Watch Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Director Lou Farrell’s new video message to the academic community. In this third installment of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Way Ahead video series, Director Farrell discusses recent enhancements as well as improvements planned for the near future. 

“I’m proud to announce that last month we implemented the largest SEVIS update in recent years,” Director Farrell begins. “The release makes it easier to complete your SEVIS reporting responsibilities. Equally as important, the most recent upgrades strengthen the data integrity in SEVIS, which ultimately supports our program’s mission to protect national security.”

In the video, Director Farrell discusses how SEVIS underwent several major updates this summer to provide better capabilities for system users, which in turn helps support SEVP’s mission to protect national security by ensuring data integrity. Major changes in the latest release include a redesigned Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” as well as new email address and name standardizations.

The academic community plays a critical role in maintaining accurate SEVIS data, and SEVP strives to keep this community informed about recent and planned updates to the system. The SEVIS Way Ahead video series is just one way we reach our stakeholders. Additionally, SEVP will continue to:

• Host SEVIS-related webinars, in which participants can learn about updated system functionality, walk through new features and have their questions answered.
   
• Add information to the Study in the States’ SEVIS Help Hub—currently, school officials can find SEVIS job aids, frequently asked questions and updates about system enhancements, among many other resources.
   
• Answer school-specific questions via the SEVP Response Center. If you have any SEVIS related questions, email them directly to SEVP at SEVISHelpDesk@ice.dhs.gov.

DSOs are encouraged to watch the new video, SEVIS Way Ahead: A Message to the Academic Community, and share it with peers on social media using the share buttons at the top of this page and the hashtag #StudyintheStates.