PDSO/DSO Annual Verification

Last updated: December 14, 2023

SEVIS is a federal database subject to the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA). FISMA requires the annual review and verification of every user with access to a federal system. Users must have both a business need and the authorization for system access. SEVIS users must comply with FISMA. That means all principal designated school officials (PDSOs) and responsible officers (ROs) must verify annually that every PDSO, designated school official (DSO), RO, and alternate responsible officer (ARO) who has SEVIS access:

Is still employed by the organization and continues to be a PDSO, DSO, RO, or ARO.
Requires continued access to SEVIS.

SEVP strongly encourages schools and sponsors to complete the verification process as soon as possible after December 2. The process is easy. There is no value to postponing the task.
PDSOs must complete annual verification even when the Form I-17 is locked for update or recertification.

Key resources:

SEVIS P/DSO Verification
Frequency of Verification	Annually
Length of Verification Period	90 days
Verification Period	December 2 to March 2, if March 2 is in a non-leap year December 3 to March 2, if March 2 is in a leap year Deadline is March 2 at 11:59 PM (ET)
Notification Methods	A message upon logging into SEVIS An email from SEVP

December 2	Verification period	March 2	March 3
Verification period begins School/sponsor officials notified of verification requirement by SEVIS and email	PDSO and ROs log in to SEVIS; verify officials Reminder notifications sent by email and displayed in SEVIS to unverified institutions	Verification deadline All Officials can still access SEVIS to 11:59 PM (ET)	DSOs and AROs at unverified schools and sponsors lose SEVIS access Batch capability lost PDSOs have 30 days after March 2 to complete verification or lose SEVP certification

Only PDSOs can validate DSOs.

If the PDSO on the school’s Form I-17 is no longer employed at the school or unable to complete annual verification, the school must act immediately to add a PDSO who can submit the verification. A SEVP Fact Sheet 8.1: Designated School Officials Submission is available to help with the process. The fact sheet describes in detail how to initiate a change of PDSO.
A PDSO can delete a DSO during the annual verificiation, even when the I-17 petition is locked for other updates or pending recertification.
If a school has multiple campuses with different PDSOs, any PDSO can verify all of the school’s PDSOs and DSOs at all of the school’s campuses.

The annual verification message appears on both the Broadcast Messages and School Information pages. The PDSO completes the following actions:

1. Go to either the Broadcast Messages or School Information page. The Next Verification Due By message displays with the final date of verification period and a required to verify link.

Image of Message board with verification notice displayed

The Next Verification Due By message displays:

During the verification period, December 2 to March 2.
Until all schools/campuses and associated DSOs are verified.

The required to verify link is enabled for PDSOs.
DSOs see the same message. However, the required to verify link is not enabled.

2. Click the required to verify link. The DSO Verification page opens:

Image of DSO Verification page with three sections identified as A, B, and C.

The DSO Verification page contains:

List of all the schools for which you are the PDSO.
Names and contact information for school officials. This includes phone numbers and email addresses.

Note: This is a good time to verify contact information. Update the school’s Form I 17 to make corrections. Changes to contact information are immediate.

Last day of the verification period.

By default, the information for the first school or campus on the list displays on the DSO Verification page. However, PDSOs can verify schools or campuses in any order.

3. Begin the verification process for the displayed school, OR, click on the school name of another school/campus to verify.

Verification process student list screenshot

4. Click the radio button next to your name as PDSO. This radio button is not pre-populated. By clicking this radio button, you are verifying that you:

Are still employed by the school/campus as a PDSO.
Need continued SEVIS access.

If you click Submit without populating the radio button next to your name, the following error message box opens.

Image of error message informing PDSO to indicate Yes or No for each DSO listed

5. Click Yes or No next to the name of each DSO:

Yes indicates the person is employed at the school/campus and requires continued SEVIS access as a DSO.
No indicates the person no longer serves as a DSO employed at the school. Clicking No displays a warning message. The message states: The above user will no longer be able to access SEVIS as an official for <name of the school>.

Image of campus listing of officials section of the DSO Verification page with caution message displayed for DSO whose PDSO indicated “No.”

CAUTION: Check your entries on this page carefully before clicking Submit.

Once you click Submit that DSO can no longer access SEVIS. Their access is disabled immediately. They are only allowed to finish an active session. No other warning messages will let you know an official has been removed.
You can make a change at any time before you click Submit by clicking Clear Selection to start over.

6. Click Submit.

If the PDSO clicks Submit without populating either the Yes or No radio button next to every name and the PDSO radio button, the following error message box opens:

Click OK.
Once the PDSO designates every user as either Yes or No, SEVIS allows the PDSO to submit the verification. A confirmation message open, which includes:
- Name of the school/campus
- Date and time of verification

As the officials at each school or campus are verified, that school or campus is removed from the School Name – Campus Name list.

7. Return to Step 4 to repeat the process for each remaining school or campus on the list. Once every school or campus is verified, no more names are shown under the School Name – Campus Name list.

SUCCESS: You are done until next year.
SEVIS will notify all school and sponsor officials when the verification process is finished.

Schools with Only a PDSO, and Without Any DSOs

Only the PDSO’s name will display on the list of school officials requiring verification. The PDSO must click the radio button next to their name. This verifies the need for continued SEVIS access.

Multiple Campuses - Schools with Different PDSOs at Different Campuses

Any PDSO can complete the verification process for all the school’s campuses. This includes verifying other PDSOs. Schools must decide how to manage the verification process for the school and its campuses.

PDSOs/DSOs Who Use the Same User Name and Password as ROs/AROs

Many organizations manage both F/M and J programs. Users who access both F/M and J SEVIS with the same SEVIS User ID must open the Broadcast Messages or Program Information page to see the annual verification notice for the program RO/AROs.

ROs must:

Click the required to verify link. for the PDSO (the top message). The ARO Verification page opens.

2. Complete the RO/ARO verification, as described from Step 4 in the Basic Verification Process section.

A school is verified when all its campuses are verified.

Even DSOs at previously verified campuses will be locked out of SEVIS, if all the school's campuses are not verified. Access to SEVIS will be restored only after a PDSO verifies their continued need for SEVIS access.

A school is considered out of compliance with record keeping and reporting regulations, if all its officials are not verified by March 2. It may be withdrawn from participation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.

Failure to complete the verification process locks SEVIS access to every DSO for that school on March 3.
Any PDSO for your school can complete verification up to 30 days after the end of Annual Verification period. During that time, the PDSO can only verify their DSOs and themselves.
SEVIS sends a Notice of Intent to Withdraw (NOIW) email to all school officials, if all officials are not verified by March 2.
If the PDSO has not verified all officials by the end of this 30-day period, the school’s SEVP certification is automatically withdrawn.

School officials will be notified of the need to complete the verification process.

Notifications within SEVIS

SEVIS reminds PDSOs and DSOs the verification deadline on the School Information page, which displays two DSO verification-related items:

A.Next User Verification Date: Indicates the next verification deadline date.

B.Campuses Verified: Shows how many of the schools’ campuses have been verified.

This indicator displays during the verification period.
DSOs can use this information to monitor the PDSO’s progress in completing the annual verification.

Next verification due by <DD/MM/YYYY> message displays during the verification period. Only the PDSO has an active link to access the DSO Verification page.

SEVIS-Generated Emails

SEVIS sends the following emails to any unverified SEVIS school and program users at the listed intervals.

60 Days Before Deadline:

Subject: PDSO/DSO and RO/ARO Annual Verification 60-Day Count Down
Text: This email serves as a reminder that 60 days remain in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Annual PDSO/DSO and RO/ARO Verification Period. All SEVP-certified schools and Department of State (DoS)-designated sponsors must complete the PDSO/DSO and RO/ARO Annual Verification by March 2, YYYY. As a federal database, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is subject to the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA). FISMA requires the annual review and verification that all users who access federal systems have both the business need and the authorization to access the system. To comply with FISMA, principal designated school officials (PDSOs) and responsible officers (ROs) must annually verify that every PDSO, designated school official (DSO), RO and alternate responsible officer (ARO) who has access to SEVIS: Is still employed by the organization and continues to be the nominated PDSO, DSO, RO or ARO. Requires continued access to SEVIS. The verification period began on December 2nd and will end March 2, YYYY. If your institution does not have a PDSO/RO or if your PDSO/RO will not be available during the verification period, begin the process of designating another individual to act in the capacity of a PDSO or RO. Call the SEVP Response Center (SRC) (1-800-892-4829) for assistance, if needed. Additional information and resources on the annual verification process is available on Study in the States (https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/sevis-help-hub/update-records/manage-school-records/pdsodso-annual-verification).

Subject: PDSO/DSO and RO/ARO Annual Verification 60-Day Count Down

Text:

This email serves as a reminder that 60 days remain in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Annual PDSO/DSO and RO/ARO Verification Period. All SEVP-certified schools and Department of State (DoS)-designated sponsors must complete the PDSO/DSO and RO/ARO Annual Verification by March 2, YYYY.

As a federal database, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is subject to the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA). FISMA requires the annual review and verification that all users who access federal systems have both the business need and the authorization to access the system. To comply with FISMA, principal designated school officials (PDSOs) and responsible officers (ROs) must annually verify that every PDSO, designated school official (DSO), RO and alternate responsible officer (ARO) who has access to SEVIS:

Is still employed by the organization and continues to be the nominated PDSO, DSO, RO or ARO.
Requires continued access to SEVIS.

The verification period began on December 2nd and will end March 2, YYYY.

If your institution does not have a PDSO/RO or if your PDSO/RO will not be available during the verification period, begin the process of designating another individual to act in the capacity of a PDSO or RO. Call the SEVP Response Center (SRC) (1-800-892-4829) for assistance, if needed.

Additional information and resources on the annual verification process is available on Study in the States (https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/sevis-help-hub/update-records/manage-school-records/pdsodso-annual-verification).

45 and 10 Days Before Deadline:
For Schools

Subject: PDSO/DSO Annual Verification <45 or 10> Day Count Down
Text: PDSO/DSO Annual Verification <45 or 10> Day Count Down This email serves as a reminder that <45 or 10> days remain in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Annual PDSO/DSO Verification Period. All SEVP-certified schools must complete the Annual Verification by March 2, YYYY. As a federal database, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is subject to the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA). FISMA requires the annual review and verification that all users who access federal systems have both the business need and the authorization to access the system. To comply with FISMA, principal designated school officials (PDSOs) must annually verify that every PDSO and designated school official (DSO) who has access to SEVIS: Is still employed by the organization and continues to be the nominated PDSO or DSO. Requires continued access to SEVIS. This verification period began December 2, YYYY and will end March 2, YYYY. Note: The PDSO must log in to SEVIS in order to see the verification prompts. If you remember your user ID but have forgotten your password, please click Request Password Reset on the SEVIS Login page. If you have forgotten both your user ID and your password, please contact the SEVP Response Center (SRC) at 800-892-4829, for a user ID and password reset. Important: Consequences of not Verifying by March 2nd DSOs at schools with any unverified officials lose access to SEVIS Batch access is lost The only further action PDSOs can take is to verify their DSOs. School is considered out of compliance with reporting requirements and may receive a Remedial Action Plan

Subject: PDSO/DSO Annual Verification <45 or 10> Day Count Down

Text:

PDSO/DSO Annual Verification <45 or 10> Day Count Down

This email serves as a reminder that <45 or 10> days remain in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Annual PDSO/DSO Verification Period. All SEVP-certified schools must complete the Annual Verification by March 2, YYYY.

As a federal database, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is subject to the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA). FISMA requires the annual review and verification that all users who access federal systems have both the business need and the authorization to access the system. To comply with FISMA, principal designated school officials (PDSOs) must annually verify that every PDSO and designated school official (DSO) who has access to SEVIS:

Is still employed by the organization and continues to be the nominated PDSO or DSO.
Requires continued access to SEVIS.

This verification period began December 2, YYYY and will end March 2, YYYY.

Note: The PDSO must log in to SEVIS in order to see the verification prompts.

If you remember your user ID but have forgotten your password, please click Request Password Reset on the SEVIS Login page.
If you have forgotten both your user ID and your password, please contact the SEVP Response Center (SRC) at 800-892-4829, for a user ID and password reset.
Important: Consequences of not Verifying by March 2nd
DSOs at schools with any unverified officials lose access to SEVIS
Batch access is lost
The only further action PDSOs can take is to verify their DSOs.
School is considered out of compliance with reporting requirements and may receive a Remedial Action Plan

For Programs

Subject: RO/ARO Annual Verification <45 or 10> Day Count Down
Text: RO/ARO Annual Verification <45 or 10> Day Count Down This email serves as a reminder that <45 or 10> days remain in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Annual RO/ARO Verification Period. All program sponsors complete the RO/ARO Annual Verification by March 2, YYYY. As a federal database, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is subject to the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA). FISMA requires the annual review and verification that all users who access federal systems have both the business need and the authorization to access the system. To comply with FISMA, responsible officers (ROs) must annually verify that every RO and alternate responsible officer (ARO) who has access to SEVIS: Is still employed by the organization and continues to be the nominated RO or ARO. Requires continued access to SEVIS. This verification period began Dec. 2, YYYY and will end March 2, YYYY. Note: The RO must log in to SEVIS in order to see the verification prompts. If you remember your user ID but have forgotten your password, please click Request Password Reset on the SEVIS Login page. If you have forgotten both your user ID and your password, please contact the SEVP Response Center (SRC) at 800-892-4829, for a user ID and password reset. Important: Consequences of not Verifying by March 2nd AROs at sponsors with any unverified officials lose access to SEVIS Batch access is lost The only further action ROs can take is to verify their AROs

Subject: RO/ARO Annual Verification <45 or 10> Day Count Down

Text:

RO/ARO Annual Verification <45 or 10> Day Count Down

This email serves as a reminder that <45 or 10> days remain in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Annual RO/ARO Verification Period. All program sponsors complete the RO/ARO Annual Verification by March 2, YYYY.

As a federal database, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is subject to the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA). FISMA requires the annual review and verification that all users who access federal systems have both the business need and the authorization to access the system. To comply with FISMA, responsible officers (ROs) must annually verify that every RO and alternate responsible officer (ARO) who has access to SEVIS:

Is still employed by the organization and continues to be the nominated RO or ARO.
Requires continued access to SEVIS.

This verification period began Dec. 2, YYYY and will end March 2, YYYY.

Note: The RO must log in to SEVIS in order to see the verification prompts.

If you remember your user ID but have forgotten your password, please click Request Password Reset on the SEVIS Login page.
If you have forgotten both your user ID and your password, please contact the SEVP Response Center (SRC) at 800-892-4829, for a user ID and password reset.
Important: Consequences of not Verifying by March 2nd
AROs at sponsors with any unverified officials lose access to SEVIS
Batch access is lost
The only further action ROs can take is to verify their AROs

30 and 15 Days Before Deadline:

Subject: RE: Take Action to Maintain SEVIS Access.
Text: * DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL * This is a reminder from SEVP. The PDSO must log into SEVIS and verify that all DSO(s) still require access to SEVIS and remain employed by your school. Users not verified by 03/02/<year> will be locked out of SEVIS. For batch schools, this could affect the ability to submit batch updates.

Subject: RE: Take Action to Maintain SEVIS Access.

Text: *** DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL ***

This is a reminder from SEVP. The PDSO must log into SEVIS and verify that all DSO(s) still require access to SEVIS and remain employed by your school.

Users not verified by 03/02/<year> will be locked out of SEVIS. For batch schools, this could affect the ability to submit batch updates.

5 Days Before Deadline:

Subject:RE: CRITICAL -- Take Action to Maintain SEVIS Access.
Text:* DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL * This is a reminder from SEVP. The PDSO for campus: <name of campus> must log into SEVIS and verify that all DSO(s) listed for your campus still require access to SEVIS and remain employed by your school. Users not verified by 03/02/<year> will be locked out of SEVIS. For batch schools, this could impact the ability to submit batch updates. If locked out, regaining SEVIS access will require evidence of continuing employment and need for access to SEVIS.

Subject:RE: CRITICAL -- Take Action to Maintain SEVIS Access.

Text:*** DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL ***

This is a reminder from SEVP. The PDSO for campus: <name of campus> must log into SEVIS and verify that all DSO(s) listed for your campus still require access to SEVIS and remain employed by your school.

Users not verified by 03/02/<year> will be locked out of SEVIS. For batch schools, this could impact the ability to submit batch updates.

If locked out, regaining SEVIS access will require evidence of continuing employment and need for access to SEVIS.

March 2nd Deadline:

Subject: FISMA Verification: Notice of Intent to Withdraw

*** DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL ***

Regarding the following school and instructional sites:

School Name Main Campus School Code

Notice

This Notice concerns your school’s certification to continue enrolling nonimmigrant students who are admitted to the United States to pursue academic and/or vocational training. The School Certification Unit (SCU) within the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has identified a compliance issue which could result in the withdrawal of your school’s certification and bar further enrollment or education of nonimmigrant students.

Background

The Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA) requires an annual review including verification that all users who access federal systems have both the need and authorization to do so. To comply with this Act and ensure system security, all Principal Designated School Officials (PDSO) must annually verify that every PDSO and Designated School Official (DSO) who has access to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is still employed by the institution and requires continued SEVIS access.

Each year, beginning on December 2, all SEVP-certified schools are required to complete the P/DSO annual verification in SEVIS. PDSOs are afforded 90 days, or until March 2, to complete this verification.

SEVP-certified schools were notified of the annual verification requirement electronically via SEVIS Broadcast Messages. SEVIS users from schools that failed to complete the verification by the March 2 deadline are consequently refused access to SEVIS. As of the date of this notice, SEVIS indicates that your school has not completed the annual verification requirement.

Compliance Issues

Issue 1: Failure to comply with reporting requirements mandated by FISMA

Analysis

In early December, a broadcast message was sent to all SEVP-certified schools advising DSOs that federal law requires annual verification in SEVIS which school officials must complete. The broadcast message specifically stated that every SEVP-certified school must verify that all listed P/DSOs are still employed by the school and continue to require access to SEVIS. By failing to complete the annual DSO verification requirement in SEVIS, the PDSOs at your school failed to comply with the reporting requirements outlined in 8 C.F.R. § 214.3(h)(3)(iii). SEVP issued “Annual Verification Broadcast Messages” to all SEVIS users informing them of the DSO Annual Verification requirement and users were informed that action in SEVIS was required by March 2. In addition, SEVIS emails reminding officials who had not yet completed their verification at noncompliant schools of the mandatory requirement were sent 30, 15, and 5 days before the deadline.

As your school has failed to complete the mandatory DSO annual verification in SEVIS, SEVP finds that your school has failed to comply with 8 C.F.R. § 214.3(h)(3)(iii) requiring certified schools to comply with reporting requirements necessary to verify a school’s continued eligibility for SEVP certification. Accordingly, your school is subject to withdrawal of Form I-17 certification pursuant to 8 C.F.R. §§ 214.4(a)(2)(ii) and (vi).

Action to be taken

Your school is afforded thirty (30) days, from the date of service of this notice, to do the following:

The PDSO must submit evidence that all DSOs listed on the school’s Form I-17 have been verified. The PDSO must log into SEVIS and verify that all PDSOs and DSOs listed on the schools’ Form I-17 are still employed by the institution and require continued SEVIS access; or,

The PDSO and Owner, President, or Head of School may submit a signed letter on the school’s letterhead requesting voluntary withdrawal of your schools’ SEVP-certification; or,

Your school may submit written representations under oath supported by documentary evidence setting forth the reasons why SEVP should not withdraw your school’s SEVP certification. The regulations do not allow for an extension of the time to submit a response to this NOIW. If your school wishes, an interview with SEVP may be requested in writing at the time of filing the response to the NOIW. Your school also may be assisted by legal counsel of its choice, at no expense to the Government.

Your school may respond to this Notice of Intent to Withdraw within 30 days from the date of this notice. If your school fails to respond, within the allotted time, SEVP will withdraw your school’s certification and your school will waive its right to appeal pursuant to 8 C.F.R. 214.4(d).

If your school has submitted a SEVP Response Center (SRC) ticket or has a pending Form I-17 update to add a new PDSO, please reply to this notice with the SRC ticket number and/or any pertinent documentation for review.

Please send all evidence and any questions to the School Certification Unit by email to sevp@ice.dhs.gov.

Any questions regarding this Notice may be submitted via e-mail to sevp@ice.dhs.gov, subject line: Question: [SCHOOL NAME] [SCHOOL CODE] FISMA NOIW.

SEVP, School Certification Unit
(703) 603-3400
sevp@ice.dhs.gov

March 3, 1 Day After Deadline

Subject: RE Verification Deadline - SEVIS DSO Access Blocked.
Text: * DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL * The purpose of this email is to inform you that you no longer have access to <name of campus> because a PDSO associated with that school has not verified your information in the SEVIS system. If you need continued access to the school, please contact the PDSO of your campus to inform them that you no longer have access to SEVIS. The PDSO must verify all school users. Please do not contact the SEVP Response Center regarding this matter unless your PDSO is unavailable.

Subject: RE Verification Deadline - SEVIS DSO Access Blocked.

Text: *** DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL ***

The purpose of this email is to inform you that you no longer have access to <name of campus> because a PDSO associated with that school has not verified your information in the SEVIS system. If you need continued access to the school, please contact the PDSO of your campus to inform them that you no longer have access to SEVIS. The PDSO must verify all school users.

Please do not contact the SEVP Response Center regarding this matter unless your PDSO is unavailable.

Broadcast Messages

SEVP will send two broadcast messages to schools:

Thirty days before the verification period starts
One day before the verification period starts

SEVIS Help Hub

PDSO/DSO Annual Verification

PDSO/DSO Annual Verification