As a designated school official (DSO), you are a key link between your F and M students and the U.S. government agencies involved in the F and M student process. One important responsibility you hold as a DSO is to enter your students’ data accurately into the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), a web-based system that allows for the sharing of information between schools and U.S. government agencies. You must initially input a student’s information correctly and then make any updates required based on changes to student information, like moving to a new address or choosing a different major.

Keeping current information on your students is critical because U.S. government agencies use it during different points of the international student process. In addition to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, other SEVIS users include the following:

• The Department of State uses information in SEVIS as it issues visas to applicants who want to enter the United States as F, M or J nonimmigrants. Mistakes in a prospective student’s information could cause delays in getting a visa or could even cause a denial.
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials rely on the accuracy of SEVIS records at a port of entry when determining whether to admit an applicant as an F or M student to the United States. Mistakes on a SEVIS record may delay a student’s entry into the United States or cause CBP to refuse entry and send the student back to the home country.
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials review SEVIS information to process and adjudicate all nonimmigrant benefit applications, such as change of status, reinstatement and employment authorization. An error in SEVIS could prevent a qualified student from receiving a benefit.
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials rely on the accuracy of SEVIS records to determine if a student has violated the conditions of a student visa. If a student’s SEVIS record is not up-to-date, ICE could detain or remove a student who is actually maintaining status.

Because these government agencies rely on accurate SEVIS data to ensure that only legitimate applicants enter the United States, it is important to comply with SEVP reporting requirements and maintain accurate, timely and complete records for all of your students.

If you have any questions about the updates process, please contact SEVP at 703-603-3400 or sevp@ice.dhs.gov. If you have problems making updates in SEVIS, contact the SEVIS Help Desk at 800-892-4829 or SEVISHelpdesk@ice.dhs.gov.