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SEVP I-17 Frequently Asked Questions

5. Site visit for SEVP certification

5.1 When will I have my site visit?

After fee payment is recorded by the SCB, an inspector will contact the PDSO to arrange for the site visit. The inspector has some flexibility in scheduling. Typically, it takes about 30 days to be scheduled for a site visit. However, the site visit results must be received at the SEVP office within 10 days of the assignment.

5.2 How long will the site visit take?

The inspector will spend 2-3 hours touring the facility, interviewing DSOs, and reviewing student files. The time spent during the site visit is directly related to the size of the school’s facility (i.e., smaller institutions will take less time, larger institutions will take more time).

5.3 How can I verify that the individual examining my school is a DHS representative?

The individual will arrive on campus with an official DHS letter of introduction and form of identification.

5.4 What can I expect to happen during the site visit?

The inspector will tour campus facilities to observe different areas of the school, interview at least one DSO, review specific student files, and collect all required documentation.

5.5 What will the inspector be looking for on the campus tour?

The inspector will tour the facility and observe different areas of the school. This includes observing a live lecture/class; housing arrangements; food facilities; library; administration offices, and the area where student files are stored.

5.6 What is the purpose of the interviews?

The inspector will interview at least one DSO and ask about processes pertaining to the regulations governing F and M students (as applicable) and their dependents. The inspector, at a minimum, will ask about the school’s processes and knowledge relating to the eligibility of students to attend, process to transfer students in or out, monitoring student status, student reinstatements, employment or practical training authorization, and other processes and regulations of the program. The DSO must present a broad knowledge of the regulations.

5.7 What can I expect during the records review?

The inspector will review specific nonimmigrant student files as mandated by federal regulation 8 CFR 214.3(h)(4). The inspector will select names at random prior to arriving at your school and provide them to you upon arrival for the site visit. This part of the inspection process determines whether the school keeps the required documentation in the student files (digital images are acceptable). Information in the file must be consistent with information provided in SEVIS and must be in compliance with the recordkeeping and reporting requirements set forth in 8CFR214.3(g). Storing information electronically is acceptable as long as the method complies with federal regulations and is legible.

5.8 What do I need to do to meet documentation requirements?

The inspector will collect all required documentation from the PDSO and mail them to the SEVP office for adjudication. Please prepare this information in a folder (no binders please). Documentation requirements differ based on the type of school and accreditation. See the applicable section immediately below for your documentation requirements.

5.9 What documents do I need to submit in my SEVP certification petition package—accredited school?

If the Department of Education recognizes your accreditation, you must submit the following documents:

Type of School Documentation Required – Recognized Accreditation
Private/ Public College or University (F schools and/or M schools)
  • Original signed Form I-17 by owner, president, head of school
  • Original signed Form I-17A with all PDSO and DSO signatures and owner, president, head of school on page 2 of I-17A
  • Copy of accreditation certification
  • Copy of state license, registration, or proof of exemption
  • School catalog (information should outline grading policy, admission requirements, expulsion requirements, attendance policy, course requirements)
Post-Secondary Schools (M schools)
  • Original signed Form I-17 by owner, president, head of school
  • Original signed Form I-17A with all PDSO and DSO signatures and owner, president, head of school on page 2 of I-17A
  • Copy of accreditation certification
  • Copy of state license, registration, or proof of exemption
  • School catalog (information should outline grading policy, admission requirements, expulsion requirements, attendance policy, course requirements)
  • List of all programs of study, hours/week of instruction, hours/week of lab instruction, total hours per week, total hours to complete the program
Private K-12 (F schools)
  • Original signed Form I-17 by owner, president, head of school
  • Original signed Form I-17A with all PDSO and DSO signatures and owner, president, head of school on page 2 of I-17A
  • Copy of accreditation certification
  • Copy of state license, registration, or proof of exemption, or proof they fall under the standards of the Department of Education in that state
  • School catalog, brochures (information should outline grading policy, admission requirements, expulsion requirements, attendance policy)
Intensive English Programs (F schools)
  • Original signed Form I-17 by owner, president, head of school
  • Original signed Form I-17A with all PDSO and DSO signatures and owner, president, head of school on page 2 of I-17A
  • Copy of accreditation certification
  • Copy of state license, registration, or proof of exemption
  • School catalog, brochures (information should outline grading policy, admission requirements, expulsion requirements, attendance policy, and list of courses)
  • List of all programs of study, hours/week of instruction, hours/week of lab instruction, total hours per week, total hours to complete the program
Public High Schools/ Charter (F schools - In some cases, HS may apply for M)
  • Original signed Form I-17 by superintendent
  • Original signed Form I-17A with all PDSO and DSO signatures and superintendent on page 2 of I-17A,
  • Provide evidence school is public high school and/or charter school
  • List of all high schools within district/charter
Diocesan Schools (F schools)
  • Original signed Form I-17 by owner, president, head of school
  • Original signed Form I-17A with all PDSO and DSO signatures and owner, president, head of school on page 2 of I-17A
  • Copy of accreditation certification
  • Copy of state license, registration, or proof of exemption
  • List of all schools within the diocese that will enroll nonimmigrant students.

Please note: Schools recognized by a state-approving agency as appropriate for study for veterans, can submit a statement of such recognition in lieu of state licensure/registration.

5.10 What documents do I need to submit in my SEVP certification application package—non-accredited school?

If your school is not accredited or is accredited by an agency that is not recognized by the Department of Education, you must submit the following documents:

Type of School Documentation Required: Non-Accredited or Accreditation not Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
Private/ Public College or University (F schools and/or M schools)
  • Original signed Form I-17 by owner, president, head of school
  • Original signed Form I-17A with all PDSO and DSO signatures and owner, president, head of school on page 2 of I-17A
  • Copy of state license, registration, or proof of exemption
  • Letters from 3 accredited institutions that attest they have and will accept students/credits from the petitioning school. The letters must be on the receiving institutions letterhead, signed, and contain the student name, dates of enrollment, and program of study.
  • School catalog (information should outline grading policy, admission requirements, expulsion requirements, attendance policy, course requirements)
  • School catalog (information should outline grading policy, admission requirements, expulsion requirements, attendance policy, course requirements)
  • Certified financial statements of the school’s net worth, income, and expenses
  • A written statement containing information on educational, vocational, or professional qualifications of teaching staff, salaries of teachers, attendance and scholastic grading policy, amount and character of supervisory and consultative services available to students and trainees
Post-Secondary Schools (M schools)
  • Original signed Form I-17 by owner, president, head of school
  • Original signed Form I-17A with all PDSO and DSO signatures and owner, president, head of school on page 2 of I-17A
  • Copy of state license, registration, or proof of exemption
  • Letters from 3 employers that have hired recent graduates (within the past 2 years) from the petitioning school in their field of study. The letters must be on the employer’s letterhead, signed, and contain the student name, dates of employment, and position hired for.
  • School catalog (information should outline grading policy, admission requirements, expulsion requirements, attendance policy, course requirements)
  • Certified financial statements of the school’s net worth, income, and expenses
  • A written statement containing information on educational, vocational, or professional qualifications of teaching staff, salaries of teachers, attendance and scholastic grading policy, amount and character of supervisory and consultative services available to students and trainees
  • List of all programs of study, hours/week of instruction, hours/week of lab instruction, total hours per week, total hours to complete the program
Private K-12 (F schools)
  • Original signed Form I-17 by owner, president, head of school
  • Original signed Form I-17A with all PDSO and DSO signatures and owner, president, head of school on page 2 of I-17A
  • Copy of state license, registration, or proof of exemption
  • Letters from 3 accredited institutions that attest that they have accepted students from the petitioning school. The letters must be on the receiving institutions letterhead, signed, and contain the student name, dates of enrollment, and program of study.
  • School catalog, brochures (information should outline grading policy, admission requirements, expulsion requirements, attendance policy)
  • Certified financial statements of the school’s net worth, income, and expenses
  • A written statement containing information on educational, vocational, or professional qualifications of teaching staff, salaries of teachers, attendance and scholastic grading policy, amount and character of supervisory and consultative services available to students and trainees
  • Provide evidence that attendance at the petitioning institution satisfies the compulsory attendance requirements of the state in which the school is located and that the petitioning school qualifies graduates for acceptance by schools of a higher educational level.
Note: Schools may submit letters from public school systems that have accepted transfer students from the petitioner. The letter must indicate the last grade completed at the private school and the grade accepted into at the public school.
Intensive English Programs (F schools)
  • Original signed Form I-17 by owner, president, head of school
  • Original signed Form I-17A with all PDSO and DSO signatures and owner, president, head of school on page 2 of I-17A
  • Copy of state license, registration, or proof of exemption
  • Letters from 3 accredited educational institutions that attest that they have accepted students from the petitioning school as “English Proficient.” The letters must be on the receiving institutions letterhead, signed, and contain the student name, dates of enrollment, and program of study.
  • School catalog, brochures (information should outline grading policy, admission requirements, expulsion requirements, attendance policy, and list of courses)
  • A written statement containing information on educational, vocational, or professional qualifications of teaching staff, salaries of teachers, attendance and scholastic grading policy, amount and character of supervisory and consultative services available to students and trainees
  • List of all programs of study, hours/week of instruction, hours/week of lab instruction, total hours per week, total hours to complete the program
  • Certified financial statements of the school’s net worth, income, and expenses
Public High Schools/ Charter (F schools - In some cases, HS may apply for M)
  • Same requirements as if they are accredited
Diocesan Schools (F schools)
  • Same requirements as private K-12. In addition, they must provide a list of all schools within the diocese they are seeking approval for.
Flight Training (M schools)
  • Original signed Form I-17 by owner, president, head of school
  • Original signed Form I-17A with all PDSO and DSO signatures and owner, president, head of school on page 2 of I-17A
  • Copy of FAA approval and accompanying letter (approval ratings)
  • Copy of state license, registration, or proof of exemption
  • School catalog, brochures, course hours for all approval ratings
  • List of all ratings, hours/week of instruction, total hours of lab training per week, time necessary to complete
  • Certified financial statements of the school’s net worth, income, and expenses

Please note: : Schools recognized by a state-approving agency as appropriate for study for veterans, can submit a statement of such recognition in lieu of state licensure/registration.

5.11 What documents must DSOs (as listed on the Form I-17 application) have to prove U.S. citizenship or Lawful Permanent Resident status?

DSOs must provide a copy of one of the following: U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport (expired or current), Form I-551—Permanent Resident Card (Green Card). No other forms are acceptable.

If there has been a legal name change since the issuance of the birth certificate, passport, or Form I-551, please provide a copy of the legal document showing this change.

5.12 What documentation do new schools with a pending adjudication of their accreditation application need to submit in lieu of accreditation?

You should provide evidence from the accrediting body concerning current accreditation status and the details of that status (i.e., candidacy status).

5.13 What if my state does not require schools to be licensed?

If the state in which the school is located does not require registration or a license, the school must obtain proof of exemption from the state’s Department of Education. However, if the school is approved by the state for veterans study, this is acceptable in lieu of the state license/registration. Private school affidavits meet the requirements of state licensure.

5.14 My school was previously denied authority to enroll nonimmigrant students, or had that authority withdrawn? Are there any special requirements with our new SEVP certification application?

You should have a copy of the official notification that you received from immigration (i.e., either DHS or its predecessor, the Immigration and Naturalization Service) giving the reasons for the denial or previous withdrawal. If official notification is not available, please provide any correspondence you may have had with immigration and a detailed explanation.

5.15 What if I don’t have all the necessary supporting documents for the inspector during my site visit?

You should submit all required documentation to the inspector during the site visit and the inspector will forward it to the SCB. This practice enables the inspector to give the items a cursory examination to reduce the possibility of mistakes or delays. If you are missing required documentation on the day of the visit, it can be forwarded separately directly to the SCB.

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