As students travel back to the United States after vacation, some may arrive at the port of entry without all of their required documents, like their valid Form I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Status," or are missing information. If the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer cannot verify a student’s status, the CBP officer has two options:

• Deny the student’s entry into the United States
• Issue a Form I-515A, “Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor,” to the student

For now, the most likely outcome is that the student will receive a Form I-515A – a checklist to tell a student exactly what is missing and what the student must do next. A student who receives the Form I-515A will have 30 days to collect any missing documents and submit them to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The student will need to work with you to get original copies of necessary documents and other information to mail to SEVP.

As a designated school official (DSO), here is how you can help your students through this process:

• Advise students before they travel. If they are prepared to re-enter the United States and have everything they need, they will not receive a Form I-515A. Remind students to do all of the following:
  • Carry all important documents, and do not put them in checked luggage
  • Tell them what they need to carry with them when they come back to the United States
  • Make sure all paperwork is accurate and up-to-date
  • Make sure to have DSO contact information and call immediately after receiving a Form I-515A
• Help students gather and submit missing documents (for any student who receives a Form I-515A). This may include any of the following:
  • A signed Form I-20
  • Evidence of financial support, which can be the same information provided when the student applied for the student visa
  • Evidence of acceptance to their SEVP-certified school
  • Paper receipt showing payment of the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System Fee
  • DSO contact information

The end of the 30-day period to submit missing documents is the same as the departure date on the student's Form I-94, "Arrival/Departure Record". If a student does not submit the required documents within these 30 days, his or her status will expire, and the student must leave the United States.  Once SEVP processes the documents, we will mail them back to the student's DSO with a letter of approval and an updated Form I-94 with an extended departure date.