SEVIS Reporting Requirements & Audit Preparation 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A SEVIS audit finds that a DSO approved CPT for a student who had not completed one full academic year. What is the likely outcome?
- The employer must reimburse the student's wages
- The CPT authorization may be found invalid and the student's status could be jeopardized (Correct answer)
- The DSO receives a verbal warning and no further action is taken
- The student's I-20 is automatically extended by one year
Correct answer: The CPT authorization may be found invalid and the student's status could be jeopardized
CPT authorized before the required one full academic year is invalid, which can place the student out of status and expose the institution to compliance findings.
Question 2: Which SEVIS action should a DSO take when an F-1 student notifies the school they will take a leave of absence for medical reasons?
- Terminate the SEVIS record immediately with 'Withdrawal' reason
- Authorize a reduced course load or medical leave and document it in SEVIS (Correct answer)
- Do nothing until the student returns to classes
- Submit a medical exception request to USCIS
Correct answer: Authorize a reduced course load or medical leave and document it in SEVIS
DSOs must document authorized leaves, including medical leaves, properly in SEVIS to protect the student's status during the absence.
Question 3: During an audit prep review, a DSO identifies students whose I-20 program end dates have passed but who are still enrolled. What should the DSO do first?
- Extend the program end dates retroactively for all affected students
- Evaluate each case individually to determine if an extension was warranted and properly documented (Correct answer)
- Terminate all affected records immediately to avoid audit findings
- Refer all students to the international student appeals office
Correct answer: Evaluate each case individually to determine if an extension was warranted and properly documented
Each case must be evaluated individually; some may have had proper extensions while others may require corrective action.
Question 4: What is the consequence for a DSO who knowingly makes a false statement in SEVIS?
- A civil penalty of up to $1,000
- Potential criminal prosecution under federal law for document fraud (Correct answer)
- Suspension of SEVIS access for 30 days
- Mandatory DSO retraining at a NAFSA-approved program
Correct answer: Potential criminal prosecution under federal law for document fraud
Knowingly falsifying federal records in SEVIS can result in criminal charges under federal statutes governing document fraud and false statements.
Question 5: An institution wants to demonstrate 'proactive compliance' to SEVP auditors. Which practice BEST demonstrates this approach?
- Waiting for SEVP to identify issues and then correcting them promptly
- Conducting regular internal SEVIS record audits and self-reporting identified issues to SEVP (Correct answer)
- Limiting the number of international students to reduce audit exposure
- Hiring a third-party firm to submit all SEVIS updates on the institution's behalf
Correct answer: Conducting regular internal SEVIS record audits and self-reporting identified issues to SEVP
Regular internal audits and voluntary self-disclosure of compliance issues demonstrates good faith and proactive compliance management to SEVP.
Question 6: Which SEVIS report is generated annually and reflects the number of active F, M, and J students at an institution?
- The SEVIS Annual Certification Report
- The Student and Exchange Visitor Program Annual Report (Correct answer)
- The Form I-17 Recertification Summary
- The PDSO Attestation and Enrollment Count
Correct answer: The Student and Exchange Visitor Program Annual Report
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program Annual Report aggregates active student counts and program data for each certified institution.
Question 7: A J-1 exchange visitor in a professor category wants to extend their program. Who must take action in SEVIS to facilitate the extension?
- The exchange visitor directly through the SEVIS portal
- The Responsible Officer (RO) or Alternate Responsible Officer at the sponsor organization (Correct answer)
- The host institution's DSO
- The U.S. Department of State's Exchange Visitor Program office
Correct answer: The Responsible Officer (RO) or Alternate Responsible Officer at the sponsor organization
For J-1 exchange visitors, the Responsible Officer or Alternate Responsible Officer at the designated sponsor must update SEVIS to authorize a program extension.
SEVIS Reporting Requirements & Audit Preparation 5
A SEVIS audit finds that a DSO approved CPT for a student who had not completed one full academic year.
What is the likely outcome?