SEVIS Student & Exchange Visitor Records Management 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A SEVIS-certified school closes unexpectedly without giving students advance notice. What happens to the SEVIS records of enrolled F-1 students?
- All SEVIS records are immediately and permanently deleted
- SEVP terminates all student SEVIS records with the reason 'school closure,' giving students 60 days to transfer (Correct answer)
- Students are automatically transferred to the nearest SEVP-certified school
- Records are frozen until the school reopens or sells its SEVP certification
Correct answer: SEVP terminates all student SEVIS records with the reason 'school closure,' giving students 60 days to transfer
When a school closes, SEVP terminates affected student SEVIS records for school closure, and students receive a 60-day grace period to transfer to another SEVP-certified school.
Question 2: Which of the following correctly describes the SEVIS reporting obligation regarding an F-1 student who drops below full-time enrollment due to an authorized medical withdrawal?
- The DSO must terminate the SEVIS record immediately and the student must file for reinstatement
- The DSO must authorize the reduced course load in SEVIS for a period not to exceed 12 months total (Correct answer)
- No SEVIS action is required; medical withdrawals are exempt from all reporting
- The DSO must submit a Form I-539 on the student's behalf within 10 days
Correct answer: The DSO must authorize the reduced course load in SEVIS for a period not to exceed 12 months total
A medical reduced course load must be authorized by the DSO in SEVIS and is limited to an aggregate of 12 months of reduced enrollment for medical reasons during the student's F-1 program.
Question 3: What is the SEVIS implication when an F-1 student takes an authorized leave of absence (LOA) for a non-medical reason such as financial hardship?
- The DSO must terminate the SEVIS record; an LOA is not a recognized F-1 status event (Correct answer)
- The DSO places the student on an authorized leave in SEVIS, suspending the program end date
- The student is automatically converted to B-2 tourist status for the LOA period
- No action is needed if the LOA is for fewer than 30 days
Correct answer: The DSO must terminate the SEVIS record; an LOA is not a recognized F-1 status event
F-1 regulations do not provide for a general LOA; if a student stops attending without an authorized exception, the DSO must terminate the SEVIS record and the student must depart or apply to reinstate.
Question 4: An F-1 student who was unlawfully present in the U.S. for 180 days or more (triggering the 3-year bar) requests that the school issue a new I-20. What should the DSO do?
- Issue the I-20 as normal; SEVIS does not track unlawful presence bars
- Issue the I-20 but add a notation about the bar in the SEVIS remarks field
- Counsel the student that a new I-20 does not resolve the unlawful presence bar; a visa waiver or consular waiver is required (Correct answer)
- Refuse to issue any SEVIS documents until the bar expires
Correct answer: Counsel the student that a new I-20 does not resolve the unlawful presence bar; a visa waiver or consular waiver is required
Issuing a new I-20 does not waive or resolve a 3/10-year unlawful presence bar; the student must obtain a waiver from USCIS or through the consulate before being able to reenter the U.S.
Question 5: SEVIS RTI (Real-Time Interface) allows DHS to receive automated alerts. Which of the following triggers an automatic RTI alert to DHS from a school's SEVIS records?
- A student changes their campus mailing address
- A student's SEVIS record is terminated for failure to enroll (Correct answer)
- A student requests a travel signature on their I-20
- A student changes their declared minor field of study
Correct answer: A student's SEVIS record is terminated for failure to enroll
SEVIS sends real-time alerts to DHS (specifically ICE) when student records are terminated, including terminations for failure to enroll, allowing enforcement agencies to act quickly.
Question 6: A DSO at a flight school with SEVP certification must comply with which additional federal requirement beyond standard F-1 record-keeping?
- Annual background checks on all enrolled alien flight students filed with SEVIS
- Approval from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) via the Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP) for each enrolled student (Correct answer)
- Monthly reporting of flight hours to ICE through SEVIS messaging
- Obtaining FAA certification for each foreign national before issuing a Form I-20
Correct answer: Approval from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) via the Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP) for each enrolled student
Flight schools must obtain TSA approval through the Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP) for each alien student before training can begin, in addition to standard SEVIS compliance.
Question 7: When a PDSO reviews the school's SEVIS records and discovers a DSO who left the institution six months ago still has active SEVIS access. What must the PDSO do?
- Send the former DSO an email asking them to voluntarily stop logging in
- Deactivate the former DSO's SEVIS user account immediately to prevent unauthorized access (Correct answer)
- File a formal complaint with SEVP and wait for ICE to revoke access
- Transfer the former DSO's records to another active DSO and leave the account open
Correct answer: Deactivate the former DSO's SEVIS user account immediately to prevent unauthorized access
Access control is a SEVIS security requirement; the PDSO must immediately deactivate any DSO account belonging to personnel who are no longer employed by the school.
SEVIS Student & Exchange Visitor Records Management 5
A SEVIS-certified school closes unexpectedly without giving students advance notice.
What happens to the SEVIS records of enrolled F-1 students?