Kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools that want to enroll F-1 students must be certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). To learn more about the responsibilities and commitment involved with SEVP certification, please visit the Certification Responsibilities page. 

A private school at the elementary and/or secondary grade level (i.e., grades K-12) is eligible to apply for SEVP certification to enroll F-1 students. Grade levels prior to kindergarten are not eligible to apply for SEVP certification. Federal regulations place no limit on the length of time F-1 students may attend a private, SEVP-certified K-12 school. F-1 students attending a private K-12 school are responsible for paying the school’s tuition. 

A public school at the secondary level (i.e., grades nine through 12) is eligible to apply for SEVP certification to enroll F-1 students. Public elementary and middle schools are not eligible to apply for SEVP certification and public schools cannot enroll F-1 students in kindergarten through grade eight. Federal regulations limit F-1 students to an aggregate of one year of study at a public secondary F-1 students attending a public high school must pay the full, unsubsidized per capita cost of their attendance at the school. 

Minor F-2 and M-2 students (i.e., dependent children of F-1 or M-1 students) may attend a K-12 school in the United States without changing to F-1 or M-1 status. State education laws may require that F-2 and M-2 students attend the appropriate grade level until a certain age. The elementary or secondary school an F-2 or M-2 student attends does not need to be SEVP certified.

Designated School Officials

One requirement for a school to be SEVP certified is that the school must have dedicated employees for assisting and overseeing enrolled nonimmigrant students: 

• Principal designated school official (PDSO).
• Designated school officials (DSO). 

The role of a DSO is defined in 8 CFR 214.3 (l)(1), which can be found on the Regulations page. Each campus or physical location must have a PDSO, whose duties also include serving as the main point of contact for issues related to SEVP certification. SEVP-certified schools can nominate as many additional DSOs as the school determines that it needs. A DSO must be either a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States. A DSO must be a regularly employed member of the school administration whose office is located at the school. Additionally, a DSO’s compensation must not come from commissions for the recruitment of foreign students.

Managing SEVIS Records

Federal law requires DSOs to update and maintain nonimmigrant student records in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

DSOs at K-12 schools should remember to register all F-1 students in a full course of study at the start of each academic session. For example, K-12 schools on a fall and spring semester calendar must report student enrollment at the start of the fall and spring sessions. SEVIS requires DSOs to set session lengths less than 183 days.

Especially after school vacations or breaks, when many students travel, it’s important for DSOs to confirm that all F-1 students have returned and are enrolled full time, and to report this information by registering student SEVIS records each academic session. 

DSOs should remember to log in to SEVIS at least every 45 days to receive timely updates and to avoid being locked out of the system. DSOs should not share their SEVIS username and password with anyone else.

 For more information on specific F-1 student reporting requirements, please read the SEVIS Reporting Requirements for Designated School Officials fact sheet. For additional help with SEVIS, please refer to the SEVIS Help Hub.  For questions about regulations and policy as well as additional SEVIS help, contact the SEVP Response Center.

Verifying Student Finances

Prospective nonimmigrant students must be able to prove their ability to pay for their educational program, a place to stay and other applicable living expenses while studying in the United States. As noted above, F-1 students attending private schools are responsible for paying tuition, while F-1 students attending a public high school are responsible for paying the full, unsubsidized per capita cost of attending school. 

Determination of the living expenses figure is an institutional decision. In general, it should be a realistic and standardized estimate of living expenses (e.g., lodging and food) for the geographic area, not including school tuition and fees. Living expenses should include other fees charged by a third-party agency as the Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” must reflect all expenses that an F-1 student will incur while studying in the United States. 

While nonimmigrant students are not eligible for U.S. government-funded financial aid, sometimes SEVP-certified schools offer financial aid and scholarships for their nonimmigrant students. Some schools offer assistance based on financial need, while others offer academic and athletic scholarships. 

If the student’s ability to qualify financially for a program of study is contingent on such financial aid, DSOs must enter the financial aid information as a component of the financial calculations in the student’s SEVIS record. DSOs should enter this information under “Student’s Funding,” as “Funds from This School” or “Funds from Another Source,” depending on details of the financial aid. 

DSOs must receive the student’s financial evidence and report the student’s sufficient assets before issuing Form I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status."  Prospective students must have financial evidence showing that they or a sponsor have sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses during the period of intended study. Evidence of financial ability includes but is not limited to:

• Family bank statements.
• Documentation from a sponsor.
• Financial aid letters.
• Scholarship letters. 

DSOs should maintain copies of financial documentation in the student’s records. Remember, only DSOs may verify a student’s financial support; third party recruiters or non-school employees cannot. 

Financial documentation should demonstrate the student’s ability to cover expenses for one year or the length of their program of study, whichever is shorter. Cost information on the Form I-20 should include the average school tuition, school fees and living expenses for the following periods at a time, as applicable:

The full length of the program of study;

The length of a single academic year; or 

The length of a calendar year, whichever is shorter. 

In the personal funding section on the Form I-20, DSOs should list the different financial resources allowing the student to meet these costs. For example, a student living with a relative can include this information in the “Student’s Funding” section under “Funds from Another Source.” 

For additional information, DSOs can reference the Financial Information page in the SEVIS Help Hub or the Study in the States blog post, DSOs: Remember to Correctly Input Financial Information in SEVIS.

Recruiters

A school may consider the option of consulting service providers to help in the nonimmigrant student recruitment process. Similarly, prospective nonimmigrant students may consider the option of consulting service providers to facilitate acceptance at a school that best meets their interests and capability. These service providers are often referred to as recruiters. 

Depending on where prospective students live, such services could include a recruiter, broker or agent who charges fees or receives a commission for things such as recruiting students or helping them obtain a nonimmigrant student visa, housing or other services. 

Prospective nonimmigrant students do not need to use a recruiter to obtain a U.S. student visa and should have direct contact with a DSO at the school, regardless of use of a recruiter. Upon acceptance to the school, DSO should verify the student’s information and issue a Form I-20 directly to the student. Remember, DSOs cannot receive compensation from commissions for the recruitment of foreign students. 

A recruiter has no role in issuing or handling Forms I-20. DSOs must provide Forms I-20 directly to students or their legal guardians. Recruiters have no role in issuing or handling Forms I-20 and cannot hold on to the form for any reason. 

Admission to a school should be based upon the prospective student’s qualifications, as submitted with their application to the school.

For more information, please visit Study in the States’ What is a Commission-Based Recruiter resource page and SEVP's policy guidance on Form I-20 Issuance and School Use of Recruiters. Learn more about EducationUSA's resources for students preparing to study in the United States.

Power of Attorney

A Power of Attorney is a legal document in which a parent or legal guardian authorizes another adult to act in their place on behalf of the child. The Power of Attorney acts as a “permission slip” that tells others, such as doctors or teachers, when a parent’s signature is needed that the other adult has authority to sign in place of that parent or guardian. 

If a parent or legal guardian will not be living with a minor F-1 student while they are attending school in the United States, SEVP recommends the student’s parent or legal guardian consult with the school to determine the requirement for such a document. These documents vary, depending upon the state in which the certified school is located. 

In general, SEVP recommends that the student or the adult with legal guardianship for oversight of the minor student while in the United States maintains control of all the student’s personal documents. These documents include, but are not limited to, the Form I-20, I-901 SEVIS Fee payment receipt, passport and/or visa, printout of the Form I-94, “Arrival/Departure Record,” and proof of finances. DSOs at K-12 schools may choose to assist minor students in protecting their documents.

F-1 Student Athletes

Many high schools in the United States have sports teams that students and fans support throughout the year. A nonimmigrant student may participate in amateur athletics if they maintain their nonimmigrant student status. However, the primary reason for the student coming to the United States must be to study at an SEVP-certified school and complete the program of study. 

For an F-1 student interested in joining a sports team, it is important to remember a few rules for student athletes: 

• They must maintain their nonimmigrant student status.
• They must be enrolled in a full course of and attend an SEVP-certified school each session.
• Prior to receiving stipends or scholarships, nonimmigrant student athletes should speak with their DSO to properly understand the implications and financial responsibilities associated with accepting them. 

Certain states, localities or districts may have rules or policies concerning nonimmigrant students and their participation in athletics. DSOs should inform any prospective nonimmigrant student expecting to be involved in school athletics of these rules or policies.

Student Housing

As a best practice, DSOs should be aware of all off-campus housing arrangements for minor F-1 students and encourage parents or legal guardians to do the same. Regulations concerning a school’s responsibility for oversight of the housing of nonimmigrant student minors vary by state or locality and depend on whether the school provides housing, a homestay arrangement or if the student will be living with family.

As a best practice, SEVP recommends that K-12 DSOs verify that a student’s U.S. physical address is up to date in SEVIS when completing the registration process each session to ensure the safety of the student. Without a known address, students cannot be easily located during an emergency. 

SEVP also recommends performing a background check of a K-12 student’s host family and having contact information for the host family.

For additional information, please refer to the Best Practices for K-12 Schools: Five Student Housing Guidelines to Follow blog post.

Concurrent Enrollment

F-1 students studying at a secondary school can enroll in college courses through concurrent enrollment at an SEVP-certified school as long as they continue to fulfill the full course of study requirements at their K-12 school. Students can gain college credit, but the concurrent enrollment must contribute to the secondary level course of study (i.e., it must contribute toward a diploma) as long as the high school is issuing the Form I-20 and maintaining the SEVIS record.

Additionally, F-1 secondary students may take college courses as an extra class, outside of a full course of study, if the course is taken in addition to the student meeting the secondary school’s full course of study requirements.

Employment

If consistent with the Fair Labor Standards Act and state labor laws within the state that the student resides, F-1 students at the K-12 level may be authorized for state that the student resides, an F-1 or M-1 student at the K-12 level may be authorized for on- and off-campus employment or an internship with an international organization. On-campus employment may be authorized by the school, for example, as part of a financial aid or scholarship package. Off-campus employment requires authorization from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on the basis of economic hardship. Remember, K-12 students are ineligible for practical training.

After 12th Grade

F-1 students who would like to continue studying in the United States after graduation from a private or public SEVP-certified secondary school may apply to an SEVP-certified college or university. 

DSOs are responsible for transferring student SEVIS records to a new school if students are accepted to a college or university after graduation. When transferring records, DSOs should be certain that they transfer the student record to the correct college or university campus. DSOs should not complete or terminate student SEVIS records prior to transferring the records. Additionally, prior to transferring the record, DSOs should ensure the program end date matches the last day of classes. DSOs must initiate transfer of the student’s record to the new school within 60 days of the program end date.

F-2 and M-2 Minor Dependents

Please see the following special notes for minor children of F-1 and M-1 students: 

• The elementary, middle or high school an F-2 or M-2 student attends does not need to be SEVP-certified.
• A minor F-2 or M-2 dependent of an F-1 or M-1 student may attend public or private K-12 school without any additional permission or documentation from SEVP.
• State education laws may require that F-2 and M-2 students attend the appropriate grade level until a certain age.
• For the transfer of a minor F-2 or M-2 dependent from a public school to a private school, the F-1 or M-1 student and/or F-2 spouse, if applicable, should talk to the school’s DSO. 

To learn more about SEVP regulations for F-2 or M-2 dependents who wish to change their status to F-1 or M-1 to remain in the United States and continue studying beyond the age of 21 or to study full-time at a post-secondary institution, visit the Change of Status page on Study in the States.