My U.S. College Lost Its SEVP Status. Now What?
If you’re an international student planning to or currently studying in the United States, it’s essential to understand how your visa status is connected to the school you attend. The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) plays a critical part in the overall process of your visa’s validity. In this post, I’ll explain more about what SEVP is, why it matters, and also show real-life examples of schools that have lost their certification and, most importantly, what to do immediately if it happens at your school.
What is SEVP?
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is managed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It stands as the bridge between U.S. schools and the federal government to manage international students. SEVP works alongside the SEVIS database (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System), which tracks and monitors schools and students during their time in the U.S.
Only SEVP-certified schools can enroll F-1 (academic) and M-1 (vocational) students. These schools are authorized to issue the Form I-20, which students use to apply for a visa and maintain their lawful status while in the country.
In 2025, the program was spotlighted at the national level during the first few months of the second Trump administration, specifically in relation to concerns over the admission of new and continued education of foreign nationals and international students. A notable example is Harvard University, which faced an attempted revocation of its SEVP certification in May 2025. If this had gone through, Harvard would have lost the ability to enroll new international students and issue the required immigration documents. A federal court issued a temporary restraining order and later a preliminary injunction, allowing the university to continue enrolling students while the litigation proceeds. Harvard’s International Office confirmed that the school may still issue Form I-20s and DS-2019s for visa purposes during this period.
At the same time, the Department of Homeland Security has floated a significant policy change: moving away from the long-standing “duration of status” model toward a fixed period of admission for F-1 and J-1 visa holders. Under this proposal, students would typically be admitted for up to four years, and would need to apply for extensions of stay if their academic programs required more time.
Why SEVP Certification Matters for International Students
Without SEVP certification, a school cannot:
Accept or enroll new international students
Issue or update Form I-20s
Access or update student records in SEVIS
If a school loses its SEVP certification, international students risk losing their legal status, which could lead to visa termination or even deportation.
Real-World Examples of SEVP Certification Revocation
Here are some notable examples of institutions that lost their SEVP approval:
Tri-Valley University (California, 2011) – Shut down after ICE found evidence of large-scale visa fraud.
University of Northern Virginia (2013) – Lost certification after failing to meet academic and administrative standards.
Herguan University (2016) – Revoked after criminal charges related to fraud and immigration violations.
Academic High School (Florida, 2019) – Denied recertification for noncompliance with federal regulations.
For a deeper dive into some of these examples, watch this recent video:
What Do I Do If My School Loses Its SEVP Certification
For starters, let’s clarify that most U.S. Boarding Schools, Colleges, Universities, and other institutions are not and will not commonly be under threat of losing their SEVP status. Notable schools go to great lengths to follow the rules and have legal counsel who work tirelessly to ensure that all necessary paperwork is in place, making life easier for international students.
However, based on the examples above, we know that it can happen. Here’s what you should do:
Do not panic: This is easier said than done, but do not panic. You are not currently in immediate danger of visa termination, but you will need to act swiftly. It is also the institution’s responsibility to act on your behalf to help you determine the next steps.
Connect with your school’s DSO: Designated School Officials and their support staff are there to help you and serve as a liaison between you and the U.S. State Department as you go through the process of figuring out the next steps. They should be able to provide you with a timeline of what will come next and also inform you of any requirements to proceed.
Plan your next move: For most students impacted when SEVP fails, the best (and path with least resistance) will be transferring to another SEVP-certified school. Your SEVIS record can usually be transferred, but only if your current school is not required to assist you with the transfer. If you need to transfer, please contact the admissions department at the school you wish to attend and prepare to provide them with the necessary documentation so they can assess whether space is available for you.
Legal Assistance: Even if you are working on transferring, it is still advisable to consult an immigration attorney. Many of them specialize in pro-bono (no cost) or low-cost options to help international students navigate their visas and can help guide you on other areas of concern to consider as you move forward.
Leave and Return Later: For some students, leaving the U.S. and applying for a new visa within 6-12 months at a new school may be needed, depending on their realistic options. As long as you were in good standing (all paid fees, no criminal record, etc) when your school’s SEVP certification was revoked, you will be eligible to return to the country to study again. Still, it may take a longer timeline than initially expected.
The conversation about SEVP is broad and has been a national interest for decades, alongside the discussion of understanding how the country interacts with and receives international talent. Still, it is slightly louder at the moment, and it’s essential to understand not only where you stand if you are on a visa, but also how to get your status back if it’s lost.
Do you go to a school that is SEVP certified? Are you concerned about your school losing its status? LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW.
Until the next one.
-K
Known as The Study Abroad Specialist, I am a serial-study abroader turned International Education coach and expert. Since 2014, I have been helping students navigate their semester away journey from the coastal areas of Spain to China and every place in between through (mostly free) online content and low-cost advising.
I hold two Master's degrees from two well-respected London-based universities and have experience working in the US, UK & and Italy.
In my spare time (what's that again?), I enjoy leisure travel city breaks, any snow-based activity, skeet shooting (not that greatly though!), and attempting to learn new languages.
kimber
Known as The Study Abroad Specialist, I am a serial-study abroader turned International Education coach and expert. Since 2014, I have been helping students navigate their semester away journey from the coastal areas of Spain to China and every place in between through (mostly free) online content and low-cost advising. I hold two Master's degrees from two well-respected London-based universities and have experience working in the US, UK & and Italy. In my spare time (what's that again?), I enjoy leisure travel city breaks, any snow-based activity, skeet shooting (not that greatly though!), and attempting to learn new languages.
