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SEVIS Help Hub

Correct Student SEVIS Status

Correct Student SEVIS Status

Last updated: February 15, 2024

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Occasionally, the status of a student record needs to be changed, for example:

  • Incorrect registration of a record for a student who never entered the United States (Active to Canceled)
  • Auto-canceled record of an initial student who is pursuing a full course of study (Canceled to Active)
  • Auto-canceled record of an initial student who requested a deferral (Canceled to Initial)
  • Incorrect termination of a student who is pursuing a full course of study (Terminated to Active)
  • Reactivation of a student record that is Terminated for Authorized Early Withdrawal when a student is returning to the United States from a leave of absence within five months.
Icon - Pay attention to an important point
  • Do not use the Student Status correction type if the student failed to maintain his immigration status and requires a reinstatement.
  • If you have mistakenly requested a reinstatement and want to submit a correction request, you must first cancel the reinstatement request. 
  • Do not cancel a reinstatement request that has already been sent to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Requests pending with USCIS must be formally withdrawn using USCIS procedures. 

While school officials can change the status of some records (for example, the principal designated school official (PDSO) change from Canceled to Initial within 15 days), the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) must approve most status changes. A designated school official (DSO) can submit a correction request to change the status of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record. The table below shows the types of status changes that can be requested through a correction request in SEVIS.

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The student’s status can be viewed in the upper, right corner of each student’s record.

Current Status 

Request Change To 

Initial 

  • Completed 

  • Terminated 

Active 

Note: SEVIS displays a PDSO Record Correction link to change the record from Active to Initial status within 15 days of record registration. 

  • Initial 

  • Canceled 

Canceled 

Note: SEVIS displays a PDSO Record Correction link to change the record from Canceled to Initial status within 15 days of record cancelation. 

  • Initial 

  • Active 

  • Completed 

Completed 

  • Initial 

  • Active 

  • Canceled 

Terminated 

Note: A correction request from Terminated to Canceled status can only be used if: 

  • The I-901 SEVIS Fee has been paid. 

  • SEVIS record has not been registered. 

  • Port of entry information is not in the record. 

Otherwise, the record must be changed by data fix. 

  • Initial 

  • Active  

  • Canceled 

  • Completed 

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DSOs may not request a change of SEVIS status for transfer-in students in Terminated status. This requires a data fix or a reinstatement.

Request a Change to Student Status:

  1. Go to the Student Information page.
Screen shot of Student Information page  with Request Change to Student Status option

2. Click Corrections. The Corrections Management page opens.

Screen shot of Request Change to Student Status page

3. Click Student Status. The Correction Request: Student Status page opens.

image005_37.png

4. Update the required fields for the needed record status change.

Field  Description
Change Status To*
Note:
The Correction Request: Student Status page fields vary, depending on the status chosen.
  • Select a status from the drop-down list:
    • Initial 
    • Active
    • Canceled
    • Completed
    • Terminated
  • This is a required field.
Program Dates*
  • Program Start Date
  • Program End Date
Note: Update if changing to Initial or Active status only.
  • Change the dates, if needed.
  • This is a required field.

Note: M-1 student’s Program End Date cannot be more than three years from Program Start Date.

Initial Session Start Date*
Note: Update if changing to Initial status only.
  • Change the dates, if needed.
  • This is a required field.
Session Dates*
  • Current Session Start Date
  • Current Session End Date
  • Next Session Start Date
Note: Required if changing to Active status.
  • Change the dates, if needed.
  • The current session start and end dates cannot be more than 183 days apart.
  • This is a required field.

Note: If this is the student’s last term, leave the Next Session Start Date field blank.

Check box field found in above screen shot: The student is in the last session of his/her program.
Note: If checked, do not enter Next Session Start Date.

  • Click the checkbox if this is the student’s last term.
  • This is a required field.

Cancelation Reason*
Note:
Required if changing to Canceled status.

  • Select a cancelation reason from the drop-down list:
    • Offer Withdrawn [Admissions]
    • Record Created in Error
    • Student Arrived Under Different SEVIS ID
    • Student Not Attending
    • Student Registered Under Different SEVIS ID
    • Visa Issued for Different SEVIS ID
  • This is a required field.

Termination Reason*  

Note: Required if changing to Terminated status. 

  • Select a termination reason from the dropdown list: 

Note: See Termination Reasons article for an explanation of when to use a specific reason. 

  • This is a required field. 

Correction Remarks*
  • Clearly explain why the correction is needed. 
  • This is a required field
Note: This field allows 1000 characters.
  • Click one of the following:
    • Cancel: Cancels the action and returns the user to the Student Information page.
    • Submit: Submits the correction request. The Submit Successful page opens.
Screen shot of Submit Successful message
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This page has a Request ID number assigned to the correction request. This number will appear with the case information for this correction request on the Corrections Management page.

  • Click one of the following:
    • Upload Evidence: The Upload Correction Request Evidence page opens.
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For more information on uploading evidence, see the Upload Evidence for Correction Request guide on the SEVIS Help Hub.

  • Return to the Corrections Management Page: Returns to the Corrections Management page.
  • Return to the Student Information Page: Returns to the Student Information page.

This chart lists appropriate documents to upload for different request types and statuses. 

Request Change To Evidence to Upload
  • Initial
  • Canceled
Enter a clear explanation in the Correction Remarks field. If there is no port of entry information, this should be enough.
Active
  • Student transcripts
  • Current or upcoming semester student schedule 
Completed Evidence of program completion.
Icon - Pay attention to an important point

DSOs can upload evidence at any time while the correction request is pending. 

See the SEVIS Correction Requests Overview for an explanation of correction request process.

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