In the United States, only schools with Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification are authorized to enroll F-1 and M-1 international students.

Petitioning for SEVP certification is a major decision, and schools must complete the Form I-17, “Petition for Approval of School for Attendance by Nonimmigrant Student,” carefully. Additionally, when seeking initial certification with SEVP, keep the following tips in mind.

Have Evidence Ready

SEVP requires schools to submit evidence for adjudication when petitioning for certification. To prepare, schools should have all evidence ready at the time of filing. SEVP will not accept incomplete applications.

In addition, schools must submit the minimum evidence required for adjudication at the same time they submit their petition for certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

Make Sure School Officials Understand Their Role

When a school applies for SEVP certification, each school employee nominated to be a designated school official (DSO) must personally sign the Form I-17A, “Record of Designated School Officials.” This signature certifies that the person listed is an employee of the school whose compensation does not come from recruitment of foreign students, is qualified for the position, and will be provided the resources and training needed to perform their responsibilities.

The person that submits the Form I-17 electronically in SEVIS will be the designated temporary user during the initial certification process. This temporary user is the only person who will have access to the Form I-17 to make any changes that SEVP may request during initial certification. The temporary user submitting the Form I-17 application must be available throughout the initial certification process, which can take between nine and 12 months on average.

If approved, the school’s principal designated school official (PDSO) is responsible for receiving electronic notifications and important information during the life cycle of the petition. To avoid missing any electronic notifications from SEVP, make sure the PDSO’s email address listed on the Form I-17 is up to date, which is required by regulations.

Pay Attention to RFE Deadlines

If SEVP needs to request additional information and evidence from a school during the initial certification process, it may issue a request for evidence (RFE). SEVP will send an RFE to the PDSO and DSOs listed on the school’s Form I-17, as well as to the temporary user, who may not be listed as a DSO.

The school’s PDSO and DSOs must pay attention to the due dates listed on any RFEs. Missing an RFE deadline could result in a denial of the petition.

For more information on SEVP certification and how to prepare for the application process, visit the Getting Started with SEVP Certification page. You can also find specific guidance on SEVIS and completing the Form I-17 on the SEVIS Help Hub.