New Portal for Foreign Students to Update SEVIS

Many students come to America seeking quality education and employment opportunities. To keep track of all this movement, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) maintains an immense amount of data. A newly implemented portal system alleviates some of this administrative strain.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) portal allows for a more direct approach for optional practical training (OPT) students to manage their personal information. OPT refers to the post-study status an F-1 student can hold to allow them to work for one year for the purpose of gaining experience (STEM OPT status holders get two years).

Basically, with the SEVP portal, they can modify their phone number, address, mailing address, and employer information on file directly instead of through their school officials. The information is more accurate and quickly updated. Also, this eliminates mix-ups regarding the rule on reporting address changes within 10 days in order to maintain nonimmigrant status.

All students need to gain access to the portal is a valid e-mail address with SEVIS and their SEVIS identification number, found on the top of their I-20 forms.

It is very important for foreign students to report any changes in their address and personal information.