|
September 25, 2002 INS Issues Certification Rule for SEVIS Enrollment WASHINGTON –The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) is immediately implementing regulations governing the review and certification of schools for enrollment in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). With a 60-day public comment period, this interim rule takes effect immediately upon publication in the Federal Register today. This rule implements Phase II of the transition to SEVIS and provides that all schools not already approved to use SEVIS, including a school that would have been eligible for preliminary enrollment but did not enroll, must undergo a certification review. Phase I enrollment or preliminary enrollment allowed schools that had been INS-certified for at least three years and were accredited by the Department of Education to enroll without paying the certification fee and in advance of a full review. Preliminary enrollment began on July 1, 2002 and ended with the publishing of this rule. The rule’s major requirements include:
"We have made significant progress in getting SEVIS up and running since the opening of the preliminary period on July 1,” said INS Commissioner James Ziglar. “This highly anticipated rule will pick up where the preliminary enrollment ended, greatly assisting INS as it works to enroll bona fide schools in SEVIS." SEVIS is an Internet-based computer system that will enable schools and program sponsors to transmit electronic information and event notifications to INS and the Department of State throughout the stay of a foreign or exchange student in the United States. To date, 2,163 schools are currently in various stages of SEVIS while 483 are awaiting approval to use the system. -INS- |
Last Modified 02/20/2003