Questions from Designated School Officials is a blog series on Study in the States for designated school officials (DSOs). Each month, we will answer a question that will help you advise your F and/or M students. If you are a DSO and would like to submit a question, you can email us or ask us via social media, your Field Representative or the SEVP Response Center. We may edit questions for clarity and consistency and may not feature all submissions on Study in the States.

Question: Who is eligible to be a DSO?

Answer: Anyone who wants to serve as a DSO must be a regularly employed member of the school’s administration. A DSO also must be a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.

The Code of Federal Regulations states that “an individual whose principal obligation to the school is to recruit foreign students for compensation does not qualify as a designated official”(8 CFR 214.3(l)(1)). If your job duties include recruiting international students, contact the SEVP Response Center (703-603-3400 or sevp@ice.dhs.gov) to speak with a subject matter expert who can help you determine if you are eligible to be a DSO for your school.

Schools can nominate DSOs in two ways:

Initial petition: The president, owner or head of a school or school system must appoint the employee by signing the Form I-17A, “Record of Designated School Officials,” when filling out the Form I-17, “Petition for Approval of School for Attendance by Nonimmigrant Student,” in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System.

Form I-17 update : The principal designated school official files an update to nominate a DSO for a currently certified school.

Again, if you have questions about who is eligible to be a DSO for your school, contact the SEVP Response Center.