Visit the following pages by the Department of Homeland Security to learn more about the SEVP certification process:
The best approach to confirming your institution is ready for the SEVP Certification process is reviewing the list of exhibits required for your school's specific scenario (see listed above). Once that assessment is completed, prepare a to-do list with all pending items and get to work! Unless you are able to provide all evidence documentation, your application will not be approved.
The following schools are considered to be academic institutions and may be approved for attendance by nonimmigrant students with M1 visas under section 101(a)(15)(F)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA):
The SEVP certification application for public high schools requires the submission of the following documents:
Visit the official initial petition evidence checklist.
The SEVP certification application for non-accredited private institutions offering kindergarten through grade 12, requires the submission of the following documents:
Visit the official initial petition evidence checklist.
The SEVP certification for flight schools requires the submission of the following documents:
Visit the official initial petition evidence checklist.
Review the policy guidance for flight training providers.
The following schools are considered to be vocational or nonacademic institutions and may be approved for attendance by nonimmigrant students with M1 visas under section 101(a)(15)(M)(i) of the INA:
The SEVP certification application for accredited private institutions offering kindergarten through grade 12, requires the submission of the following documents:
Visit the official initial petition evidence checklist.
Certification is the process schools go through to receive authorization from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enroll F and/or M nonimmigrants. Within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), SEVP reviews schools that desire to enroll nonimmigrant students to determine denial or approval of certification. Schools must submit their petition online for certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), the database which compiles the data for the Form I-17, “Petition for Approval of School for Attendance by Nonimmigrant Student,” and must submit a nonrefundable certification fee of $3,000 for filing the petition and $655 for a site visit per location listed on the Form I-17.
We hope the information included on this page has answered your questions regarding applying for SEVP certification. Are you a postsecondary school in need of assistance with your SEVP application?
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Request a free consultation by calling 786-618-2277, completing the free session request form, or sending us an email at [email protected]. During this session, we will conduct a preliminary assessment and introduce you to the requirements and process for a school to obtain the SEVP certification and enroll students with I-20 visas.
The following may not be approved for attendance by foreign students:
US educational institutions complete the SEVP Certification for the enrollment of international students with M1 and F1 visas to attend on-campus classes. Once certified, schools are granted access to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and allowed to issue Form I-20 visas.
Are you considering starting the SEVP certification process? You have come to the right place. This page includes the information to get you started in the right direction:
Interested in learning more? Visit the following pages for information on relevant topics for school owners:
Interested in opening a career school, college, or university with the plan to one day enroll students with international student visas I-20? Here are the three milestones that you will need to complete:
Obtaining a State License to Operate
Applying for a license to operate in your home state is your first step. Make sure the programs included for initial approval will qualify: programs offered 100% online are not approved for international student visas. Visit our list of state-approval agencies for career schools and colleges.
Achieving Accreditation Status
Once licensed and operating for about two years, your institution may be ready to apply for institutional accreditation with one of the approved accrediting agencies as per the US Federal Department of Education. Visit our accreditation page for an introduction to the eligibility requirements and process.
Receiving the SEVP Certification
Now that your institution is accredited, you can start the SEVP Certification process. Make sure to do your homework well in advance to confirm you will be ready to meet all SEVP requirements.
We provide SEVP Certification consulting services to accredited postsecondary institutions such as universities, colleges, vocational and trade schools. Need help with your institution's accreditation? We can help you with that too! Schedule a complimentary consultation to learn more.
BAYSIDE PROJECTS
SEVP certification application documents vary depending on the type of institution presenting the application. Below you will find a list of documents for each one of the six scenarios. SEVP may request additional documents via a Request for Evidence (RFE) through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), outlining additional information to be provided by a specified due date. All documents are subject to verification. Visit the Evidence Guidelines provided by Homeland Security for an explanation of the documents listed below.
The SEVP certification application for accredited postsecondary institutions, such as vocational schools, colleges, and universities, requires the submission of the following documents:
Visit the official initial petition evidence checklist.
The SEVP Certification allows educational institutions to enroll students from abroad. This page introduces you to the eligibility criteria, application process, and consulting services we provide.
The SEVP certification application for non-accredited postsecondary institutions, such as vocational schools, colleges, and universities, requires the submission of the following documents:
Visit the official initial petition evidence checklist.