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News
Boston University prepares for launch of Student & Exchange
Visitor Information System Tracking System (SEVIS)
This message
has been prepared by the International Students and Scholars
Office (ISSO) to update the Boston University community on the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
On January 30, 2003, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service
will institute an electronic reporting system to track international
students and exchange visitors in the United States. Under the web-based SEVIS system, all U.S. schools will be required to report specific information
on F-1 students, F-2 dependents, J-1 students, scholars, and
exchange visitors, and J-2 dependents to the Immigration and
Naturalization Service (USCIS) through secure, encrypted Internet
transmissions.
Boston University will begin using the SEVIS system on January
30, 2003, for any new immigration documents created. The
International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) will then
work throughout the Spring to enter information
on Boston University's nearly 5500 continuing international
students and scholars into the tracking system and to reissue
each student
in F or J status a new SEVIS immigration document.
Boston University has been aware of the development of SEVIS since
the tracking program was first mandated by the Illegal Immigration
Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) of 1996. In
recent months, key offices across the University have cooperated
to ensure a smooth transition to the new system. In preparation
for SEVIS implementation, Boston University has:
- Briefed Boston University faculty, staff and administrators of SEVIS requirements
- Held
forums with many administrative offices to consider SEVIS
implications to policies and procedures
- Modified
and enhanced the University Information System (UIS) to ensure
that records will be retained, updated and reported
- Purchased
a commercial software package to transmit the required information
to the SEVIS system
- Trained
the ISSO staff on new regulations and SEVIS procedures
The SEVIS
tracking system promises to be an efficient tool for students,
exchange visitors and scholars traveling in and out of the U.S., applying for
visas, and requesting immigration benefits for their F or
J status. The new SEVIS I-20 and DS-2019 forms will have include a two-dimensional
bar code that will allow USCIS officials at U.S. ports of entry
and Department of State (DOS) officials at U.S. consulates
and embassies to electronically check the validity of a student's
status. While this will eventually speed the process of applying
for visas and being allowed to enter the U.S., it also significantly increases the F or J visa
holder's responsibility to maintain accurate computer records.
Electronic Reporting
Since SEVIS is a web-based system established for data collection,
it will be very important that information regarding students and
exchange visitors on record at the ISSO and in the University Information
System (UIS) be completely up-to-date. UIS will automatically send
certain information to SEVIS. Although ISSO advisors will be able
to review records before they are sent to the SEVIS system, USCIS
regulations require that certain events affecting immigration status
be reported. Failure to maintain accurate records with the University
may result in technical violations, which might have significant
consequences for the immigration status of students, scholars and
exchange visitors. Any exceptions to the regulations (such as enrolling
less then full-time, even during the student's last semester) will
need to be pre-approved by an ISSO advisor so that SEVIS does not
report the student to be in violation of status. Students, scholars
and exchange visitors should work closely with the ISSO to make
certain they comply with all F or J regulations.
Boston University will report to the government
only information required by federal law.
For F-1 students, this includes all the information listed
on the student's USCIS Form I-20: legal name, country and date of
birth, country of citizenship, USCIS admission number, major, program
of study, level of education, expected commencement of studies,
date of completion, information on F-2 dependents, and sources of
funding.
For
J-1 students, scholars, and exchange visitors, USCIS requires
the reporting of all information on DOS Form DS-2019
(formerly IAP-66): legal name, city, country and date of
birth, country of citizenship, country of residence, program
sponsor, dates of program commencement
and completion, information on J-2 dependents.
The University
will also be required to report information on academic, disciplinary,
or other events that affect a student or exchange
visitor's nonimmigrant status. For F-1 students, these reportable
events include, but are not limited to:
- registration/enrollment each school term
- leaves of absence, suspensions, or withdrawals from school;
- authorized and unauthorized drops below a "full
course of study", as defined by USCIS regulations;
- resumption of a "full course of study" after an authorized drop;
- employment off campus;
- dependent information
- U.S. residential address changes
- changes in major, program of study, or expected completion date
- transfer to a new college or to a new degree level
- periods of authorized and unauthorized employment
- termination/disruption of optional practical training
- reinstatement to status after any violations
- termination of F-1 status due to degree completion, change
of status, failure to maintain status, or other reason
For
J-1 visa holders, reportable actions include, but are not limited
to: extensions, reinstatements, changes of category, changes
of status, replacement of a lost form, amendments, corrections,
change in school or sponsor, termination of studies or termination
of participation in an exchange program, or for application
for a new visa.
Additional
information on the Student and Exchange Visitor Information
System (SEVIS) can be found at the USCIS Web site at:
http://www.ice.gov/sevis/faq.htm
Timeline for issuance of SEVIS I-20 and
DS-2019 forms to Boston University Students
When the Boston University International Students and Scholars
Office (ISSO) converts immigration records from the current paper-based
reporting system to SEVIS, we will issue all current Boston University
students in F-1 status a new USCIS Form I-20, which will be a SEVIS
Form I-20, and all J-1 students, scholars and exchange visitors
a new SEVIS Form DS-2019. F-2 dependents will each be issued an
individual SEVIS Form I-20. J-2 dependents will each be issued an
individual SEVIS Form DS-2019.
Students,
scholars, exchange visitors and F-2 and J-2 dependents will
need new SEVIS immigration documents after January 30, 2003,
if they will be traveling outside the U.S. and will need to
apply for a new F or J visa, if there is any significant change
to the information on the current USCIS Form I-20
or DOS Form DS-2019,
or if they will experience any of the "reportable events" as
listed above. With the exception of students who need a new
document for these reasons, Boston University will begin issuing
SEVIS I-20 Forms and SEVIS DS-2019 Forms to students, exchange visitors
and scholars by school or college later in the Spring. When
the SEVIS immigration documents for a particular school or
college or ready, the ISSO will also hold mandatory information
sessions for students in applicable programs in order to highlight
regulatory changes and to distribute the new documents in an
orderly fashion.
All Boston University students in F-1 status and their F-2 dependents will be issued SEVIS
I-20 Forms and
all J-1 students, scholars, exchange visitors, and J-2 dependents
will be issued SEVIS DS-2019 Forms before the mandatory deadline of August
1, 2003. Until new SEVIS I-20 Forms and SEVIS DS-2019 Forms are
issued, F and J visa holders may travel and reenter
with a current, accurate, properly endorsed non-SEVIS immigration
form that has been issued before January 30, 2003. All persons
in F-1, F-2, J-1, or J-2 status will need new SEVIS immigration
documents to enter the U.S. on or after August
1, 2003.
Important dates for implementation of new USCIS
Regulations & SEVIS
- January 1, 2003 - New provisions of revised USCIS F and
J regulations become effective
- January 30, 2003 - Mandatory compliance deadline to begin
using SEVIS. Only SEVIS I-20 Forms and DS-2019 Forms may be issued
on or after this date. Accurate, properly endorsed Non-SEVIS
I-20 Forms or DS-2019 Forms issued before this date may be used
until August 1, 2003, except when a student, scholar or exchange
visitor is traveling outside of the U.S. and will apply for a
new F or J visa.
- August 1, 2003 - Mandatory compliance deadline by which
all current and continuing students, scholars and exchange visitors
must be entered into the SEVIS system and issued new SEVIS I-20
Forms or SEVIS DS-2019 Forms. Non-SEVIS I-20 Forms and DS-2019
Forms issued before January 30, 2003 may no longer be used for
any purpose.
Concluding Remarks
With the implementation of the SEVIS system, it will be more important
than ever for students, scholars, and exchange visitors to understand
and comply with the regulations pertaining to their status and to
ensure that their information in UIS is accurate and complete. The
staff of the ISSO is committed to helping nonimmigrant students,
and the broader Boston University community, understand changing
regulations, as well as to assisting students, scholars and exchange
visitors in taking advantage of certain benefits available to them
in F or J status, and to facilitating a smooth transition to the
SEVIS tracking system. As always, we are pleased to provide nonimmigrant
students, scholars and exchange visitors with information, counseling,
and assistance so that they can maintain lawful F or J status in
order to achieve their educational goals at Boston University.
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