Travel Tips for Students & Exchange Visitors

1. Hand carry (do not check) the following documents:
   • Your passport;
   • Your SEVIS form I-20 or DS-2019;
   • Evidence of financial resources;
   • Evidence of student or exchange visitor status, such as tuition receipts, transcripts or letter of acceptance;
   • Paper receipt for the SEVIS fee; and
   • The name and contact information of your designated school official or sponsor
     
     Important Note: If you are a new student or a new exchange visitor participant, remember to carry with you the sealed envelope given to you by the U.S. Department of State's Consular Officer -- attached to your passport. It is important that you do not open this envelope.
     
     
2. Inform the CBP Officer at the port of entry as soon as possible that you will be a new or returning student or exchange visitor in the United States.
3. Report to your school or program upon arrival so that your school official can validate your participation in SEVIS.
4. Maintain contact with your designated school or sponsor official throughout your stay to ensure your SEVIS data is updated and accurate.

The Department of Homeland Security also reminds SEVIS registered schools and exchange visitor programs of their responsibility to maintain up-to-date records on all of their foreign students and exchange visitors.

As of December 2004, about 725,000 students and exchange visitors (F-1, M-1 and J-1 visa categories), along with 120,000 dependents, were registered in SEVIS. More than 7,800 schools and 1,400 exchange programs are active in SEVIS. From September 2003, when all foreign students, exchange visitors and their academic or cultural programs were required to register with SEVIS, through September 2004, SEVIS recorded a slight increase in the foreign student (F/M visa) population from approximately 605,000 to 640,000.

To date, ICE's Compliance Enforcement Unit, responsible for identifying individuals who attempt to abuse the student immigration system, has sent 3, 342 investigative leads on potential SEVIS violations to the field, resulting in 558 arrests.