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Questions from DSOs: When Should My School Add an Instructional Site to the Form I-17?


October 23, 2018

School officials must update their institution’s Form I-17, "Petition for Approval of School for Attendance by Nonimmigrant Student," when information on the petition changes or does not reflect the institution’s current operating status. You must report any changes to your school’s Form I-17, including changes to instructional sites, within 21 days of the change.

An instructional site is any physical location where schools provide instruction or training under the school's governance. In addition to properties owned by schools, this includes all locations where schools rent, lease or utilize space and provide the instruction or training under school governance.

In accordance with SEVP Policy Guidance for Adjudicators 1003-03: Reporting Instructional Sites, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) considers all campuses as instructional sites. Your school must update the Campuses and Instructional Sites information on the Form I‑17 petition to add a new instructional site where international students will attend, remove an instructional site or change information about an instructional site.

If your school is a public school and/or a school accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, you must report on the Form I-17:

  • The main instructional site.
  • All instructional sites where an F or M student can receive 50 percent or more of a program of study.
  • Any separate record locations.

Download the Accredited Schools Evidence Checklist for Form I-17 Section 5 on ICE.gov/SEVP for evidence requirements for this update.

If your school is not accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting body, you must report all instructional sites and separate record locations on the Form I-17 where a nonimmigrant will attend. Download the Non-Accredited Schools Evidence Checklist for Form I-17 Section 5 on ICE.gov/SEVP for evidence requirements for this update.

For step-by-step instructions on adding an instructional site to your school’s Form I-17, visit the Form I-17 Update- Instructional Sites page on the SEVIS Help Hub.

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