The date listed on a student’s Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” when they or are expected to complete their program of study and must either transfer to another school, apply to change education level, apply to change to another nonimmigrant status or depart the United States within 60 days.

​The date listed on a student’s Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” when they must enroll in an academic or vocational program of study. Students can enter the United States no more than 30 days before this date and need to contact their designated school official no later than this date to inform them they are in the country.

A school whose programs and activities are operated by publicly elected or appointed school officials and which is supported primarily by public funds.

The process a school must go through every two years to re-establish its eligibility and compliance with regulations in order to maintain authorization from SEVP to enroll F‑1 and/or M-1 students.

A request from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program to a school during the certification or recertification process for additional information to supplement their petition.

The Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program is the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Web-based service that helps some agencies determine the immigration status of benefit applicants.

Science, technology, engineering, and math programs, which are important to innovation and job creation in the United States.

If the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at primary inspection at a port of entry cannot verify a student’s information, or if they do not have all of the required documentation, a CBP officer may direct them to an interview area known as “secondary inspection.” Secondary inspection allows inspectors to conduct additional research in order to verify information without causing delays for other arriving passengers.

An internet-based application that facilitates timely electronic reporting and monitoring of international students and exchange visitors, as well as their dependents, in the United States. This application enables schools and program sponsors to transmit electronic information to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State throughout a student's or exchange visitor's program in the United States.

A step during the Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification process where an inspector will tour the school’s facilities, interview designated school officials, and review records systems.