In April 2014, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) division of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that field representatives will be deployed to serve as direct day-to-day liaisons between SEVP and SEVP-certified schools or schools seeking initial SEVP certification. SEVP-certified schools are subject to on-site review at any time, per Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations. ICE confirms that these reviews are not related to the SEVP field representatives and are not part of their duties.
The SEVP Field Representative Unit is expected to enhance national security by fostering regulatory adherence and Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) data integrity. Additionally, SEVP field representatives will ensure SEVP-certified schools understand SEVP rules and regulations; answer general questions related to the nonimmigrant student process; provide training and assistance to principal designated school officials and designated school officials; meet in-person with each SEVP-certified school in their geographical area at least twice per year; help school officials with the SEVP certification and recertification process by conducting scheduled school site visits; and attend conferences and meetings in their areas that pertain to nonimmigrant students.
The first group of 15 representatives is part of the 60 field representatives SEVP plans to deploy nationwide. There will be three regional groups – eastern, central and western – comprised of 20 field representatives in each region. Each field representative will spend four days each week in the field with schools and one day in their “home office.” If a school falls within one of the areas covered by the first 15 field representatives, they will contact you directly to introduce themselves. If a school does not hear directly from a field representative by the first week of May 2014, then they do not have a representative in this first group.