SEVP at a Glance MIE - Minnesota International Educators

1

SEVP at a Glance MIE Nov. 5, 2019

2

Presentation Overview

SEVIS WAY FORWARD1

NOTIFICATIONS AND FOLLOW UP2

DON’T FORGET…3

FACTS + FIGURES4

Provide feedback on this presentation atStudyintheStates.dhs.gov/Field-Representative-Event-Survey

HELPFUL RESOURCES5

3

SEVIS WAY FORWARD

4

• Key accomplishments:– Stabilized SEVIS and improved capabilities to close vulnerabilities– Migrated SEVIS to the Cloud in February 2019

• 2019 themes and changes – SEVIS account merging for school/

sponsor officials– Emphasis on student reporting

through SEVIS and SEVP Portal

SEVIS Way Forward

SEVIS WAY FORWARD

Key Accomplishments and Recent System Changes

REMEMBER:SEVP communicates

upcoming SEVIS changes via Study in the States

5

Be in the Know

• Users should continue to submit SEVIS account merging requests– As of Sept. over 1,800 SEVIS accounts have been merged

• How to merge accounts: – Ensure first and last names are the same across all SEVIS accounts– Email request to [email protected]

• Include subject line “Merge Accounts”• Include a table with:

– Current active SEVIS username information and organizations– Whether each organization is a batch school or program– Desired username for merged account

SEVIS WAY FORWARD

Merge Your SEVIS Accounts Today

Requests processed in the order in which they are receivedUsers may experience issues logging into SEVIS

6

Be in the Know

SEVIS WAY FORWARD

Submitting SEVIS Account Merge Requests

Last Name

First Name

Active Usernames

School or Program

Name

School or Program Number

User Role

BatchUse

Going Forward

Smith Jon Jsmith12345SEVP University

WAS1234567890

P-1-12345

DSOARO

Y Y

Smith Jon Jsmith54321

SEVP University of the South

ATL9875641230 DSO N N

Reference the Merging SEVIS Accounts Job Aid for more informationStudyintheStates.dhs.gov/assets/Merging_SEVIS_User_Accounts.pdf

7

• SEVIS Release 6.48 went live on Sept. 13, 2019

• Release includes:– Address field changes – Changes to alert list– New unemployment counter– DSO employer deletion confirmation

Be in the Know

SEVIS WAY FORWARD

SEVIS Release 6.48

REVIEW: Updated SEVIS Help Hub

articles for more information

Access the release planning guide in the SEVIS Help HubStudyintheStates.dhs.gov/SEVIS-Help-Hub/Learn-More/SEVIS-

Enhancements/SEVIS-Release-Planning-Guide-648

8

• Future plans– Develop one-person/one-record model

• SEVP will coordinate with CBP to leverage existing technologies– Training for DSOs

• Enhancements planned for 2020:– Accommodate the U.S. Department

of Education’s CIP revisions– Collect city of birth for F and M principles and dependents– Collect addresses and telephone for F, M and J dependents

Looking Ahead

SEVIS WAY FORWARD

SEVIS: What DSOs Should Know

REMEMBER:SEVP sends notifications in

advance of any SEVIS release

9

Looking Ahead

• SETA will replace current DSO training modules on ICE.gov– Trainings scheduled for release soon– Trainings available on computers and mobile devices

• Trainings focus on SEVP and SEVIS basics– SEVP functions – SEVP responsibilities – Helpful resources

SEVIS WAY FORWARD

DSO Training Modules

10

Looking AheadSEVP Portal: What DSOs Need to Know

SEVIS WAY FORWARD

• Five SEVP Portal releases deployed in 2019– Addressed stakeholder feedback regarding portal functionality– Releases include:

• Portal enhancements • New email notifications • Reporting reminders• Fixing system errors

• Enhancements planned for 2020:– SEVP Portal expansion for students – Back-end releases to improve internal functionality

11

• SEVP Portal Release 1.9 launched in September 2019

• Introduces functionality changes:– Employer deletion confirmation

• Students must confirm they never worked for employer prior to deletion

– Modified STEM Student Due Date Announcement box• Reflects status of student’s periodic and self-evaluation reports

Be in the Know

SEVIS WAY FORWARD

SEVP Portal Release 1.9

LEARN MORE:View the SEVP Ask the

Experts Webinar: SEVP Portal Follow-up

12

• SEVP Portal Release 1.10 expected in fall 2019

• Students will only be able to access their portal account six months after OPT end date

• Automated email notifications:– Six months before closure date– 30 days before closure date – Day of closure

Be in the Know

SEVIS WAY FORWARD

SEVP Portal Release 1.10

REMEMBER:Students should print or

save a copy of their portal record and event history

13

Be in the KnowSEVIS and Portal Interface

SEVIS WAY FORWARD

• Data entered into the portal immediately sent to SEVIS– Changes immediately reflected in student SEVIS records

• Data entered into SEVIS sent to the portal eight times per day– Changes made by DSOs appear in the portal no later than

the next day

• SEVIS processes Batch overnight– Batch changes sent to portal with first

data push in the morning

14

Be in the Know

• To take the following action:– Create a portal account– Reset or change password

• In the situations where their:– Account is locked– Email address changes– STEM OPT reporting requirements are due

SEVIS WAY FORWARD

View sample portal emails to students on the SEVP Portal Help section StudyintheStates.dhs.gov/SEVP-Portal-Help

When Students Receive Portal Emails

15

• To avoid lost portal emails, ensure that students:– Have an accurate email address listed in SEVIS– Add [email protected]

to their approved contacts– Check their junk email for

portal-related emails

• Check the accuracy of student email addresses before submitting reset account requests

• Email SRC with portal-related issues– Include student name(s), SEVIS ID number(s) and screenshots

Be in the Know

SEVIS WAY FORWARD

Troubleshooting Tips for DSOs

REMEMBER:Students can now unlock their own portal account

16

Be in the KnowSEVP Portal User Guide

SEVIS WAY FORWARD

• Resource to help students navigate:– Using the SEVP Portal– Updating profile information– Managing employment

information

• Contains portal screenshots to assist students with portal navigation and processes

• Download in the SEVP Portal Help section

17

Pre-submitted Question

SEVP PortalHow is SEVP addressing data integrity issues (such as phone numbers being removed from student records after submitting an update through the SEVP Portal)?

SEVIS WAY FORWARD

18


SEVP PortalDoes SEVP have any plans to start auto-terminating records based on students not reporting employment through the portal?

SEVIS WAY FORWARD

19

Get to Know the SEVIS Help Hub

• SEVIS and the SEVP Portal– SEVIS and portal interface– Reset and unlock student portal accounts– Downloadable lists and alerts

• SEVP Portal Email Notices to Students– When the portal emails students– Sample portal emails to students

SEVIS WAY FORWARD

Learn more in the SEVIS Help HubStudyintheStates.dhs.gov/SEVIS-Help-Hub

Portal Resources for DSOs

20


SEVIS WAY FORWARD

SEVIS Basics

21


SEVIS WAY FORWARD

School Records

22


SEVIS WAY FORWARD

Student Records

23

NOTIFICATIONS AND FOLLOW-UP

24

• Responds to 2014 GAO audit recommendation

• Provides clarifying language on major area of study requirements for OPT students– Students are responsible for

providing a description of howjob duties relate to their major

– DSOs can document relationshipin either SEVIS or student’s file

• Highlights resources to assist with determining a relationship between job and major

New SEVP Policy Guidance


Major Area of Study Requirements

REVIEW:Sample explanations of a

direct relationship in policy guidance

To read the full policy guidance visitICE.gov/SEVIS/Schools

25


STEM CIPCode If a school reclassifies a major so that it

becomes STEM eligible after a student has graduated with the major but while he/she is on regular OPT, is the student eligible for STEM OPT based upon the reclassified major?


26

• Ensure K-12 DSOs understand SEVP regulations, processes and reporting requirements– Unique regulations for K-12 schools– Register students twice per year– Regularly report updates to student

and school information in SEVIS

• Share best practices and resources with K-12 DSOs– Collaborate on the transfer process to a U.S. college or university– Share free government resources on Study in the States and

ICE.gov/SEVP

K-12 Outreach


Collaboration Between Post-Secondary and K-12 Schools

REMEMBER:Study in the States has

dedicated resource pages for K-12 schools

StudyintheStates.dhs.gov/Kindergarten-to-Grade-12-Schools

27

New ResourceHow to Navigate Pay.gov


• Schools must pay all fees through Pay.gov using:– Bank account– Debit card– Credit card

• Form-17 fees– Search “SEVIS” in the search bar– Select “I-17 SEVIS School Certifications” – Enter the amount your school is paying based on submission

• Form I-290B appeals fee– Search “Form I-290B” in the search bar– Select “Form I-290B Notice of Appeal or Motion”– Payment can also be completed using PayPal and Amazon

28


I-901 SEVIS FeePayment Why does FMJFee.com require students

with a country of birth in Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria or Gambia to pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee via Western Union or money order, even if the student holds a country of citizenship or place of residence outside of these five countries?


29

New SEVP Policy Guidance

• Specifies that DSOs must issue and send Forms I-20 directly to prospective students and their dependents– For minors, DSOs must send Forms I-20 directly to the student’s

parent or legal guardian– Recruiters have no role in issuing or handling Forms I-20

• Reasons for guidance– Privacy – Fraud prevention – Consistent with laws and regulations


Read the SEVP policy guidance Form I-20 Issuance and School Use of Recruiters at ICE.gov/SEVIS/Schools

Form I-20 and Recruiters

30


Form I-20 Issuance With guidance not to distribute Forms I-

20 to anyone other than the student, dependents or parents of minors, what is the definition of dependents? Does it have to be an F-2 dependent on the F-1 student's Form I-20 or could it be any legal dependent as long as the school has documentation to prove dependent status?


31


Form I-20 Issuance SEVP recently issued policy guidance

limiting Form I-20 distribution to the student only. However, regulation 22 CFR 62.12(c) in relation to DS-2019s makes an important allowance for releasing the document with permission to a third party. Does SEVP anticipate revising their original guidance to allow for this same practice?


32

Field Representative Unit UpdatesCurrent Field Representative Vacancies


• 58 field representatives deployed

• Two vacancies remain in:– Omaha, Nebraska*– Milwaukee, Wisconsin

*Position has been filled internally and will be deployed soon

33

DON’T FORGET…

34

Intragovernmental Coordination

• SEVP works closely with several government partners in the international student process: – USCIS– CBP– U.S. Department of State

• SEVP works with government partners to enforce federal rules and regulations governing SEVP-certified schools – U.S. Department of State issues visas for travel to the U.S. – CBP admits international students to the United States at U.S. ports

of entry– USCIS authorizes changes of status, training opportunities and

some employment benefits for international students

DON’T FORGET…

35

SEVP Government Partner Forms

DON’T FORGET…

Agency Form Description

SEVP

Form I-20 Once accepted into an SEVP-certified school, international students will receive a Form I-20 from their DSO

SEVIS I-901 Form Students can use this form to pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee

Department of State

Form DS-2019The Form DS-2019 allows a J exchange visitor to apply for a visa

36


DON’T FORGET…


USCIS

Form I-539

Form can be used to request a change to another nonimmigrant visa status or to request reinstatement if they have fallen out of student status

Form I-765Form can be submitted to USCIS to apply for employment authorization

Form I-766This U.S. work authorization form is received after a student’s Form I-765 is approved

Form I-797AForm is a notice of approval of an application of reinstatement or of receipt of a submission

37


DON’T FORGET…

Visit Study in the States for more details StudyintheStates.dhs.gov/Student-Forms


CBP

Form I-94

Form issued at time of lawful entry and serves as evidence of a nonimmigrant’s term of admission and documents legal status in the United States, including length of stay and departure

Form I-515A

This form allows the student temporary admittance to the United States for 30 days if a nonimmigrant student arrives at a U.S. port of entry without the required documents

38

Intragovernmental Collaboration

• Working groups– Promote knowledge sharing– Conduct intragovernmental training– Collaborate on broader policy decisions– Co-present at stakeholder conferences and events

• Study in the States– Partner agency websites– Government partner blogs– Resource pages– Government partner webinars– Government Voices Webinar Series

DON’T FORGET…

39

• SEVP, USCIS, CBP and the Department of State work together to ensure system integrity– Teams meet to look at specific interfaces

• Conduit for student data– Informs visa interviews– Determine admissibility at

U.S. ports of entry – Adjudicate change of status and employment authorization

• Outdated SEVIS data can impact student status – Report changes to student information within 21 days

Intragovernmental Collaboration

DON’T FORGET…

SEVIS Interface

REMINDER:DSOs should ensure SEVIS

information is always up-to-date

40

FACTS + FIGURES

41

Overview

FACTS + FIGURES

National Student and School Data

Active students (F-1 and M-1)

F and M 1,215,378

Schools and programs

Certified schools (F & M)

8,307

24,105 PDSOs and DSOs in SEVIS

Data as of September 2019

International students

contributed

$42.4B to the U.S. economy

in 2017Source: Institute of International Education’s

2018 Open Doors Report

42

National Student Data

FACTS + FIGURES

Top 10 Countries Sending Students to the United States

Country # of Active Students

China 385,718

India 225,573

South Korea 62,073

Saudi Arabia 37,330

Vietnam 30,559

Canada 30,550

Brazil 30,379

Taiwan 25,212

Japan 22,629

Nigeria 16,615

Data as of September 2019

43

HELPFUL RESOURCES

44

• Aired on Sept. 25, 2019

• Provides an in-depth overview of the portal and recent enhancements– Portal overview– SEVIS, DSOs and the portal– Portal walkthrough– Resources for DSOs and students– Portal FAQs

• Designed for DSOs that have students who use the SEVP Portal and those interested in the portal

Watch Now!

HELPFUL RESOURCES

SEVP Ask the Experts Webinar: SEVP Portal Follow-up

LEARN MORE:Visit the Study in the States Stakeholder Webinars page

45

Study in the States Resource

HELPFUL RESOURCES

New Travel Resource Page

StudyintheStates.dhs.gov/Traveling-as-an-International-Student

46

• Points new DSOs to useful information to identify resources and assist with reporting requirements– Creating an Initial Form I-20– Maintaining accurate SEVIS records– Record registration guide– SEVIS name standards– Proof of financial support

• Resources divided into three sections:– General resources– SEVIS resources – Contact information

Resource for New DSOs

HELPFUL RESOURCES

Download New Resource Guide

REMEMBER:Access this guide and other resources on the Study in

the States Resource Library

StudyintheStates.dhs.gov/Resource-Library

47

• SEVP distributes regular program updates via GovDelivery– SEVP Spotlight quarterly newsletter– SEVP Outreach Bulletin– Monthly program updates– Breaking program news

• Subscribe to receive GovDelivery updates at ICE.gov/SEVP– Enter email in the Stay Connected box on left side of page

Sign up for GovDelivery

HELPFUL RESOURCES

Subscribe to Receive Updates

REMEMBER:Sign up to receive updates from SEVP’s government

partners

48

Connect with Study in the States

HELPFUL RESOURCES

Social Media

TWITTER@StudyinStates

LINKEDINLinkedin.com/Company/Student-

and-Exchange-Visitor-Program

FACEBOOKFacebook.com/StudyintheStates

49

Engage with SEVP

HELPFUL RESOURCES

Stay Connected

KEY NEWSAND CONTENT

StudyintheStates.dhs.gov/Blog

PublicationsAvailable through GovDelivery

SEVP Spotlight

SEVP Outreach Bulletin

ENGAGE THROUGHCONFERENCES

Fill out the SEVP Event Request Form at

StudyintheStates.dhs.gov/Conferences

Facebook.com/StudyintheStates@StudyinStates

Linkedin.com/Company/Student-and-Exchange-Visitor-Program

50

PHONE

703-603-3400

800-892-4829

EMAIL

Case-specific [email protected]

Technical [email protected]

Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, except federal holidays

Additional contact information at StudyintheStates.dhs.gov/Contact-Us

Contact Julie Rabaey, MN Field Representative (Territory 24) for questions about SEVP policies, processes and updates

[email protected] 202-489-5313

SEVP Contact Information

HELPFUL RESOURCES

Documents

SEVP at a Glance MIE - Minnesota International Educators