SEVIS, Form I-20, and DS-2019

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a web-based system that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security uses to maintain information on international students (F-1 and M-1) and exchange visitors (J-1) throughout their stay in the United States. Every international student in the U.S. has a SEVIS record that tracks their enrollment status, employment authorization, address, and compliance with visa conditions.

SEVIS is not something students interact with directly — it is the system used by Designated School Officials (DSOs) and Responsible Officers (ROs) to manage your immigration record. However, understanding SEVIS is important because it underlies every interaction you have with your school's international office and with immigration authorities.

Your SEVIS record is created when your school issues your Form I-20 (for F-1/M-1) or your program sponsor issues your Form DS-2019 (for J-1). From that point forward, every significant event in your student life is recorded in SEVIS: changes of address, changes in enrollment, employment authorization (OPT, CPT, Academic Training), program extensions, and transfers between schools.

Maintaining an active SEVIS record is essential to maintaining valid immigration status. If your SEVIS record is terminated — due to falling below full-time enrollment, unauthorized employment, failure to report to your school, or other violations — your legal status in the United States ends immediately. Reinstatement is possible but difficult and not guaranteed.

The Form I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status," is the document issued by a SEVP-certified school that allows you to apply for an F-1 or M-1 student visa. It is issued by the school's Designated School Official (DSO) after you have been admitted and have demonstrated sufficient financial resources to cover your program costs.

The I-20 contains critical information: your personal details, the school's SEVP certification number, your program of study, the program start and end dates, the estimated costs, your funding sources, and — importantly — your program's CIP code (Box 6), which determines STEM OPT eligibility. Students should verify all information on the I-20 is accurate upon receipt.

To receive your I-20, you typically need to submit to your school: a copy of your passport, proof of financial support (bank statements, scholarship letters, sponsor affidavits), your admission letter, and any school-specific financial forms. Processing time varies by institution — some schools issue I-20s within days of receiving documents, while others take 2-4 weeks.

The I-20 is a living document that you will use throughout your time in the United States. It must be signed by both you and your DSO before each re-entry to the U.S. Your DSO will update it when you change programs, extend your study period, or authorize employment. Keep all previous I-20s — they form part of your immigration history and may be needed for future applications.

This is educational information, not legal advice. Students should work with their school's DSO for guidance specific to their situation.

The Form DS-2019, "Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status," is the J-1 equivalent of the I-20. It is issued by the program sponsor's Responsible Officer (RO) or Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) and is required to apply for a J-1 visa.

The DS-2019 identifies your exchange visitor program category (there are 15 categories, including college/university student, research scholar, professor, and short-term scholar), your program sponsor, the program dates, and your funding sources. It also indicates whether the INA Section 212(e) two-year home-country physical presence requirement applies to you — this is noted on the form itself.

Unlike the F-1 I-20 which is issued directly by the school, the DS-2019 is issued by the program sponsor, which may or may not be the same institution where you study. Some universities sponsor their own J-1 programs, while others use third-party sponsors. The sponsor is responsible for your SEVIS record and immigration compliance support.

Students receiving J-1 sponsorship through government funding (their home government or the U.S. government) should pay close attention to the 212(e) indicator on the DS-2019. If 212(e) applies, it has significant implications for post-program options, including inability to change to H-1B status or apply for a green card without first fulfilling the two-year requirement or obtaining a waiver.

Before attending your visa interview, you must pay the I-901 SEVIS fee. This fee funds the SEVIS system and is separate from the visa application fee (DS-160 fee). The fee amounts are: $350 for F-1 and M-1 students, and $220 for most J-1 exchange visitors (some J-1 categories are exempt or pay a reduced fee).

The fee must be paid at least 3 business days before your visa interview to allow processing time. Payment is made through the FMJ Fee portal (fmjfee.com). You will need your SEVIS ID number (from your I-20 or DS-2019) to complete payment. After payment, print the I-901 receipt — you will need it at your visa interview.

Payment methods include credit or debit card, check, money order, or Western Union Quick Pay. However, students from certain countries face credit card restrictions. Specifically, students from Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and The Gambia cannot pay the I-901 fee by credit card. Students from these countries must use alternative payment methods: Western Union Quick Pay or a check/money order drawn on a U.S. bank. These restrictions are imposed by payment processors, not by DHS, and are noted on the fmjfee.com FAQ.

Planning for alternative payment methods takes additional time. Western Union Quick Pay requires visiting a Western Union location, and check/money order processing takes longer than credit card payment. Students from affected countries should allow extra time — ideally 2-3 weeks before their visa interview — to ensure payment is received and processed.

The I-901 fee is non-refundable, even if your visa is denied. If you change schools after paying the fee but before entering the U.S., you may need to pay again with the new SEVIS ID (unless your new school can transfer the existing SEVIS record).

Every international student and exchange visitor in the U.S. is assigned a unique SEVIS ID number. For F-1 and M-1 students, this is an 11-digit number beginning with "N" (e.g., N0012345678), found at the top of the first page of the I-20 (above the barcode). For J-1 exchange visitors, the SEVIS ID appears on the DS-2019.

This number is your primary identifier in the immigration system for the duration of your stay. You will use it to pay the I-901 fee, it appears on your visa stamp, and it connects to your SEVIS record which tracks your enrollment, employment authorization, and immigration compliance. Every time you interact with your school's international office, they use this number to access your record.

If you transfer schools, your SEVIS ID typically stays the same — the record is transferred from one school to another. If you complete a program and start a new one at the same school (e.g., bachelor's to master's), you may receive a new I-20 with the same or a new SEVIS ID depending on the school's process.

Students should memorize or securely store their SEVIS ID number. It is needed for: I-901 fee payment, visa interview, port-of-entry inspection, Social Security Number application, state driver's license application, and any interaction with immigration services. Losing track of this number does not affect your status (it is always retrievable from your DSO), but having it readily available simplifies many administrative processes.