Students/Exchange Visitors
SEVIS By The Numbers
Glossary
SEVIS School Statuses |
Description |
Approved |
A school certified by the government to accept foreign nationals into F-1/M-1 programs. |
Exchange Visitor Program Statuses |
Description |
Active |
An organization has applied to and been designated by the U.S.
Department of State. Designation means the written authorization given by
the Department to an exchange visitor program applicant to conduct an exchange
visitor program as a sponsor. |
SEVIS Visa Types |
Description |
F-1 |
Foreign students pursuing a full course of study in a college,
university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, private
elementary school, other academic institution, or language training
program in the United States that has been approved by the Service
to enroll foreign students. |
F-2 |
An F-2 nonimmigrant is a foreign national who is the spouse or
qualifying child (under the age of 21) of an F-1 nonimmigrant. |
M-1 |
Foreign nationals pursuing a full course of study at a
Service-approved vocational school or other recognized nonacademic
institution (other than in language training programs) in the United States. |
M-2 |
A foreign national who is the spouse or qualifying child
(under the age of 21) of an M-1 nonimmigrant. |
J-1 |
Foreign national who has been selected by a sponsor, designated by
the United States Department of State, to participate in an exchange visitor
program and who is seeking to enter or has entered the United States
temporarily as an exchange visitor on a J-1 visa. This term of exchange
visitor does not include the visitor's immediate family. |
J-2 |
The accompanying spouse and minor children of an exchange visitor
(J-1) who are accompanying or following to join the exchange visitor and who
are seeking to enter or have entered the United States temporarily on a J-2
visa. For clarifications, a minor is a unmarried person under the age of 21
years old. |
Forms |
Description |
I-17 |
Petition for Approval of School for Attendance by Nonimmigrant Student. |
I-20 |
Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant student for F-1 and M-1 Status. |
DS-2019 |
Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status. |
DS-3036 |
Exchange Visitor Program Application. |
DS-3037 |
Update of Information on Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor. |
Student Statuses |
Description |
Active |
The student has registered and enrolled in class. Student
is considered to be “in status.” |
Completed |
The student has completed his or her course of study and
all other program related activities at the school. |
Exchange Visitor Statuses |
Description |
Active |
The Sponsor has validated the Exchange Visitor’s participation in his/her program. |
Term |
Description |
School |
An institute of learning required to submit an I-17 form to
be a SEVIS certified institution. |
Campus |
A campus is considered a subset of a school and is not
required to fill out its own I-17 form for SEVIS certification. |
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