SEVIS: Question and Answer

SEVIS: Question and Answer

• What is it?

  SEVIS - Student and Exchange Visitor Information System is an internet-based system that allows universities and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to exchange data on the visa status of international students and scholars. Information is transmitted electronically throughout the student's academic career or scholar's stay in the US. When fully operational SEVIS will link US embassies and consulates, US ports of entry, government agencies and colleges and universities.

• What information is maintained in SEVIS?
  Information collected in paper format since 1950s (and collected in SEVIS)
  • Name, birth date, gender, birth country
  • Educational level, major, length of study, program start date, program end date, English proficiency, student financial expenses and funding and source of funding i.e. personal, family or UW-Madison
  • Changes in degree level or major field of study
  • Documentation for extension of student's program, transfer of school, curricular and optional practical training recommendations, and reinstatement
  
  Information collected in SEVIS for the first time
  
  • Foreign address and US address
  • Prior permission to drop below full time or withdraw
  • Disciplinary action if a result of criminal conviction
  • Report completion of educational program if prior to end date on document
  
  Information collected sporadically by Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) but now will be reported every semester in SEVIS- enrollment reports sent each semester including withdrawals and less than full time enrollments.



• Who is requiring it? Federally mandated by IIRIRA (Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act) of 1996 and put into a pilot format with universities in southeast US. It was fully funded for national implementation by the USA Patriot Act of October 2001. These acts passed by the US Congress and signed by the President. Repeal of SEVIS would require congressional action.



• By When? All institutions authorized by the federal government to enroll international students required to comply by January 30, 2003 (extended to February 15, 2003). All institutions further required to transfer all data concerning current international students, scholars and their dependents by a compliance deadline of August 1, 2003.



• Consequences of noncompliance for UW-Madison? UW-Madison would no longer be allowed to enroll international students; our permission from the federal government would be rescinded. UW-Madison's Exchange Visitor Program (J Program for students and scholars) would be revoked and UW could no longer be allowed to invite scholars to campus.



• Consequences of noncompliance for student or scholar? Deportation, denial of future visa applications, denial of certain benefits available to international students and scholar in legal status i.e. work or training in their field of specialization.



• Who is responsible? UW-Madison and international students and scholars SHARE responsibility. Knowing the rules and maintaining legal status is students'/scholars' responsibility. UW-Madison has reporting requirement under SEVIS regulations.



• What are we doing?
  

  GOAL: To assist all international students and scholars to stay in legal status so that they can complete their educational program or research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

  
  
  1. Education - Strong emphasis on educating international students, scholars, and entire campus about the new rules and restrictions - weekly workshops for students since December and three campus-wide presentations as well as numerous department presentations.
  
  
  
  2. Verifying data with students prior to submission - Work with Registrar's Office on emailing students to verify data in ISIS so that data reported to SEVIS is accurate
  
  
  
  3. Continuous email communication with students/scholars - International Student Services (ISS) and International Faculty and Staff Services (IFSS) are sending emails to students and scholars about the deadlines, the rules, workshops, etc.
  
  
  
  4. Dedication of resources to implement technology for campus, add advising services provided by ISS, maintain ISS student programming - Adding staff in ISS to provide international students with increased advising services and enhanced document production services. Additional staff will implement educational and communication goals. Adding technology support for campus system (fsaAtlas) both in terms of personnel and equipment to meet rigorous demands of new system. Maintain staff to implement ongoing orientation programs, support international student organizations, conduct cross-cultural trainings, and engage in diversity programming. All of these resources/funds are to support international students and scholars so that they can maintain legal status and achieve academic or program objectives.
  
  
  
  5. Establishment of Campus-wide Compliance Team - to oversee and coordinate planning, implementation, and communication.
  
  
  
  6. Establishment of Policy Committee - to decide on campus policy for those students/scholars impacted by visa delays/denials or SEVIS implementation.
  
  
  
  
• What are the costs?

  UW-Madison has assessed the additional campus costs to be approximately $330,000. The campus is adding 3.4 FTE staff in International Student Services to assist students with additional advising and document production, student employees for the additional clerical tasks and email communications, plus another .3 technology staff to oversee the complicated technology tasks associated with linking four campus units (Graduate Admissions, Undergraduate Admissions, International Student Services (ISS), International Faculty and Staff Services (IFSS), ISIS, fsaAtalas (immigration software) and SEVIS. In addition, technological hardware and software costs yearly to the institution will be approximately $15,000. Training for staff in this constantly changing environment is essential so that ISS can give both students and the institution the best consultation possible. Maintain modest dedication of resources for student programming.

• How are institutions paying for the increased level of services?

  Most of the UW-Madison peers already charge a special fee to international students and scholars or are planning to do so to cover the additional costs.