International Students and Scholars Office

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a government, computerized system that maintains and manages data about foreign students and exchange visitors during their stay in the United States. For more than 50 years, U.S. educational institutions have been required to maintain such information about foreign students studying at their facilities. In the past, this was a decentralized, inefficient, and paper-driven system. SEVIS, for the first time, automates and centralizes this data. SEVIS allows for real-time access to this information and helps students comply with the terms of their visas.

Congress mandated August 1, 2003 as the deadline for all new and continuing students and exchange visitors to be entered in SEVIS.

Students are encouraged to be proactive. They should plan to maintain continuous contact with the ISSO, academic advisors, and professors. If students have deficiencies and are being allowed to correct them, they should adhere to deadlines imposed by the Graduate School and/or the academic department. Make travel arrangements earlier and anticipate delays at consulates and border crossings. Keep all documents up-to-date and easily accessible. Gain familiarity with new rules and regulations. Make sure that plans to change majors, requests for extensions of stay, extenuating circumstances leading to course reductions, a drop in grade point average, and changes in financial support are dealt with in consultation with the ISSO staff.

International Students should also avoid taking the advice of “my friend” and refer any questions or problems immediately to the assistance available in the ISSO.

SEVIS requires you (and your dependents) to report to the ISSO any changes and updates in Personal and Academic Events. Also you must ask permission PRIOR to taking action on certain events. Remember to read ISSO News Briefs for updates in immigration rules and procedures.

Current U.S. Address (Change of Address Form)
Permanent (foreign) Address
Name and Citizenship
Dependents (addition of new dependents, change in name, or citizenship)
Financial Information (when your financial information changes you must both inform the ISSO, and bring to the ISSO proof of new funding support and completion of program of studies)

Request and Receive PERMISSION PRIOR to acting on these Events:

Dropping below Full-time Study (below 9 credits for graduates and 12 credits for undergraduates)
Completion of Program (if you complete your program of study earlier than the completion date in item #5 of your I-20 or item #3 of your DS-2019)
Termination of Studies (if you are withdrawing, taking a Leave of Absence, or stopping your studies)
Off-Campus Employment (not allowed to begin any off-campus employment without proper work authorization from USCIS or ISSO)

If you have questions or concerns about the information stated in this section, send an email correspondence to isso@ncat.edu. A response will be provided by an international Advisor.