STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES: SEVIS PROCESSING

R 051746Z MAR 03
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS
SPECIAL EMBASSY PROGRAM
AMEMBASSY KABUL
AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE

UNCLAS STATE 058041

VISAS, FOR CONSULS, ALSO FOR PAO''S

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS, KPAO
SUBJECT: STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES: SEVIS PROCESSING
UPDATE

REF: A) STATE 40362 and previous B) STATE 39275 C) STATE
40261

1. The Department announces a policy change regarding the
electronic verification of Forms I-20 and DS-2019 issued
before February 15, 2003, and presented by continuing
students and exchange visitors seeking visas to return
to the United States. As discussed in refs B and C,
this telegram constitutes a standard operating procedure
for handling student visa cases. Upon receipt of this
cable, consular employees may use ISEAS and its
associated workaround procedures to electronically
verify Forms I-20 and DS-2019 issued before February 15
to continuing students or exchange visitors who left the
United States before February 15, and who are seeking
visas to re-enter. Any returning students or exchange
visitors who departed the United States on or after
February 15, 2003, must bear SEVIS-generated documents,
and SEVIS rules apply.

2. Previous guidance (see reftels) stated that, after
February 15, 2003 (i.e. the date of full SEVIS
implementation), all continuing students and exchange
visitors must present SEVIS-generated Forms I-20 or DS-
2019 in support of a visa application. CA and INS
officials (now DHS) have revisited this issue in light
of the precise wording of the INS regulation and the
requirement for expeditious visa issuance while
fulfilling the statutory requirement for electronic
verification of student and exchange visitor status.

3. Consular officials adjudicating F, J, and M visa cases
must be alert to the issuance date of the I-20/DS-2019
at hand, the date on which a returning student/exchange
visitor departed the U.S., and the implications for the
validity of the document as well as the method of
electronic verification. Effective upon receipt of this
cable, first-time and continuing students and exchange
visitors who left the U.S. before February 15 may
present either SEVIS-generated or older "paper" forms.
Consular employees may use ISEAS and its associated
workaround procedures to electronically verify the
provenance of such forms and the status of the
student/exchange visitor. All/all Forms I-20/DS-2019
issued on or after February 15, including all forms
issued to continuing students who departed the U.S. on
or after February 15, 2003, must be SEVIS compliant.

POWELL

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