Exchanging Data with INS: Update on SEVIS and its Impacts on Campus

Patty Croom, Student Academic Records Team Leader, Michigan State University

Jim Ellis, DirectorOffice of International Education, Auburn UniversityCopyright Patty Croom andJim Ellis, 2002. This work is the intellectual property of the author. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the author. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the author.

Objectives

What is SEVIS?How does SEVIS work?History and Status of SEVISImplementation ChallengesHow can Campus IT Professionals Help?

What is SEVIS?

Student and Exchange Visitor Information SystemData Exchange with Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)Track non-immigrant students (F & M visas) and exchange visitors (J visas)Colleges, Universities, Exchange Programs, Vocational Schools, etc. Ports of Entry, Consulates and Embassies

SEVIS History – pre 20001979: Iranian Hostage Crisis1993: first World Trade Center Bombing1995: May -- INS internal review of student procedures1996: Sept. -- Public law 104-208, the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) of 1996, enacted. 1996: Dec. -- CIPRIS task force vision concept approved by INS commissioner.1997: June -- CIPRIS PilotCIPRIS Pilot project began. 1998: Embassy bombings Tanzania/Kenya 1999: Oct. – Pilot project ends, CIPRIS system continues with INS and school support as an Operational Prototype Operational Prototype (Atlanta Hartsfield Airport and District Office, Texas Service Center, 21 educational institutions, and DOS headquarters)

SEVIS History – 2000+2000: USS Cole Bombed2000: Summer/Fall -- National CIPRIS system National CIPRIS system developed based on lessons learned from pilot, stakeholder and customer feedback, and the requirements of IIRIRA.2000: Dec. and Jan. 2001 -- INS Site visits INS Site visits in Boston area in preparation for Beta Test. 2001: Jan. – Beta Test sites selected, deployment planning2001: September 11- World Trade Center event2001: USA PATRIOT ACT/Enhanced Border Security Act2002: January/April - CIPRIS/ BETA ends, SEVIS deployed, Version 12002: July 1 - SEVIS version 2 +++2002: Sept. 11 - DOS ISEAS interim parallel system2003: January 30 - SEVIS only I-20’s from this point

How does SEVIS work?

PUBLIC

INTERNET

Schools & Universities (Students – F/M/J

Scholars - J)

INS-HQ

Ports Of Entry (POE)

Department of Education (DoEd)

DOSSEVIS Servers

FIRE

WALL

Consulates

INSSEVIS

System

INS -DO & SCSTUDENT/SCHOLAR

RTI

School Server

Batch protocol

Slide adapted: source: INS/EDS

INTL Server

WHAT DATA? WHERE IS IT?School data – certification including designated school officialsALL I-20 and DS-2019 form data – (demographic+school info)Accompanying Dependent data Port of Entry and visa data for primary and dependentsWhether the student enrolls, or fails to enrollChange of name, acad. discipline, change of degree programAcademic suspensions, Extensions, transfers, graduation

WHAT DATA? WHERE IS IT? (continued)

Disciplinary actions taken due to criminal conviction Whether the student drops below a full course of study without authorizationTermination date and reason Other benefits – employment, CPT, OPT, Academic Training, etc. Information on any student who fails to maintain status or complete the programOther as required by law

SEVIS RTI – as of 9/26/2002

Interim added process 9/11/02 thru 01/30/03

Following production of I-20 DSO enters data into State Dept

online ISEAS System

J program currently not available in SEVIS – manual

process at this time – 9/26/02

SEVIS RTI Status and IssuesSEVIS deployed as of July 1, 2002 – Everyone to be in the system by January 30, 2003, in order to issue I-20’s

Requires schools to become certified prior to use (estimated certification time possibly up to six months), fee as of 9/25/02 $580 – certification visits every 2 years

Only F - I-20 program presently, J program expected October 15 or beyond (currently a paper process)

ADSO very limited initial data entry, DSO must complete all processes following initial entry

Data correction problematic, changes in protocol (change of level now transfer process), functional reports needed, etc.

SEVIS Help desk – familiarity or lack of regarding school processes – system under development – long way to go

Internal school processes vs RTI processes

SEVIS Batch Considerations

Appropriate for schools with several hundred international students/scholarsTechnology: PDF, XML, HTTPS transfer with digital certificatesOptions:

Departmental vendor solutionsERP vendorsIn-house development

SEVIS Batch Considerations

Current institutional systemsResourcesFunctional requirements such as need for review before transmitting dataHardware, software, security, scheduling, etc.Interfaces

SEVIS Batch Status

“Final” batch specifications released August 14, 2002 First round testing of F specifications available September 23, 2002J batch testing forecast to start November 15, 2002Regulations not yet final—impacts??

SEVIS Implementation Challenges

Processing IssuesTechnology IssuesImplementation IssuesRelationshipsChange ManagementPolitical Issues

Challenges: Processing

New regulationsReporting frequencyEvent-driven reportingShift in control on document issuanceCorrecting errorsCoding schemes Handling scholars as well as students

Challenges: Technology

Data feeds from multiple systemsLeaps in automationImplementation timeframesTesting and change managementBatch challenges:

XMLLimited pilot testingINS first e-gov experience

Vendor software availability

Implementation Issues

Nov 15, 2002: By this date, INS recommends apply for certification (I-17)????? Institution receives certification and must use SEVISJan 30, 2003: May only issue SEVIS I-20 and DS-201930 days after registration period in next req’d semester: All students reported to SEVIS

Challenges: Relationships

New relationships with INSInternational Office with campus ITWide campus impact (Registrar, Human Resources, Admissions, English Language Programs, etc.)

Challenges: Change Management

Immigration ChangesPort of Entry processingInterim systems (DOS ISEAS)SSN processing for studentsSEVIS fee (issue pending)Reorganization at INS

International OfficeParadigm shift from advocate to regulatorChanging regulations and proceduresNeed for systems expertise

Challenges: Political Issues

Deadlines tied to Homeland SecurityVisibility with Press (expect media coverage)What does implementation mean?Risk and visibility

How Can Campus IT Professionals Help?

Work with International and Admissions OfficesVendor selection and system planningInterface assistanceAssist in budgetary analyses and impactsParticipate on listservsBe proactive and ask questions!

Other Source of InformationINS SEVIS: www.ins.gov/graphics/services/tempbenefits/sevp.htm

Educause SEVIS page www.educause.edu/issues/sevis.html

NAFSA: Association of International Educators - www.nafsa.org

CIPRIS/SEVIS historical, resources: www.auburn.edu/aub-ie/sevp

Questions???

Patty Croom croom@msu.edu

Jim Ellis jimellis@auburn.edu

This presentation can be found atwww.auburn.edu/aub-ie/sevp

Credits: this program is based on information provided by US Immigration and Naturalization Service, EDS, and international education colleagues

WARNING YOU HAVE ….