When advising international students, what is the typical visa process and what is SEVIS?

• A. Admission offer, issuance of I-20/DS-2019, visa application (F-1/J-1), SEVIS is the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System that tracks student status and enrollments.
• B. Application for permanent residency; SEVIS is used for student loans.
• C. No visa is required; SEVIS is a scholarship program.
• D. International students apply after enrollment; SEVIS monitors athletic eligibility.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is how the U.S. nonimmigrant student visa process works and what SEVIS does. After a student is admitted to a school, the institution issues an I-20 (for F-1) or a DS-2019 (for J-1). This document is used to apply for the appropriate student visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy. SEVIS, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, is the government system that records a student’s immigration status, enrollment, and program details, and is updated by the school throughout the student’s stay. Paying the SEVIS fee is part of the process before the visa interview, and the visa allows entry to the United States with status tied to SEVIS records.

The other options mix up concepts: permanent residency is not the typical path for initiating study in the U.S.; SEVIS is not a student-loan program; a visa is required to enter, not something you apply for after enrollment; and SEVIS tracks student enrollment and status, not athletic eligibility.