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The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)

SEVIS implements section 641 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) of 1996, Public Law 104-208 (as amended), that requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to collect current information, on an ongoing basis, from DHS-certified schools and Department of State (DoS)-designated exchange visitor program sponsors relating to nonimmigrant foreign students (F and M visas) and exchange visitors (J-visa) during the course of their stay in the United States.

SEVIS is an Internet-based system that provides tracking and monitoring functionality, with access to accurate and current information on nonimmigrant students (F and M visa) and exchange visitors (J visa), and their dependents (F-2, M-2, and J-2). SEVIS enables schools and program sponsors to transmit electronic information and event notifications, via the Internet, to the DHS and DoS throughout a student's or exchange visitor's stay in the United States. SEVIS will be informed of status events for students and exchange visitors including, but not limited to, entry/exit data, changes of current United States address (residence), program extensions, employment notifications, and changes in program of study. SEVIS will also provide system alerts, event notifications, and reports to the end-user schools and programs, as well as for DHS and DoS offices.

SEVIS enables the submission of designation applications to DoS (Form DS-3036) for review. If an entity meets the regulatory requirements established in 22 CFR Part 62 and is designated by DoS as a program sponsor, users may update program sponsor information, submit updates to DoS that require approval, and create and update J-1 exchange visitor and dependent records (that is, accompanying spouse and dependent children records). The DoS Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation has the capability to review and approve updates made to program sponsor and exchange visitor records using SEVIS, and the Responsible Officers (RO) and Alternate Responsible Officers (AROs) will be notified via email of the results.

Additional information may be obtained through the SEVIS website, administered by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security.

Interested in Applying for Designation to Become an Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor?

If you are interested in applying with the Department of State to be considered for designation to become an exchange visitor program sponsor, please refer to the Department of Homeland Security's User Manual for Temporary Users of SEVIS listed directly below. This manual was written as a resource for temporary users of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). It provides instructions for users who wish to complete the Department of State (DoS) Form DS-3036, Exchange Visitor Program Application.

User Manual for Temporary Users of SEVIS (How to Complete and Submit the Form DS-3036, Exchange Visitor Program Application) December 14, 2007 Update (*PDF, 1.58 MB)
The PDF file above is a large file and it will take a few minutes to download.

Exchange Visitor Program Application (Form DS-3036):

The Department of State's Exchange Visitor Program works within an electronic environment. To submit an application for designation to the Department for review, an applicant must meet the eligibility requirements set forth in the Exchange Visitor Program regulations (22 CFR Part 62.3) and must submit an electronic Form DS-3036. Please refer to the Temporary Users Manual listed directly below for instructions and procedures for filing an application. The manual explains how to complete the Form DS-3036 and identifies the materials that must be submitted to the Department to initiate a review. The application fee for designation as an exchange visitor program is $1748; this fee is non-refundable.

Prior to the submission of an application, applicants should have read this manual and be thoroughly familiar with the Exchange Visitor Program regulations (22 CFR Part 62).

To be eligible for designation as a program sponsor, an organization must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Department, its ability to comply and remain in compliance with all provisions of the Exchange Visitor Program regulations (22 CFR Part 62) and, at all times, to meet its financial obligations and responsibilities attendant to the successful sponsorship of its exchange visitor program, if designated.

Important to Note: Designation as an Exchange Visitor Program sponsor will not be considered if an applicant cannot meet the following two prerequisites that are discussed in detail in the Temporary Users Manual:

• Previous experience in the field of international exchanges; and,
• Financial requirements.

For DoS-Designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsors

The following two manuals were written as resources for DoS-designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor users, that is, Responsible Officers (ROs) and Alternate Responsible Officers (AROs) of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). They are presented in two separate volumes in order to delineate the Form DS-2019, and Form DS-3036, DS-3037, and other program updates.

User Manual for Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor Users (RO/ARO) of SEVIS Version 5.8: Volume I Forms DS-3036 and DS-3037
April 18, 2008 (*PDF, 1.55 MB)
The PDF file above is a large file and it will take a few minutes to download.

This manual contains instructions for accessing SEVIS with a permanent user identification (ID) and password; creating and processing Forms DS-3036 and DS-3037, Exchange Visitor Application; viewing alerts on Exchange Visitors; and viewing and printing a variety of reports.

User Manual for Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor Users (RO/ARO) of SEVIS Version 5.8: Volume II Form DS-2019
April 18, 2008 (*PDF, 2.63 MB)
The PDF file above is a large file and it will take a few minutes to download.

This manual contains instructions for accessing SEVIS with a permanent user identification (ID) and password; creating and processing Forms DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status; viewing alerts on exchange visitors; and viewing and printing a variety of reports.

Once a sponsor has been authorized to use SEVIS, all Forms DS-2019 must be created in and issued from SEVIS. Once an exchange visitor's data are entered in SEVIS, program sponsor officials must update the exchange visitor's record and report on the events required by the regulations. See 22 (CFR) 62, the Exchange Visitor Program regulations (listed directly below) for a detailed explanation.

Exchange Visitor Program Regulations (22 CFR Part 62)

"SEVIS Regulations of December 12, 2002 (*PDF, 74KB)

*Requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader

Last Updated: February 2008

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