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Significant Risk of Terrorist Attacks
June 16, 2005
As a Designated School Official (DSO), Federal law and regulations require you to update and maintain the SEVIS records of nonimmigrant students in F and M visa categories. Automatic SEVIS functions occur after the legal time limits to update student records. They do not extend the legal time limits and are not intended to replace timely action by a DSO to comply with reporting responsibilities. The following summarizes DSO reporting requirements and time limits for completing each task.
Reporting Requirement |
Time Limit |
Automatic SEVIS Function |
Initial student reporting: All initial F-1 or M-1 students are required to report to a school official within 30 days of the Program Start Date. Update SEVIS to indicate whether or not the student has arrived and enrolled. |
Within 30 days of the Program Start Date, register the student record or terminate for no show. |
SEVIS automatically terminates the student record if you fail to register the student. |
Initial student reporting without POE data: If an initial student record did not appear in the Alert for Students in Initial Status with Port of Entry Records or there is no POE information, update the record to indicate whether or not the student arrived and enrolled in classes. |
Within 30 days of the Program Start Date the student record must be registered or cancelled |
SEVIS automatically cancels the student record if you fail to register the student. |
Active student reporting for each term or semester: Each new session, report whether or not an active student reported and enrolled in classes. |
Within 30 days of the Next Session Start Date, register the student record or terminate for Failure to Enroll. |
SEVIS automatically terminates the student record if you fail to register the student. |
Draft student records for F 1 transfer students: After the Record Release Date for an F 1 student transferring to your school, update the draft transfer-in record to initial status by submitting the student’s information. |
Update the draft record to initial status after the Record Release Date, but prior to the Program Start Date. |
SEVIS automatically terminates the student record if you fail to update the draft student record to initial status. |
Initial records for F-1 transfer students: F 1 students transferring into a new school must report to you within 15 days of the Program Start Date. They may report earlier. Update the student’s record in SEVIS to indicate whether or not the student arrived and enrolled in classes. |
Register or terminate the student record for Transfer Student No Show within 30 days of the Program Start Date. |
SEVIS automatically terminates the initial student record if you fail to register the student. |
Reporting requirements for M 1 transfers: When an M-1 is transferring to your school, you will have access to the record immediately after the transfer-out school completes the transfer request. Update the student’s record and print an initial Form I-20 as early as possible before the record release date. The student will submit this Form I-20 to USCIS along with the Form I-539. |
Update the student’s record from draft to initial as soon as you have access. |
SEVIS automatically terminates the student record if you fail to update the draft student record to initial status in the system or if you fail to register the student. |
Reporting nonimmigrants changing to F 1 or M-1 status: All nonimmigrants changing to F 1 or M-1 status must report to a DSO once the change has been approved. Update the student’s initial record in SEVIS to indicate whether or not the student arrived and enrolled in classes. |
Register or terminate the student record for no show within 30 days of the Program Start Date. |
SEVIS automatically terminates any student record with a pending or approved Change of Status if you fail to register the student or if you do not defer attendance. |
Reporting a student’s graduation and program completion: Report a student’s graduation or successful completion of the program by maintaining an accurate Program End Date. |
Update the active student’s Program End Date within 30 days. |
SEVIS automatically completes any student record once the Program End Date or the OPT End Date has been reached (whichever is later). |
General F 1 and M 1 record reporting requirements: Report any change in a student’s personal information or academic status including (but not limited to) disciplinary action by the school resulting from a criminal conviction, change of address, change of the student’s or dependant’s name, or early graduation. |
Make changes within 21 days. |
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