WORLD
US GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES NEW VISA SYSTEM
The US Government has launched a new electronic Student and Exchange Visitor Information System /SEVIS/, which is installed between the educational centers of USA and their permanent representative offices in foreign countries to simplify visa problems for foreign students and exchange visitors during their stay in the United States. SEVIS is an Internet-based system that provides tracking and monitoring functionality, with access to accurate and current information on nonimmigrant students (F and M visa) and exchange visitors (J visa), and their dependents (F-2, M-2, and J-2). SEVIS enables schools and program sponsors to transmit electronic information and event notifications, via the Internet, to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of State (DoS) throughout a student's or exchange visitor's stay in the United States. SEVIS will be informed of status events for international students and exchange visitors including, but not limited to, entry/exit data, changes of address, program extensions, employment notifications, and changes in program of study. SEVIS will also provide system alerts, event notifications, and reports to the end-user schools and programs, as well as for DHS and DOS offices.