Plan Ahead for Recertification — Regularly Review and Update Your Form I-17
December 18, 2014
Note: Fees have changed since the publication of this blog post. Please visit the SEVP Announces Changes to Program Fees blog post for the most up-to-date fee information.
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) strongly recommends that school officials review their school’s Form I-17, “Petition for Approval of School for Attendance by Nonimmigrant Student,” on a regular basis to ensure accurate and timely update reporting. Regular reviews and updates to the form will make the recertification process much easier.
Remember, all changes to the Form I-17 must be adjudicated prior to filing for recertification. Therefore, it is imperative that school officials keep important dates like the school’s Certification Expiration Date (CED) in mind when planning to update records. School officials will receive a notification 180 days prior to the CED, and SEVP strongly recommends that you review the current Form I-17 and update it immediately, if needed. On ICE.gov's website, under the Recertification tab, you can find updated documents to assist in filing for recertification. The Recertification Checklist includes updated details on how to prepare your Form I-17, specifically in regards to the filing of petition updates.
The average timeframe for the adjudication of petition updates is at least 60 days and may take longer depending on the nature of the update. However, SEVP will ensure that schools do not receive Notices of Intent to Withdraw (NOIWs) regarding failure to file for recertification if a school’s update is still pending adjudication and the school has not received a Request for Evidence 30 days prior to the CED.
Please note that failure to successfully file for recertification by your school's CED will result in an automatic withdrawal. If a school is withdrawn on its CED, the school may apply for reinstatement of “Approved” status within 10 business days by submitting a complete recertification package and the $2,355 reinstatement fee. SEVP retains the right to determine that a school is ineligible for reinstatement at its discretion.
If approved for reinstatement, your school will keep the same school code and your school's current nonimmigrant students will be unaffected. However, a reinstated school will not be able to issue new Forms I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Status," or accept new nonimmigrant students via transfer while your school's recertification petition is pending adjudication.
For more information, visit our resource page: Tips for Navigating the Recertification Process.