The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) collects, maintains, analyzes and provides information so only legitimate foreign students or exchange visitors gain entry to the United States. SEVP also ensures that the institutions accepting nonimmigrant students are certified and follow the federal rules and regulations that govern them.

SEVP manages the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), a web-based information system that maintains and allows monitoring of the following records:

• SEVP-certified schools
• F-1 and M-1 nonimmigrant students and their dependents
• Exchange visitor program sponsors
• J-1 exchange visitors and their dependents

SEVIS enables SEVP to assure proper reporting and record keeping by schools and exchange visitor programs, thereby ensuring data currency and integrity. SEVIS also provides a mechanism for student and exchange visitor status violators to be identified so that appropriate enforcement is taken (e.g., denial of admission, denial of benefits or removal from the United States).

SEVP works closely with its government partners involved in the international student process, including U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Department of State. Working with partner law enforcement agencies, SEVP administratively enforces federal rules and regulations governing schools certified to enroll F and M nonimmigrant students.