SEVIS Registration

Initial Registration

SEVIS is the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, established by the Department of Homeland Security for maintaining information on international nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors in the United States. At the beginning of each semester, the ISS office must certify in SEVIS that all F-1 students attending UofM have reported to campus and are meeting full-time enrollment requirements. This process is called SEVIS Registration and is a federal requirement for all US schools that host F-1 students. It is important to note that the term “registration” is different from course registration in an academic setting.

Initial registration changes a student’s SEVIS record from Initial status to Active status. After a student is registered in SEVIS, they receive an updated I-20 that shows “Continued Attendance,” which confirms that they are an active UofM student who is maintaining F-1 visa status. Failure to complete this process may jeopardize your F-1 status. 

When a student’s SEVIS record changes from Initial status to Active status, they are also registered in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) system and are able to apply for a Social Security Number (if eligible) and a Driver’s License.

A student in any of the following situations requires Initial registration:

• Arrived in the US as an F-1 student for the first time
• Transferred from another US school to UofM
• Finished one degree program at UofM and is beginning a new program
• Changed their status from a different visa category to F-1

Instructions to complete the SEVIS Check-in
Step One: Arrive in the US
Step Two: Fill out the SEVIS Check-in Form
Step Three: Compete the online F-1 orientation 
Step Four: Attend the Mandatory in-person F-1 orientation (see schedule below)

For students with Graduate Assistantship only
You must complete the above three steps. In addition, you can visit the International Center during the F-1 GA check-in period: August 1 - 15 (Monday to Friday) 1pm-4pm for more information about getting the support letter to apply for the Social Security Number. 

What happens if a student is not registered in SEVIS?

The ISS office cannot register students in SEVIS if they have not met the above requirements. If a student is not registered in SEVIS within the first 30 days of each semester, their SEVIS record will be cancelled or terminated. As a result, the student will be considered out of F-1 status.

 

Continuing Registration

Continuing registration in SEVIS is required for all students who have been enrolled in at least one semester at UofM. In order for ISS to complete the continuing registration, the student must register for a full course of study, continue to live in the Memphis area and continue to attend classes at UofM.