What is SEVIS? How to register?

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a computer system that monitors all aliens on the USA territory, including J1 Visa holders. It was introduced after 9/11 and is aimed at restoring integrity to the nation’s immigration system. Work and Travel program participants are obliged to register in SEVIS during 10-20 days (depends on your Sponsor requirements) since the program start date. You can register by phone (to your Sponsor company) or via Internet (at your Sponsor’s website).

SEVIS is administered by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It is a computer database that maintains information on foreign students and exchange visitors before and during their stay in the United States. For more information about the SEVIS program, you can visit the ICE website: www.ice.gov or follow here: http://exchanges.state.gov/jexchanges/sevis.html.

The student must register her/his details in SEVIS; it is a mandatory part of the program. The registration should be done within a definite period of time (from 10 till 20 days, depends on program Sponsor requirements) from the program start date (printed in Box 3 of your DS-2019 form).
Usually Sponsor companies held the orientation sessions for their applicants every year. Please be attentive to get all the precise details about SEVIS there.

When registering for SEVIS, the following information is required:

1. DS-2019 number
2. The address where you live in the U.S. (even temporarily)
3. The address where you work in the U.S.
4. Your email address.

There are 2 general ways to register with SEVIS:

1. Go to Sponsor website; there’s always the SEVIS validation path (usually at the bottom of the page).
2. Call your sponsor.

In both cases the procedure should be done by the student. Your employer is not responsible for SEVIS registration.

What's Important about SEVIS:

• Remember: do not to register for SEVIS until you’re in the US;
• If you don’t register for SEVIS, you loose the sponsorship and your Visa will be cancelled which means coming back home;
• Also you won’t be able to get the Social Security Number if you’re not validated with SEVIS.

Registration with SEVIS should be one of your first steps when you reach your job set. Do not forget about it.

Listed below are links to some of sponsors' SEVIS registration pages

InterExchange
http://www.interexchange.org/content/323/en/SEVIS.html

CIEE
http://www.mysevis.com/
http://mysevis2.ciee.org/
1-888-COUNCIL (1-888-268-6245).

CCI
http://online.cci-exchange.com/

CETUSA
https://www.cetusa.org/sevis/v2/

IntoEdVentures
http://www.intoedventures.org/work_and_travel.cfm

AWA
http://www.americanworkadventures.org/index3.php

ERDT
http://erdtworkandtravel.org/sevisStart.asp