Designated School Official Annual Verification
December 2, 2014
Action is required on the part of principal designated school officials (PDSO) at Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified schools. Beginning Dec. 2, 2014, all SEVP-certified schools must complete the PDSO/designated school official (DSO) annual verification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). This must be completed by March 2, 2015.
The Federal Information System Management Act requires an annual review and verification that all users who access federal systems have both the need and authorization to do so. To comply with this act and ensure system security, all PDSOs must annually verify that every PDSO and DSO who has access to SEVIS is still employed by the institution and requires continued SEVIS access.
If a PDSO fails to verify this SEVIS information by March 2, the following will occur:
- DSOs at unverified schools will lose access to SEVIS,
- Unverified schools will be unable to use batch processing, and
- Unverified schools will be considered out of compliance with recordkeeping and reporting regulations.
This verification process will take place each year from Dec. 2 to March 2. SEVIS users will receive reminders of this annual process by a SEVIS Broadcast Message and on the SEVIS message board.
For more information on the annual verification process, join SEVP and the U.S. Department of State for the Dec. 4 SEVIS 6.18 Post-Release Webinar. The webinar will include key facts and dates, how to verify school officials, and the opportunity to ask questions of SEVP officials.
You may also direct questions regarding SEVIS verification of PDSOs and DSOs to SEVISTechnicalFeedback@ice.dhs.gov.