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SEVIS Help Hub

SEVIS Passwords

SEVIS Passwords

Last updated: November 7, 2024

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As a U.S. government system, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) must conform to the federal government’s security procedures. Every user who accesses SEVIS must follow these procedures. SEVIS User identifications (IDs) are assigned to each user. Each user must keep their user ID secure and create a good, strong password. 

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 Do not share your SEVIS user ID and password. Keep your SEVIS user ID and password secure.

This page contains information on:

  • SEVIS password standards
  • Changing a password from the SEVIS header
  • Resetting a password from the SEVIS Log In page 
  • Principal designated school official’s (PDSO) password reset request for a designated school official (DSO), who has not logged in to SEVIS in 45 days.

SEVIS Passwords must contain:

  • A minimum of 12 characters.
  • A maximum of 64 characters.
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  • Any alphabetical, numerical, or special characters may be used, and a space is also acceptable. This allows the user to create a password or pass phrase that is easy to remember, but difficult for someone else to guess.
  • Passwords are case sensitive. If you create a password using a mix of upper and lowercase letters, you must always enter it the same way.
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Log into SEVIS at least every 45 days.

  • This keeps your SEVIS user ID active. If your user ID is active, you can reset your own password.
  • If you have not logged into SEVIS in 45 days, your account is locked, and you will not be able to log in. In this case, you must ask your PDSO for a password reset from the School Information page. (See PDSO Password Reset for a DSO section for more information.)
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Individuals who have not logged into SEVIS in 90 days must call the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Response Center at 1 800 892 4829 or 703 603 4300 to regain access.

Use the Change Password function in SEVIS, if your password has been compromised or if you want to change it voluntarily.

To change a password voluntarily:

  1. Log into SEVIS. The SEVIS header displays on the SEVIS Message Board page or any other page.
SEVIS Header with Change Password link indicated
  1. Click Change Password. The Change My Password page opens. 
Change-my-password
  1. Complete all three fields: 
Field Description
Current Password* Your current SEVIS password. 
New Password* A unique password. Follow the listed password requirements to develop a new password.
Re-enter New Password* The same unique password entered in the field above it. 
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If you change your mind and do not want to change your password, click on another link in the SEVIS header to leave this page.

4. Click Change Password to submit the change. You are returned to the SEVIS Sign In page. A Change password confirmation message appears on the page.

Password-confirmation
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  • Use your new password the next time you log into SEVIS.
  • If you have trouble using SEVIS to change a password, contact the SEVP Response Center at 1-800-892-4829 or 703-603-3400.

The SEVIS Log In page contains a link that may be used to request a password reset. Use the Forgot Your Password function, if you are an active user in SEVIS and:

  • You forgot your password.
  • Your SEVIS account is locked due to three unsuccessful login attempts.
  • Your password was compromised, and the Change Password function cannot be used.
  • You want to change your password without logging in to SEVIS.
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If you are a DSO who has not logged in to SEVIS in 45 days, you cannot log in because your account has become inactive. In this case, you must ask your PDSO for a password reset from the School Information page. (See PDSO Password Reset for a DSO section for more information.)

To reset your own SEVIS password:

  1. Open the SEVIS Log In page. 
Sign In Page (SEVIS Log In page)

2. Click the Forgot Your Password link. The Request Password Reset page opens. 

Request Password Reset page with User Types indicated

3. Select your User Type, based on whether you work with F/M students or J exchange visitors.

Request-password-reset

4. Enter your user ID in the SEVIS User Name field. 

5. Click Submit. SEVIS does one of the following:

  • The Request Password Reset message confirms your request is being processed. SEVIS will email instructions for creating a new password.
Request-password-reset-popup
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You do not have to click OK. However, if you do, the SEVIS Log In page re-opens.

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An email will be sent to the email address associated with this SEVIS username. It will provide instructions for creating a new SEVIS password. The email will be valid for 30 days. A password must be created within 30 days of the date on the email.

  • The Validation Error displays, User is inactive due to 45 days of inactivity. Contact your PDSO or RO to request a password reset.
Request Password Reset
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To correct the error, contact your PDSO for a password reset from the School Information page. (See PDSO Password Reset for a DSO section for more information.)

6. Locate and open the email message from SEVIS. It contains the link necessary to reset your password. 

7. Click the link to reset your password. The Change Password page opens. 

Change-password

8.  Enter information into the three required fields.

 

Field Description
*User Name: Your SEVIS user ID.
*New password: A unique password. Follow the password standards in the email to develop a password. 
*Confirm new password: The same unique password entered in the New Password field above. 

9. Click Change Password or Cancel:

  • Change Password: Submits the change. SEVIS displays the Change Password Confirmation message, which indicates the password was changed successfully.
Change-password-confirmation
  • Cancel: Returns the user to the SEVIS Log In page.

10. Click OK. The SEVIS Log In page opens. Use your new password to log into SEVIS.

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If you have trouble using SEVIS to reset a password, contact the SEVP Response Center at 1-800-892-4829 or 703-603-3400.

PDSOs can request a password reset for DSOs who have not logged in to SEVIS in 45 days.

As a PDSO, to request a password reset for a DSO:

  1. Go to the School Information page
School Information page, Request Password Reset for DSO in red

2. Click the Request Password Reset for DSOs link on the left side of the page. The School Official Information page displays. 

School Information Page

3. Click the Request Password Reset link for the person who needs a password reset. The link is in the Command column. The Request Password Reset page opens.

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The Request Password Reset link only displays for DSOs who have not logged into SEVIS for more than 45 days.

Request Password Reset

4. Click Request Password Reset. The School Official Information page re-opens. 

School Information Page
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The Request Password Reset link is now gone from next to the DSO’s name, on which you just requested a password reset.

5. SEVIS will:

  • Send the DSO an email with a link to create a new SEVIS password.
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If the DSO does not create a new password within 30 days of the date on the email, the reset link in the email is no longer available to the DSO. The DSO must then contact the SEVP Response Center at 1‑800‑892‑4829 or 703‑603‑3400, who will send them an email with another reset link.

  • Send an email to each PDSO for all the school/campuses to which the DSO is associated. The email includes:

    • Name of the SEVIS user whose password was reset.

    • Message Text: 

      • This is to advise you that a password reset request has been submitted for the user named above. This request was submitted because the user has not logged into SEVIS in 45 days or longer.” 

      • The user will receive an email with a link to a secure site that will allow him/her to reset their password and regain access to the system. 

      • If the user is no longer associated with your school or program, you need to remove the user from your list of officials.

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