended (high school, undergraduate, etc.), dates, degree(s) earned
• Program and funding details: Intended major, estimated program start and end dates, estimated cost of attendance, name(s) of financial sponsor(s)
• Health insurance information: If already arranged (post-2022, mandatory for many schools)

SEVIS Record Creation and I-901 Payment Steps

Step 1–3: School Creates Record (student passive)

1. School’s international student office receives your acceptance confirmation and enrollment commitment. You provide required personal, passport, and financial information through the school’s application portal.

2. Designated School Official (DSO) enters your information into SEVIS. The school assigns your SEVIS ID (10-digit number, format: XXXX-XXX-XXX) and creates your initial I-20 (or the exchange sponsor creates DS-2019 for J-1).

3. School generates your I-20 or DS-2019 with SEVIS ID. This document is mailed or emailed to you and must be presented at your visa interview and U.S. entry.

Step 4–6: Student Activates Record (student active)

4. Student accesses sevis.gov and creates an online SEVIS account using the SEVIS ID, date of birth, and passport number. A temporary password is generated and sent to your email.

5. Student pays SEVIS I-901 fee through the SEVIS portal (sevis.gov):

   • F-1 / M-1 students: USD 200
   • J-1 exchange visitors: USD 220
   • Payment methods: Credit/debit card, electronic bank transfer (ACH)
   • Processing time: Typically immediate for card payments; 3–5 business days for ACH

6. SEVIS record is activated upon successful I-901 payment. A confirmation page is generated and must be printed. This confirmation is required at the visa interview and at U.S. border entry.

SEVIS Portal and Student Responsibilities

What students can do on SEVIS portal:

• View and download I-20 or DS-2019: The current version of your eligibility certificate
• Update address: Notify SEVIS of a change of address within 10 days of moving
• Request I-20 reissuance: If lost or damaged, or if program dates change
• Check status and expiration dates: Verify your SEVIS record remains active and in good standing
• View SEVIS ID: For reference in communications with school or consulate

What schools/sponsors do in SEVIS (students do not):

• Input student information: Initial record creation with biographical and program details
• Update status: Mark enrollment (full-time/part-time), graduation, program completion, program changes
• Authorize CPT: Add Curricular Practical Training authorization notes to the I-20
• Record termination: If student withdraws, is dismissed, or fails to maintain status, DSO terminates SEVIS record
• Travel signature: Mark when student departs U.S. (DSO is notified by border system, but may update manually)

Compliance and Maintaining SEVIS Status

Maintaining good standing:

• Enroll full-time: F-1/M-1 students must carry full-time course load (typically minimum 12 credits per semester) to maintain status. Part-time enrollment without DSO authorization is a violation.
• Attend classes: Physical presence and active participation required; online-only enrollment (post-2022) is generally not permitted except for residual coursework.
• Report address changes: Update your U.S. address on SEVIS within 10 days of moving. Failure to report is a technical violation.
• Maintain valid passport: Your passport must remain valid throughout your stay; if it expires, renew it promptly.
• Comply with work restrictions: Work only in roles authorized by DSO (on-campus, CPT with I-20 annotation, or OPT with USCIS I-765). Unauthorized work is grounds for termination of status.
• Update information: Notify your school’s DSO immediately of name change, marital status change, or program changes.

Violations and consequences:

• Non-enrollment or part-time study: Automatic termination of SEVIS record; student is out of status and subject to deportation
• Unauthorized employment: Work outside authorized parameters; SEVIS record may be terminated; deportation possible
• Failure to maintain health insurance: Some schools consider this a violation; check your school’s policy
• Travel outside U.S. without valid I-20/DS-2019: Cannot re-enter without a valid, unexpired eligibility certificate
• Overstay of grace period: 60-day grace period for F-1 (30 days for M-1) after program completion; overstaying this period violates status

Recent changes

2024 security enhancements: SEVIS added two-factor authentication (2FA) for all student accounts, improving data security and preventing unauthorized access.

I-901 fee stability: Remained at USD 200 (F-1/M-1) and USD 220 (J-1) as of 2026; last increase was in 2013.

Remote study policy clarification (2022): COVID-era allowances for fully remote study ended. Current policy: students may take one course per term remotely but must be physically present for the majority of their program. Exception: students enrolled before March 11, 2020, may complete studies remotely.

Expanded DSO notification (2023): Schools now automatically receive notifications when students’ international travel is detected (via departure records). DSOs are encouraged to discuss travel implications with students, particularly regarding F-1 reentry requirements.

SEVIS portal improvements (2024): Interface redesigned for mobile accessibility; form validation improved to reduce erroneous data entry.

Common issues and troubleshooting

• Forgotten SEVIS login credentials: Password reset available on sevis.gov home page; temporary password sent to registered email
• Lost SEVIS ID: Check your I-20 or DS-2019 (10-digit number listed); also available on SEVIS portal after login
• Cannot pay I-901 fee: Verify your school has created your SEVIS record and generated your SEVIS ID. Allow 24–48 hours after school creates record before attempting to pay. If persistent issues, contact your school’s DSO.
• SEVIS record shows inactive: Typically because school marked you as not enrolled or you have not completed a required enrollment confirmation. Contact your DSO immediately.
• Duplicate SEVIS records: If you enrolled in multiple schools, each may have created a separate record. Only one record is active; consult your primary school’s DSO to consolidate or deactivate duplicate records.
• I-20 address does not match current location: You can update address on SEVIS portal; a new I-20 with the updated address can be requested from your DSO if needed.
• Cannot travel without updated I-20: If you travel outside the U.S., you must have a valid, unexpired I-20 or DS-2019 to re-enter. Request an updated I-20 from your DSO if the current one is nearly expired.

Related visas or statuses

• F-1 Visa: Nonimmigrant student visa for which SEVIS record is the foundation
• M-1 Visa: Vocational student visa; also SEVIS-based
• J-1 Visa: Exchange visitor visa; uses similar SEVIS system
• Form I-20: Eligibility certificate generated from SEVIS record
• DS-2019: Eligibility certificate for J-1 exchange visitors (similar to I-20 but issued by exchange sponsors)
• SEVIS I-901 fee: Payment that activates the SEVIS record
• CPT (Curricular Practical Training): Authorization noted on I-20 by DSO in SEVIS
• OPT (Optional Practical Training): Post-program work; separate USCIS authorization (not on SEVIS, but USCIS verifies SEVIS status)
• Grace period: 60 days for F-1 (30 days for M-1) after program completion, tracked in SEVIS

Primary sources

• SEVIS Official Website
• SEVIS Student Portal
• ICE: SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program)
• USCIS: F-1 Student Visa and SEVIS
• U.S. Department of State: SEVIS and Exchange Visitor Information
• Code of Federal Regulations: 8 CFR 214.2(f) and 8 CFR 214.2(m)

Last updated: 2026-04-18.