SEVP Glossary of Terms
| Term or Acronym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Active SEVIS Record | SEVIS-student record in SEVIS software for a student that has arrived in the United States and enrolled in a course of study at an individual SEVIS-approved school. |
| Adjudicate | To settle judicially (review and approve or deny). |
| ARO | Alternate Responsible Officer. A person designated by a Department of State authorized exchange visitor program sponsor to support the Responsible Officer and maintain SEVIS data. |
| Authorized Overseas Study | Overseas study authorized by a Primary/Designated School Official that contributes to completion of the student’s program of study. This includes graduate research and formal classes or programs. |
| Continuing Exchange Visitor | For purposes of nonimmigrant status, a continuing exchange visitor is one who maintains status in a single program. |
| Continuing Student | For purposes of nonimmigrant status, a continuing student is one who has not completed, or terminated, a program of study and has maintained status. Continuing students may, under certain circumstances, transfer schools while continuing to maintain status. F-1 students may also change their level of study while continuing to maintain status. |
| Curricular Practical Training (CPT) | Employment that is a required part of a student’s specified curriculum. In most cases, CPT involves internships and similar work experience specifically required by the student’s program. CPT must be authorized by the DSO before the student begins work. |
| Data Fix | A manual change in SEVIS data made by Department of Homeland Security software staff-used for corrections in student records that DSOs are not authorized to make. |
| DHS | Department of Homeland Security www.dhs.gov |
| DOS | Department of State www.state.gov |
| DSO | Designated School Official. The person designated by the head of an SEVP approved school to support the Principal Designated School Official and maintain SEVIS records. |
| Educational Objective | Program completion at a non-academic institution-for example, a professional certification. |
| Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor | The sponsor of a Department of State approved exchange visitor program. http://exchanges.state.gov/education/jexchanges/ |
| F Student | A nonimmigrant student with F-1 status for attending SEVP- approved academic institutions or language training program. |
| F-1 | Nonimmigrant status conferred on students attending SEVP approved academic institutions and language training programs who meet the requirements outlined in 8 CFR 214.2(f)(1). |
| F-1 Visa | Documentation confirming an individual’s F-1 status. |
| F-2 | Nonimmigrant status conferred on the spouse or minor child of an F-1 student. |
| Form DS-2019 | Form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status, created by DOS approved exchange visitor program. |
| Form I-20 | Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, created by SEVP approved schools. The student needs this form to apply for a student visa. |
| Form I-94 | Arrival-Departure Record, issued at Port-of-Entry (used by SEVIS students for proof of status purposes). |
| Form I-539 | Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status. |
| Form I-765 | Employment Authorization Document (EAD) |
| ICE | Immigration and Customs Enforcement www.ice.gov |
| Immigrant Visas | Visas for individuals intending to live permanently in the United States. |
| Initial SEVIS Record | The record that a DSO sets up in SEVIS when the student is accepted into a program of study at the school. |
| Initial-Status SEVIS Record | SEVIS-student record created in SEVIS at the time a potential student is accepted into a course of study at a SEVIS-approved school. |
| J-1 | Nonimmigrant status conferred on exchange visitors participating in DOS approved exchange visitor programs who meet the requirements outlined in 8 CFR 214.2(j)(1) |
| J-2 | Nonimmigrant status conferred on the spouse or minor child of an J-2 student |
| M Student | A nonimmigrant student with M-1 status for attending SEVP-approved vocational or other nonacademic institutions. |
| M-1 | Nonimmigrant status conferred on students attending SEVP approved vocational or other nonacademic institutions who meet the requirements outlined in 8 CFR 214.2(m)(1) |
| M-1 Visa | Documentation confirming an individual’s M-1 status. |
| M-2 | Nonimmigrant status conferred on the spouse or minor child of an M-1 student |
| Maintain Status | Complying with regulatory requirements established for nonimmigrants that are in the United States on F-1 or M-1 visas. |
| Nonimmigrant | A person visiting the United States from a foreign country who does not intend to stay permanently in the United States. |
| Nonimmigrant Student | A student who does not have authority to settle in the U.S. permanently, and is in the country to study on an F-1 or M-1 visa. |
| Nonimmigrant Visas | Visas for individuals who have permanent residence outside the United States, but who wish to be in the United States on a temporary basis – for tourism, business, temporary work, study, or medical treatment. |
| Optional Practical Training (OPT) | Employment that is related to a student’s specified curriculum, but not required by it. OPT must be recommended by the DSO and authorized by the CIS before the student begins work. |
| P/DSO | Either a PDSO or a DSO. |
| Passport | An official document from a person’s country of citizenship that attests to their identity and status as a citizen. |
| Adobe Acrobat standard file format http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html | |
| PDSO | Principal Designated School Official. The person designated by the head of an SEVP approved school to have primary responsibility for students in that program and maintaining SEVIS records. |
| Pending Reinstatement | Status of a SEVIS student record for a student that has applied for reinstatement of visa status, but who has yet to receive a reply to the request from DHS District Office. |
| POE | Port-of-Entry. The term port of entry means a port or place designated by DHS at which a person may apply for admission into the United States, including international airports, seaports and land ports of entry. |
| Program | A complete course of study, as defined by the school, such as a bachelors degree program or a certification program. |
| Receipt for SEVIS I-901 Fee | The I-797 or Internet generated receipt given to a student or exchange visitor upon payment of the SEVIS I-901 fee. |
| RO | Responsible Officer. The person designated by a Department of State authorized exchange visitor program sponsor to have primary responsibility for exchange visitors in that program and maintaining SEVIS records. |
| Session | A period of time in which a student starts, attends, and completes a class or set of classes without being required to enroll or re-enroll (generally referred to as a semester, term, or quarter, depending on the school). |
| SEVIS | Student and Exchange Visitor Information System www.ice.gov/sevis.SEVIS is an Internet-based system that maintains accurate and current information on non-immigrant students (F and M visa), 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 ICE and Department of State (DOS) throughout a student or exchange visitor’s stay in the United States. The system will reflect international student or exchange visitor status changes, such as admission at Port of Entry (POE), change of address, change in program of study, and other details. SEVIS will also provide system alerts, event notifications, and basic reports to the end-user schools, programs, and Immigration related field offices. |
| SEVIS ID Number | The unique identifying number assigned to a student or exchange visitor within SEVIS that appears on the Form I-20 or DS-2019. |
| SEVP | Student and Exchange Visitor Program www.ice.gov/sevis.The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is the reengineered nonimmigrant student and exchange visitor (F, M, & J visa categories) process, converting what is currently a manual procedure into an automated process. This change improves data collection and reporting, enhances customer service, facilitates compliance with regulations, and helps Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) better monitor school and exchange programs. This program was formerly referred to as the Coordinated Interagency Partnership Regulating International Students (CIPRIS). SEVIS was developed by the former INS in partnership with the Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs, the Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (formerly the United States Information Agency), the Department of Education, and members of the educational and exchange program communities. Information obtained from this pilot system was incorporated into the national system development effort that resulted in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). |
| Termination | Removal of a student or dependent from Active status, for a specified cause other than completion of his or her academic program-for example, death or expulsion from school. |
| USCIS | U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service www.uscis.gov |
| Visa | If you are a citizen of a foreign country, in most cases you’ll need a visa to apply to enter the United States.A visa doesn’t permit entry to the United States. A visa simply indicates that a U.S. consular officer at an American embassy or consulate reviewed your application and determined that you are eligibleto enter the country for a specific purpose. Consular affairs are the responsibility of the DOS.A visa allows you to travel to the United States as far as the POE. Only the immigration officer has the authority to permit you to enter the United States. (For more information on what to expect at the POE see http://www.ice.gov/doclib/pi/news/newsreleases/ articles/POEFactSheetUpdate_063004.pdf)There are two categories of U.S. visas: immigrant and nonimmigrant.
Immigrant visas are for people who intend to live permanently in the U.S. Nonimmigrant visas are for people with permanent residence outside the U.S. but who wish to be in the U.S. on a temporary basis – for tourism, business, temporary work, study, or medical treatment. For additional information see the DOS website at http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/whatis/index.html |
| Visa exempt | Citizens of Canada or Bermuda or residents of certain other islands described in 8 CFR 212.1a, do not need a visa. These applicants for F-1, M-1 or J-1 nonimmigrant status may apply at the Port-of-Entry. |
