Glossary
2D Bar Code
Two-Dimensional Bar Code. The type of bar code which will appear on each USCIS Form I-20 and DOS Form DS-2019 (new IAP-66) when those forms are processed through SEVIS. It will be transmitted by a file format known as JPEG.
Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO)
The school employees who are recognized and authorized by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) to assist the Responsible Officer (RO) to advise, counsel, and assist J-1 exchange visitors in relation to federal law and regulation, and to execute federal forms related to the status and activities of such individuals.
ARO
Alternate Responsible Officer. See description under that title.
CIPRIS
Coordinated Interagency Partnership Regulating International Students. The name of the computer-based reporting and tracking system developed by the CIPRIS Task Force and implemented as the CIPRIS Pilot Program by 21 schools, known as the CIPRIS Pilot Program Schools, in the Southeast.
CIPRIS Pilot Program
The first program implemented to test the electronic reporting and tracking system, later known as the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), under development by the federal government. When the “Pilot Program” officially ended, the schools participating in this test continued to operate under the system as an “operational prototype”. In 02/2002, the schools were transitioned from the “operational prototype” to the SEVIS real-time, interactive Beta Test system.
CIPRIS Pilot Program Schools
The twenty-one schools in the Southeast U.S. which participated in the CIPRIS Pilot Program.
CIPRIS Task Force
The federal interagency task force which developed the concept of computer-based reporting on F-1 and M-1 students, and J-1 exchange visitors, and implemented the CIPRIS Pilot Program. It was composed of representatives from the Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), the U.S. Department of State (DOS), the U.S. Information Agency (USIA), the U.S. Department of Education (DOEd), and selected universities.
Designated School Official (DSO)
The school employees who are recognized and authorized by the USCIS to advise, counsel, and assist F-1 and/or M-1 students in relation to federal law and regulation, and to execute federal forms related to the status and activities of such students.
DOS
U.S. Department of State. The federal agency which is responsible for administering the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program.
DOS Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)
The Bureau within the U.S. Department of State which contains the Exchange Visitor Program Office.
DOS Exchange Visitor Program (EVP)
The office within the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State (DOS) which administers the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program.
DOS Form DS-2019
Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status. The new form which will soon replace the IAP-66 as the primary eligibility document for J-1 exchange visitors.
dpi
Dots Per Inch. The minimum resolution for a SEVIS-compatible laser printer is 600 x 600 dpi.
DSO
Designated School Official. See description under that title.
DS-2019
See DOS Form DS-2019.
DTD
Document Type Definition. Describes how an XML document must be formatted. The SEVIS data elements to be captured are listed in a DTD in the SEVIS Interface Control Document.
ECA
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. See description under DOS.
EDS
Electronic Data Systems. See description under that title.
Electronic Data Systems (EDS)
The private company which has been contracted by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (USCIS) to provide program and technical support for the development of the student/exchange visitor electronic reporting and tracking system.
EVP
Exchange Visitor Program. See description under DOS.
Exchange Visitor
A foreign national who is granted J-1 status by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (USCIS).
Exchange Visitor Program (EVP)
See description under DOS.
F-1
The type of visa given by U.S. Consulates and the type of immigration status given by the USCIS to foreign nationals who intend to be or are enrolled for a full course of study at approved educational institutions in the U.S.
I-20
See USCIS Form I-20.
IAP-66
See USIA Form IAP-66.
ICD
Interface Control Document. The document which describes the batch interface specifications which school and program sponsor computer systems must meet if they wish to use the batch interface method of communicating with SEVIS. This document is available by clicking here (Acrobat PDF File).
Immigration Status
The type of status (e.g., F-1, J-1, M-1) granted by Immigration and Naturalization Service (USCIS) Inspectors at Ports of Entry (POEs) to foreign nationals admitted to the U.S. An individual’s immigration status may be changed while in the U.S. pursuant to an application submitted to the USCIS for a “change of status”. Immigration status is often confused with visa status.
USCIS
Citizenship and Immigration Service. A division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
USCIS Form I-20
Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status. An USCIS form issued by authorized schools to certify the academic admission of a foreign national student to a program of study. This form is used by prospective students to apply for an F-1 visa and, if the visa is granted, to apply for admission to the U.S. in F-1 student status at an USCIS Port of Entry (POE). This form is retained by the student for use in a variety of circumstances throughout his/her stay in the U.S.
USCIS Office of Information Resources Management
The office at Citizenship and Immigration Service Headquarters (USCIS/HQ) which is responsible for technology development, use, and maintenance.
J-1
The type of visa given by U.S. Consulates and the type of immigration status given by the USCIS to foreign nationals who intend to be or are.
JPEG
Joint Photographic Experts Group. The image file format used for the 2D bar code which will appear on USCIS Forms I-20 and DOS Forms DS-2019 produced through SEVIS.
M-1
The type of visa given by U.S. Consulates and the type of immigration status given by the USCIS to foreign nationals who intend to be or are:
OIRM
USCIS Office of Information Resources Management. See USCIS Office of Information Resources Management.
Portable Document Format. A cross-platform file format by Adobe which insures print fidelity. Used in SEVIS to print federal government forms.
PKI
Public Key Infrastructure. A series of technologies which includes digital identity, signatures, and authentication.
POE
Port of Entry. U.S. airports, U.S. land border crossings, and USCIS pre-inspection offices in foreign countries where Immigration Inspectors receive applications from foreign nationals for “admission” into the U.S. and, if the individual is found “admissible”, “admit” the individual into the U.S. in a specific immigration status.
Program Sponsors
Schools and organizations authorized by the DOS Exchange Visitor Program to sponsor educational, cultural, and professional development programs in the U.S. for J-1 exchange visitors.
Responsible Officer (RO)
The school employee who is recognized and authorized by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) to be the primary person responsible for advising, counseling, and assisting J-1 exchange visitors in relation to federal law and regulation, for executing federal forms related to the status and activities of such individuals, and for supervising the activities of Alternate Responsible Officers (AROs).
RO
Responsible Officer. See description under that title.
SEVP
Student and Exchange Visitor Program. The federal government program designed to facilitate and monitor the activities of F-1 and M-1 students, and J-1 exchange visitors.
SEVIS
Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. The information system which facilitates the transmission of data on F-1 and M-1 students, and J-1 exchange visitors, to and from the federal government.
SEVIS Beta Test
The test of the real-time interactive system for transmitting data to and from the SEVIS database. This test is being initiated in early 2002.
SEVIS Beta Test Schools
The ten schools in the Greater Boston area which are participating in the SEVIS Beta Test.
USIA
U.S. Information Agency. See description under that title.
USIA Form IAP-66
Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status. The form issued by authorized exchange visitor program sponsors (e.g., schools, organizations) to certify the acceptance of a foreign national for participation in an appropriate program of activity (e.g., study, teaching, performing research). This form is used by prospective exchange visitors to apply for a J-1 visa and, if the visa is granted, to apply for admission to the U.S. in J-1 exchange visitor status at an USCIS Port of Entry (POE). This form is retained by the exchange visitor for use in a variety of circumstances throughout his/her stay in the U.S.
U.S. Information Agency (USIA)
The federal agency which administered the J-1 exchange visitor program prior to that program being moved into the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECU) of the U.S. Department of State (DOS).
Visa
A document placed by a U.S. Consulate in the passport of a foreign national which authorizes the individual to present him/herself at an USCIS Port of Entry (POE) and request admission into the U.S. in a particular type of immigration status (e.g., F-1, J-1, M-1). In essence, a visa is a “ticket” to get into the U.S., provided the USCIS Inspector at the POE determines that there are no reasons to deny such entry.
Visa Classification
Designated Visa Type/Class on an actual visa, this is the type or classification of visa (e.g., F-1, J-1, M-1) given by U.S. Consulates to foreign nationals who apply for and are granted a visa to come to the U.S. A foreign national who is physically present in the U.S. does not necessarily have a visa classification and an immigration status which are identical.
Visa Status
This is a misnomer which has been used extensively in the media after 09/11/2001 to refer to an individual’s immigration status. For correct visa terminology, see Visa Classification and Immigration Status.
XML
Extensible Mark-Up Language. A commonly used format for the exchange of data.
