As of Jan. 30, colleges across the nation will need to be enrolled in a new Web-based data system in order for international students to enter and return to their campuses.
The government-established Student and Exchange Visitor Information System stores and shares information about international students and scholars. The information is immediately accessible to the federal government, officials at points of entry to the U.S. and American consulates overseas.
The University has been enrolled in SEVIS since July 2002 and now is in full compliance with all INS regulations, according to International Studies Office Director Rebecca Brown.
Although the University was one of the first to register and be approved for SEVIS, other schools took a "wait and see approach" and now are caught up in backlogged INS approvals, Brown said.
Yet despite early enrollment in the system, the University's International Studies Office continues to deal with frequent changes and delays with the system.
ISO recently put in a bid to purchase highly sophisticated data management software "necessary to remain compliant given the sheer number of international students and scholars" at the University, International Student advisor Richard Tanson said.
According to Brown, the software previously was unavailable because the government did not release its regulations to software manufacturers until mid-December.
Brown said she hopes the new software will be installed in ISO by the end of February.
Currently, inputting student information into SEVIS is relatively slow, according to Caroline Herrarte, an international student advisor, who recently was hired to help ISO implement the new system.
Required information for all current international students at the University must be registered in SEVIS by August 1.
If colleges fail to register all of their international students and scholars in SEVIS by the deadline, their students' visa documentation potentially will be jeopardized.
Brown said missing the deadline is "not an option" for the University.
In addition to federally mandated compliance with SEVIS, schools must ensure that international students understand all changes to regulations, including a stipulation that students report to the school any change of address within 10 days of moving.
"Students at the University need to be really proactive in maintaining their visa status," Brown said.
The ISO cannot let "anything fall through the cracks," she added.
"We need to be vigilant to make sure students and scholars maintain their status and that they remain legal," Tanson said.
To this end, ISO will hold information forums and training sessions for international students, student advisors and representatives from deans' offices about the regulations in February.
Once the initial changes and glitches of the system have been addressed, Brown said she is confident SEVIS will help alleviate some of the documentation delays that have prevented some new and returning international students from returning to the University.
Read More
Students have federal internship offers rescinded due to hiring freeze
By Nina Broderick | 2 days agoUntil July 15, no presently vacant federal civilian positions may be filled, and no new positions may be created.
Man dies from self-inflicted gunshot wounds at the Rotunda
By Ford McCracken | 2 days agoThe investigation is ongoing, and additional details are not available at this time.
Virginia primary elections feature contested race for Democratic Lt. Gov. candidate
By Nicolas Biernacki | 3 days agoEligible voters can find more information about early voting by consulting the City Department of Voter Registration & Elections website or the County Department of Elections website.
