What is SEVIS?

Information About The Student And Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)

Thousands of foreign students, graduates, and young professionals are enrolling every year in a J-1 Intern or Trainee program in the United States.

This new and exciting journey comes with a set of new terminology and acronyms that applicants will commonly hear and use during the application process and throughout their programs.

If you are currently applying for an internship or trainee program with us, you were already informed by our representatives about SEVIS, an acronym for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System.

Citizens of foreign countries who wish to enter the United States for an Intern or Trainee program must apply for an Exchange Visitor visa (J). Exchange visitors are foreign individuals who were approved for a nonimmigrant visa in order to participate in an exchange visitor program in the United States.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a web-based information system that was deployed in 2003, in order to monitor and track F, M and J nonimmigrants and dependents throughout the duration of their approved exchange visitor program in the United States.

The system maintains and tracks the information and status of all the exchange visitors who participate in an internship or trainee program . It maintains records in regards to the exchange visitor’s program, such as changes of domestic address, information on the exchange visitor program sponsor and their representatives, the supervisors for the program, and others.

As your sponsor, Odyssey accesses SEVIS and makes sure your profile is accurate and up to date with your program information.

It is important that you keep your J-1 sponsor informed and updated in regards to any changes that can occur before or during your exchange visitor program. Odyssey International Exchange will provide you with all the information required in regards to the SEVIS payment, activation, and will regularly check that the information for your file is updated throughout your program journey.