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SEVIS Release 6.21 Planning Guide

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SEVIS Release 6.21 Planning Guide

Last updated: April 7, 2020

This planning guide is intended to help schools and sponsors prepare for SEVIS Release 6.21.

SEVIS Release 6.21 Scheduled Release Date: Friday, June 26, 2015

System Unavailability

Outage Begins Outage Scheduled to End
8 PM (EST) Friday, June 26, 2015 8 PM (EST) Sunday, June 28, 2015

SEVP currently expects the outage to end Sunday evening. However, there is a possibility the outage may last longer. This is a large release.

Functionality Affects F/M SEVIS Affects J SEVIS Affects Batch
SEVIS name standardization yes yes yes
Validation of U.S. addresses yes yes yes
Email address standards yes yes yes
Revised Form I-20 yes no yes
Revised Form DS-2019 no yes yes
Mass reprint of Form I-20 yes no no
Mass reprint of Form DS-2019 no yes no
SEVIS Downloads page yes yes no
Revised search functionality yes yes no
Changed look and feel of SEVIS screens yes yes no
Trainee/Internship Placement Plan (T/IPP) no yes yes

Systems Affected by the Outage

SEVP hopes to minimize the effect of the outage by deploying the release over a weekend. However, SEVIS data is used by many systems worldwide. The following processes and systems will be affected:

Process/System Effects
I-901 SEVIS Fee The I-901 System will not be able to process the SEVIS fee payments. Students and Exchange Visitors must either pay ahead of time or wait until SEVIS is online again.

Social Security Numbers (SSN)

(System SAVE)

Social Security Administration will not be able to confirm F, M, or J status for anyone. Those needing an SSN should either apply before the outage or wait until SEVIS is online again. 

SAVE

(Systems: ESB, PCQS)

SAVE Agents will not be able to verify the F, M, or J status for anyone. Verification requests should either be submitted before the outage or after SEVIS is online again.

E-verify

(Systems: ESB, PCQS)

E-Verify will not be able to confirm the status of anyone in F, M, or J status. Employers should verify those employees before the outage or wait until SEVIS is online again.

Visa Applications

(System: CCD)

Consular officers at U.S. embassies and consulates can view SEVIS data in their own system. However, the data might not be up-to-date. Some visa applications may be delayed until the data feed from SEVIS is restored. 

Ports of Entry

(Systems: ADIS, PCQS)

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers performing primary inspections can verify admissibility using information that is up-to-date. Anyone seeking F, M, or J status may be sent to secondary inspection for processing. CBP Officers in secondary inspection cannot access SEVIS to verify F, J, or M nonimmigrants’ SEVIS status.

State Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

(System: SAVE)

DMV Agents will not be able to use SAVE to verify the F, M, or J status of applicants for driver’s licenses or state IDs. Nonimmigrants needing a state driver’s licenses/ID card should either apply before the outage or wait until SEVIS is online again.

Batch Users

Schools and sponsors that use third-party software to push data to SEVIS must plan their batch uploads carefully.

Critical Date/Time What Happens
NOON (EST) Friday, June 26, 2015 Deadline for schools/sponsors to upload batches to SEVIS
2:00 PM (EST) Friday, June 26, 2015 SEVIS will process uploaded batches
3:00 – 7:30 PM (EST) Friday, June 26, 2015 Transaction logs and PDFs of forms available for download

What's New

Chatbot

Try the Facebook Chatbot

Visit the tool on the Study in the States Facebook page to learn how to become an F or M international student in the United States.

Summer Employment

Learn About Summer Employment

While employed this summer, make sure you have all the relevant information on maintaining your student status, and the steps you must take before returning to school. 

Icon Guide

See the SEVIS Help Icons on the SEVIS Help Hub for a quick-reference of the icons used in this user guide.

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Phone

SEVP Response Center

703-603-3400

Office

Monday - Friday 
8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET,
except holidays

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