SEVIS Reporting
Please note that the following information is meant to be used only by Florida State
University faculty, staff, students, and potential students of Florida State University
and only in the context of international visits to FSU specifically. It is not intended
to be used and should not be construed as general legal advice.
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is an automated web-based
immigration database for visitors holding F, M, and J status. SEVIS was designed to
automate the most common immigration activities in the life of a J-1 or F-1 student.
Instead of filing paper documents for such things as address changes, the system now
requires simply an update to one's electronic record.
SEVIS keeps track of the information contained on the DS-2019 form, as well as the student's
residential address, visits to a U.S. consulate, and entries through U.S. ports of entry.
The information is accessible to a variety of federal agencies, such as the Social Security
Administration.
Changes in personal and program information are required by federal law to be reported by
the student to the International Center, and then the International Center has an obligation
to update the immigration database within a certain timeframe.
SEVIS "reporting" required of J-1 students:
- Change in name or spelling of name on passport;
- Change in permanent residency or citizenship;
- CHANGE IN ADDRESS - MUST BE REPORTED TO IC IN 10 DAYS;
- Add Dependent;
- Update Dependent info;
- End Dependent status - divorce, death, reach age 21, leaves the U.S.;
- Reactivate Dependent
- Financial Information update - significant change in source of funding and/or amount, including additional sources of funding;
- Program Information update - change in program sponsor (i.e. Fulbright to FSU);
- Site of Activity update - additional departments or employers (usually under Academic Training);
- Amend program - initial student can't get here in time;
- Program Extension - more time needed for degree completion or Academic Training;
- Change of degree level to next higher degree;
- Academic Training Employment - new DS-2019 produced;
- Student completion - program end due to graduation, withdrawal, end of Academic Training, or inability to complete program;
- Student Termination (no reinstatement available) for the following reasons:
- Criminal activity;
- Willful violation or misrepresentation of insurance requirements for self and/or dependents;
- unauthorized work (either approvable, but not approved in time, or work that cannot be approved); or
- improper address reporting (not reported in 10 days)
- Correct the record within 120 days of violation of status - Within this timeframe certain violations of immigration status can be rectified in J status only (not obtaining employment authorization prior to employment, not extending in time)
To update your SEVIS record for address changes, please go to the Change of Address form. Please remember that you will also need to update the registrar's office with this information through http://studentsfirst.fsu.edu or through Blackboard. Currently, there is no link between the updates at the Registrar's office and the International Center.
For other changes to your program, please e-mail your International Center advisor at tschaad@admin.fsu.edu or fill out the SEVIS update forms: A SEVIS fee is associated with each SEVIS record. U.S. Government sponsored students will not be liable for this fee, unless their sponsorship changes (i.e. Fulbright to FSU sponsorship to complete a program). Continuing students whose record began before September, 2004 are also not liable for the fee. For more information on the fee, who should pay, who should not, and how to pay, please visit www.fmjfee.com.
All forms are available in alternative format upon request.