SEVIS
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System
What is SEVIS?
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a computerized U.S. Government system that collects and manages data about international students and exchange visitors during their stay in the United States. SEVIS keeps track of all InterExchange Career Training USA participants while they are in the U.S. and records where you live, where you intern or train, and your legal status on the Career Training USA program.
Important SEVIS Information
All program participants must have an active SEVIS record and must maintain the accuracy of their SEVIS record for the duration of their program.
Failure to register or update SEVIS might:
- Delay your Social Security application and/or prevent you from receiving a Social Security card. You cannot get paid for your internship/training program until you have applied for a Social Security Card.
- Increase your risk of having your program terminated, which will require you to leave the country immediately.
- Jeopardize your ability to obtain another visa to enter the U.S. in the future.
Important: Be sure to follow the steps below in order to comply with SEVIS policies on activating and maintaining your SEVIS record.
How to Activate Your SEVIS Record
Within 10 days of arriving in the U.S., you must let us know that you have arrived so that we can activate your SEVIS record.
To register your arrival:
- Log in to your Online Application on or after your Program Begin Date.
- Confirm you have arrived in the United States.
- Provide your U.S. home address including room/apartment number, street name, city and state (no P.O. Boxes)
If you do not confirm your arrival with InterExchange within 10 days, your program will be ended and you will have to leave the U.S. immediately. If you will be arriving more than one week before your program begin date, please email InterExchange to report your early arrival and make sure you’ve paid the early arrival insurance fee.
Be sure that you’ve also completed the required online orientation prior to your arrival. InterExchange cannot activate your SEVIS record until you have watched the orientation (available within your online application) and completed the orientation quiz. We strongly recommend that you complete this before departing for the U.S., but the orientation must be completed no more than 10 days after arriving in the U.S. or you cannot remain on the program.
Keep Your SEVIS Record Accurate
You are required to keep your SEVIS record up-to-date throughout your program. To maintain your active SEVIS status, make sure to:
- Update your contact details in your online application within 10 days if you move or get a new U.S. phone number.
- Inform InterExchange of any changes to your training (ie. new supervisor, training changes, new stipend, etc.) within 10 days so that we can update your training plan.
- Complete your required monthly check-ins through your online application.
- Complete mandatory program evaluations at the end, and sometimes the middle, of your program.
