In an effort to increase transparency and promote a stronger understanding of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) school certification process, Study in the States added the new interactive School Certification Life Cycle tool. 

Before a school can enroll F and/or M international students, SEVP must first certify the school. The process of obtaining SEVP certification requires both a time and financial commitment. Therefore, it is essential schools understand the certification process and the responsibilities associated with it.

This new tool launched on Study in the States is a step-by-step guide that highlights each part of the SEVP certification process. It explains everything from filing the Form I-17, "Petition for Approval of School for Attendance by Nonimmigrant Student," for initial certification to the recertification process that occurs every two years.

For schools already SEVP-certified, this School Certification Life Cycle will help remind you of the importance of making timely updates to your Form I-17 and the adjudication process. 

This is just one of the several new free tools recently added to Study in the States to help school officials navigate the international student process. We also added a new social media hub and embeddable widget. Visit our Tools page to view the special features our website has to offer. 

Help us make SEVP certification easier to understand by sharing this new School Certification Life Cycle with your fellow DSOs on Twitter and Facebook using #StudyintheStates. You can also contact SEVP via its page on LinkedIn.