The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) framework that oversees nonimmigrant students in the F and M categories and the US schools that host them. Operated within US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), SEVP safeguards immigration compliance by certifying schools, monitoring student records through SEVIS, and coordinating with agencies such as USCIS and CBP. SEVP does not issue visas and does not regulate J exchange visitors, who fall under the Department of State’s Exchange Visitor Program.
What this article is about: This guide explains how SEVP works, who it applies to, and what schools and students must do to remain compliant. It covers SEVP certification and ongoing duties for schools, reporting and study requirements for students, the difference between SEVP (the program) and SEVIS (the system), where J visas fit under the State Department, and key practical points such as the I-901 SEVIS Fee that new F and M students must pay before applying for a visa.
Section A: What is SEVP?
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is a program within US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). More specifically, SEVP operates as part of ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) division. It oversees schools that enrol F and M visa students and their dependants, ensuring that institutions and students comply with US immigration law.
SEVP’s central role is to manage and enforce the use of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), the database used to track international students and schools. While SEVIS is the electronic system, SEVP is the compliance authority that sets standards, conducts oversight, and enforces reporting obligations.
Key functions of SEVP include:
- Reviewing and approving schools that wish to enrol F or M visa students.
- Certifying that schools continue to meet federal eligibility requirements.
- Ensuring Designated School Officials (DSOs) are trained to handle SEVP responsibilities, such as issuing Form I-20 and updating SEVIS records.
- Monitoring student status through SEVIS data to ensure ongoing compliance.
- Liaising with schools, students, and federal government agencies to support enforcement and oversight.
It is important to distinguish SEVP from related immigration bodies:
- SEVP vs SEVIS: SEVP is the DHS compliance program; SEVIS is the electronic system SEVP operates.
- SEVP vs USCIS: SEVP certifies schools and oversees compliance, while USCIS adjudicates benefit applications such as changes of status or work authorisations.
- SEVP vs Department of State: SEVP manages F and M visa students. The Department of State oversees J visa holders under the Exchange Visitor Program.
Section Summary: SEVP is the compliance backbone of the US student visa system. It certifies schools, manages SEVIS oversight, and ensures that F and M visa students and their institutions remain compliant with federal law.
Section B: SEVP-Certified Schools
Any US school that wishes to enrol international students in F or M visa categories must first obtain SEVP certification. This process ensures that only legitimate institutions that meet federal standards are permitted to host international students.
The process begins with the school filing Form I-17, Petition for Approval of School for Attendance by Nonimmigrant Student. The petition requires the school to prove that it is a bona fide educational institution offering accredited academic or vocational programs, with adequate resources to support international students. SEVP reviews the petition, conducts on-site inspections, and determines whether certification should be granted.
Once certified, schools take on significant ongoing responsibilities, including appointing Designated School Officials (DSOs). DSOs serve as the school’s official liaison with SEVP and are authorised to issue Form I-20, maintain accurate SEVIS records, and advise students on compliance requirements.
SEVP-certified schools must also:
- Maintain accurate SEVIS records for all enrolled international students.
- Report to SEVP material events such as changes in enrolment, program completion, or termination of student status.
- Undergo recertification every two years to remain authorised to host F and M students.
- Submit to regular and sometimes unannounced site visits conducted by SEVP officers.
Failure to comply with SEVP rules can result in serious penalties. Schools that lose certification cannot enrol new F or M students, and current students may be required to transfer to another certified institution to remain in lawful status.
Section Summary: SEVP certification allows schools to enrol F and M visa students, but it also creates binding compliance duties. Schools must maintain accurate SEVIS data, renew their certification every two years, and cooperate with SEVP oversight to avoid suspension or withdrawal.
Section C: SEVP and International Students
For students, SEVP is the framework that governs their ability to study lawfully in the United States under F or M visas. While SEVP does not issue visas, it monitors compliance through SEVIS and ensures that student records remain accurate and up to date.
Before applying for a visa, each international student must pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee. This fee supports SEVP operations and is mandatory for all new F and M students. After admission to an SEVP-certified school, a Designated School Official (DSO) issues the student a Form I-20, which is required for the visa application and for presenting at a US port of entry.
Once in the United States, international students are responsible for maintaining lawful status by adhering to SEVP rules, including:
- Full-time enrolment: Students must maintain a full course of study unless granted specific SEVP-authorised exceptions.
- Accurate SEVIS records: Students must ensure their DSOs update SEVIS promptly with any changes in address, personal details, or academic status.
- Employment restrictions: F and M students face limits on employment opportunities, with most work requiring prior authorisation.
- Program transfers and completion: Students must complete their course of study within the authorised period or follow SEVP rules when transferring to another SEVP-certified institution.
If a student fails to comply with SEVP requirements, their SEVIS record may be terminated, placing them out of status. This can trigger unlawful presence in the US, loss of study rights, removal proceedings, and potential bars on re-entry. Because SEVP oversight is immediate through SEVIS, non-compliance can have rapid and serious consequences.
Section Summary: SEVP requires students to pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee, maintain accurate records, pursue full-time study, and comply with visa restrictions. Failure to follow these obligations can result in loss of lawful status and long-term immigration consequences.
Section D: SEVP vs J Visa Exchange Programs
SEVP, operating within DHS/ICE, oversees F and M students and the schools that enrol them. By contrast, the Department of State (DoS) administers the J exchange visitor category through the Exchange Visitor Program (EVP). Although both systems use the SEVIS database for record-keeping, oversight and compliance frameworks differ by agency.
Key distinctions and overlaps:
- Oversight authority: SEVP (DHS/ICE) certifies schools for F and M students; DoS designates J sponsors under regulations at 22 CFR Part 62.
- Program purpose: SEVP enables academic and vocational study for F/M categories; EVP focuses on cultural and educational exchange for J participants (e.g., scholars, interns, trainees, teachers, au pairs).
- Systems and records: Both programs rely on SEVIS for issuance and maintenance of records, but compliance actions are taken by the respective agency (DHS/ICE for F/M; DoS for J).
- Special rules for J visas: Some J participants are subject to the two-year home residence requirement under INA §212(e), a condition not applicable to F/M students. Waiver routes exist but are governed by DoS and USCIS processes.
- Sponsor responsibilities: J sponsors approved by DoS must monitor participants, maintain accurate SEVIS data, and comply with EVP-specific program requirements, separate from SEVP’s school certification regime.
Section Summary: SEVP governs F and M students and their schools under DHS/ICE, while the Department of State’s EVP manages J exchange visitors. Both use SEVIS, yet compliance obligations and enforcement sit with different agencies, with J programs additionally shaped by 22 CFR Part 62 and potential INA §212(e) home residence rules.
FAQs
1. What is the difference between SEVP and SEVIS?
SEVP is the compliance program within DHS/ICE that manages schools and students in F and M categories. SEVIS is the electronic system operated by SEVP to collect and track data on schools and international students.
2. How does a school become SEVP certified?
A school must file Form I-17 and undergo review, including site inspections, to prove eligibility. If approved, the school receives SEVP certification, which must be renewed every two years.
3. What happens if an international student violates SEVP rules?
Violations may result in termination of the SEVIS record, loss of lawful status, unlawful presence, removal proceedings, and future immigration restrictions. Non-compliance is reported directly through SEVIS.
4. Does SEVP apply to J visa holders?
No. J visas are managed by the Department of State under the Exchange Visitor Program. SEVP governs only F and M visas, though both programs use SEVIS for record-keeping.
5. Do students need to pay a SEVIS fee?
Yes. All new F, M, and J students must pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee before applying for their visa. Proof of payment is required at the visa interview and at the US port of entry.
Conclusion
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is central to the lawful participation of international students in US education. By certifying schools, enforcing oversight through SEVIS, and monitoring compliance, SEVP ensures that both institutions and students meet the standards set by federal immigration law.
For schools, SEVP certification provides the ability to enrol F and M visa students but comes with significant ongoing obligations, including accurate record-keeping, recertification every two years, and cooperation with site visits. For students, SEVP establishes the framework for lawful study, from paying the I-901 SEVIS Fee to maintaining full-time enrolment, updating SEVIS records, and observing employment restrictions.
J visas fall under the Department of State’s Exchange Visitor Program, with distinct obligations such as potential INA §212(e) home residence rules. Despite these differences, both systems rely on SEVIS for accurate tracking and accountability.
Section Summary: SEVP safeguards the integrity of the US immigration system by holding schools and students accountable. Institutions that fail to comply risk losing certification, while students who breach SEVP rules risk losing lawful status. Understanding SEVP obligations is critical for schools and students alike to maintain compliance and lawful study in the United States.
Glossary
| SEVP | Student and Exchange Visitor Program, a DHS program within ICE/HSI that oversees F and M visa students and their schools. |
| SEVIS | Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, the database operated by SEVP to track and monitor international students and certified schools. |
| DSO | Designated School Official, a staff member at an SEVP-certified school who manages SEVIS records and advises students on compliance. |
| EVP | Exchange Visitor Program, operated by the US Department of State for J visa participants. |
| Form I-17 | Petition for Approval of School for Attendance by Nonimmigrant Student, filed by schools to obtain SEVP certification. |
| Form I-20 | Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, issued by a DSO for F and M visa applicants to apply for their visa. |
| I-901 SEVIS Fee | Mandatory fee paid by all new F, M, and J visa applicants to support the SEVP system. Proof of payment is required for visa processing. |
Useful Links
| SEVP Overview (ICE) | https://www.ice.gov/sevis |
| SEVP Certified Schools List | https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/school-search |
| SEVIS Information | https://www.ice.gov/sevis |
| J Visa Exchange Visitor Program (Department of State) | https://j1visa.state.gov/ |
| I-901 SEVIS Fee Payment Portal | https://fmjfee.com |
Author
Founder & Principal Attorney Nita Nicole Upadhye is a recognized leader in the field of US business immigration law, (The Legal 500, Chambers & Partners, Who's Who Legal and AILA) and an experienced and trusted advisor to large multinational corporates through to SMEs. She provides strategic immigration advice and specialist application support to corporations and professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, artists, actors and athletes from across the globe to meet their US-bound talent mobility needs.
Nita is an active public speaker, thought leader, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals.