US SEVIS Termination – What F-1 Students Should Know

SEVIS termination is one of the most serious issues an F-1 student can face, as it results in the immediate loss of your legal F-1 status. Understanding what it is and how to handle it is crucial for maintaining your legal standing in the United States.

Navigating SEVIS Termination: Essential Information for F-1 Visa Students in the US.

1. What Is SEVIS?

SEVIS stands for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. It is a U.S. government database run by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to track and monitor all nonimmigrant students (F and M visas) and exchange visitors (J visas) in the United States.

When you are accepted to a U.S. school, your Designated School Official (DSO) creates a record for you in this system, which generates your Form I-20 and your unique SEVIS ID number. Throughout your academic career, your DSO is required to update your SEVIS record with information about your enrollment, address, program changes, and employment.

2. What Is SEVIS Termination?

SEVIS Termination means your F-1 student record in the SEVIS database has been closed and is no longer in "Active" status. This is an irreversible action taken by your DSO or by the U.S. government. When your SEVIS record is terminated, your legal F-1 status ends immediately.

Key Consequences:

• You are immediately out of status and begin accruing "unlawful presence."

• Your F-1 visa stamp in your passport is automatically voided, even if the printed expiration date is in the future.

• You lose all F-1 benefits, including on-campus work eligibility and Optional Practical Training (OPT).

• You are no longer eligible for a driver's license or Social Security Number based on your F-1 status.

• You must take immediate action to regain legal status or depart the U.S. to avoid severe future immigration consequences.
  

3. Common Reasons for SEVIS Termination

Terminations can be initiated for various reasons, often categorized as follows:

Termination by the Student's DSO (Most Common):

• Failure to Enroll: Not enrolling in classes at the start of a term.

• Authorized Early Withdrawal: A student drops below a full course of study without prior authorization (e.g., dropping a class without DSO approval).

• Violation of Enrollment Requirements: Consistently failing to maintain a full course of study (12 credits for undergraduates, as defined by the school for graduates).

• School Transfer Issues: Failure to enroll at the new school within the 5-month transfer window or transferring out without completing the proper procedure.

• Failure to Report a Change: Not updating your U.S. address with your DSO within 10 days of moving.

• Completion of Program/Academic Standings: Finishing your program (including grace period) or being dismissed from the university for academic or disciplinary reasons. Automatic Termination by the System:

• Overstay of Grace Period: Remaining in the U.S. beyond the 60-day grace period after program completion.

4. Types of SEVIS Termination

It is critical to understand the reason for your termination, as it drastically affects your options.

• Termination (Negative): This is a "termination for cause" due to a status violation (any of the reasons listed above). This is the most serious type and has severe consequences. It signifies you broke the rules of your visa.

• Authorized Early Withdrawal (Neutral): This also results in a "terminated" record, but it is not a status violation. This occurs when you must leave the U.S. (e.g., for a family emergency) and you get prior approval from your DSO. Your DSO terminates your record for an "authorized" reason. This is much less harmful to your immigration history.

Completed (Positive): This is not a termination. Your record is marked "Completed" after you successfully graduate and finish your program (and any subsequent OPT). This is the normal, positive outcome.

5. What to Do If Your SEVIS Is Terminated

Act immediately. Time is critical.

1. DO NOT PANIC, BUT ACT QUICKLY. You typically have only a short window to fix this.

2. CONTACT YOUR DSO IMMEDIATELY. This is your first and most important step. Schedule an urgent appointment to understand the exact reason for termination and discuss your options.

3. UNDERSTAND YOUR OPTIONS. Based on the reason for termination, your DSO will outline the primary paths forward:
   

Option 2: Travel and Re-enter (New SEVIS Record) This is often a faster (though riskier) alternative to reinstatement.

• Process:

  1. Your DSO issues you a brand new I-20 with a new SEVIS ID.

  2. You must pay the I-901 SEVIS fee again.

  3. You must depart the United States.

  4. You must re-enter the U.S. using the new I-20. If your F-1 visa stamp in your passport is still valid, you may be able to use it. If it has expired, you must apply for a new F-1 visa at a U.S. consulate abroad.

• Risks: A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the port of entry can see your previous terminated record and may deny your re-entry. You also risk being denied a new visa at the consulate.

• Consequence: Re-entering with a new SEVIS record resets the clock for F-1 benefits. You must complete one full academic year before you are eligible for CPT or OPT again.
  

Option 3: Depart the U.S. Immediately If reinstatement or re-entry are not viable options, you must leave the U.S. to avoid accruing "unlawful presence," which can result in 3- or 10-year bars on returning to the U.S.

Timeline After Termination

This is the most critical point for students to understand:

• There is NO grace period after a SEVIS termination for a status violation.

• The 60-day grace period (after program completion) and the 15-day grace period (after an authorized early withdrawal) DO NOT APPLY to a negative termination.

• You are considered "out of status" the moment your record is terminated. You are expected to depart the U.S. immediately or file for reinstatement right away.
  

6. Tips to Avoid SEVIS Termination

• Maintain Full-Time Enrollment: Always register for and complete a full course of study each semester.

• Get Authorization BEFORE Dropping a Class: Never drop below full-time without first consulting and getting written approval from your DSO.

• Keep Your DSO Informed: Report any changes in your academic program, major, or address within 10 days.

• Understand Your I-20 End Date: Know when your program ends and make plans for transfer, graduation, or departure well in advance.

• Meet GPA Requirements: Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by your school.

• Do Not Work Illegally: Only work in positions authorized for F-1 students (on-campus, CPT, OPT).