
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a web-based system that tracks and monitors F, M, and J nonimmigrants and their dependents throughout their time in the US education system or a designated exchange program. SEVIS users include designated school officials (DSOs) and exchange visitor program sponsors. It is important for international students to keep their SEVIS address up to date, as this is the address the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) will use to contact them for official government business.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To collect information on F, M, and J nonimmigrants, including their number, location, and field of study |
| Users | Schools, exchange visitor program sponsors, designated school officials, responsible officers, and alternate responsible officers |
| Address Requirements | Street address, city, state, and postal code; no PO boxes or department addresses; no punctuation or apartment complex names |
| Address Validation | SEVIS uses address check software to verify addresses; if not recognized, a DSO can override the default address |
| Address Changes | International students must report any address changes to their DSO within 10 days; DSO will then update the SEVIS record |
| Communication | SEVP will use the mailing address in SEVIS for official government business and notifications; will not call or email |
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What You'll Learn

SEVIS address standards
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a web-based system that tracks and monitors F, M, and J nonimmigrants and dependents throughout their time in the U.S. education system or a designated exchange visitor program. SEVIS maintains records on these nonimmigrants and receives updated information from schools and sponsors, including changes of address and program study.
To ensure that your address is correct in SEVIS, you must regularly report any changes to your designated school official (DSO). Federal regulations require that you report a change of address to a DSO within 10 days of the change to maintain your student status. If your physical address and mailing address in the United States are different, your DSO must have both.
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) will use the mailing address on file in SEVIS to contact you via U.S. postal service for official government business. This includes notifying you if your school loses its SEVP certification or if you are at risk of termination due to non-payment of the SEVIS fee. SEVP will never call you on the phone for these notifications, so it is imperative that your address and contact information are correct in SEVIS.
When entering a U.S. address in SEVIS, follow these standards:
- Do not enter a P.O. Box or department address.
- Do not use punctuation.
- Do not enter the name of your apartment complex.
- If you have entered a U.S. address in the SEVIS address type, change the field back to your international address.
- Enter a U.S. phone number and check the box next to it as your preferred phone number.
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How to update your SEVIS address
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a web-based system that tracks and monitors F, M, and J nonimmigrants and their dependents throughout their time in the U.S. education system or a designated exchange visitor program. SEVIS maintains records on these nonimmigrants and receives updated information from schools and sponsors, including changes of address.
As an F or M student, you must regularly report any changes to your designated school official (DSO) to ensure that your information is correct in SEVIS. Federal regulations require that you report a change of address to a DSO within 10 days of the change to maintain your student status. You can communicate this revision to your DSO in person, by phone, or via email.
Once you have informed your DSO of your new address, they will input the new information into your SEVIS record. If your physical address and mailing address in the United States are different, your DSO must have both.
You can also update your address on the SEVP Portal. To do this, log in to the portal and follow these steps:
- Click 'Edit Profile'.
- Update your physical address in the 'Editable Physical Address' section.
- If your mailing address is different from your physical address, check the 'Add Mailing Address' checkbox and enter your mailing address.
- Click 'Save'.
The portal will verify if your physical and mailing addresses are valid. The system will not save any address it cannot verify.
If your email address changes, you must give the new email address to your DSO, who can enter it into SEVIS. The new email address will be automatically sent to the portal, and you will receive an email to verify your new email address.
If you are an MIT student, you can update your address via WEBSIS (student.mit.edu). If you do not have a temporary or permanent U.S. address because you are studying abroad, use MIT's official address as your U.S. address: 77 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139.
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SEVIS address check software
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a web-based information system that tracks and monitors F, M, and J nonimmigrants and their dependents throughout their time in the US education system or a designated exchange visitor program. SEVIS is managed by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which collects and maintains data to ensure only legitimate foreign students or exchange visitors gain entry to the United States.
SEVIS enables SEVP to ensure proper reporting and record-keeping by schools and exchange visitor programs, maintaining data currency and integrity. It also provides a mechanism to identify student and exchange visitor status violators, allowing appropriate enforcement actions to be taken.
One critical piece of information that must be kept up-to-date in SEVIS is the student's address. When an individual enrols at a US school as an F-1 or M-1 nonimmigrant student, SEVP captures their information in SEVIS, including their US physical address. This address will appear on the Student Information page, with an indication of whether it was immediately recognised by SEVIS as valid or if a Designated School Official (DSO) had to override the default address.
It is important for students to regularly report any changes of address to their DSO within 10 days of the move, as federal regulations require this to maintain student status. The DSO will then input the new address into the student's SEVIS record.
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SEVIS address fields
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a web-based system that tracks and monitors F, M, and J nonimmigrants and their dependents throughout their time in the U.S. education system or a designated exchange visitor program. SEVIS maintains records on these nonimmigrants and receives updated information from schools and sponsors, including changes of address.
International students in the U.S. on an F or M visa must regularly report any changes of address to their designated school official (DSO) to ensure their information is correct in SEVIS. This must be done within 10 days of moving. The DSO will then input the new information into the student's SEVIS record. If a student's physical address and mailing address in the U.S. are different, the DSO must have both.
SEVIS uses address check software to verify if an address is valid. If the address is recognised, the DSO can select the "Accept SEVIS Suggested Address" option or override the suggested address and choose the originally entered address. If the Zip Code or street address is missing, an error message will appear, and the DSO must either cancel the address or enter the Zip Code and click "Submit".
The SEVIS address field should be formatted as follows:
- Address Line 1: House Number, Street Name, and Apt Number (if applicable).
- Address Line 2: City, State, and Postal Code.
Do not enter a P.O. Box, and do not use punctuation or enter the name of your apartment complex.
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SEVIS address types
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a web-based system that tracks and monitors F, M, and J nonimmigrants and their dependents throughout their time in the US education system or a designated exchange program. SEVIS records contain various types of addresses, including physical and mailing addresses.
SEVIS Physical Address
A physical address is a student's residential address in the United States. This address is entered into the SEVIS record by a Designated School Official (DSO) and will appear on the Student Information page. It is important for students to regularly report any changes to their physical address to their DSO to maintain their student status.
SEVIS Mailing Address
The mailing address on file in SEVIS is used by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to contact students for official government business. This includes notifications regarding school closures, loss of SEVP certification, or non-payment of fees. The mailing address is typically associated with a specific street address or set of addresses, such as the main mailing address for the school or the president's office.
Campus Addresses
Campus addresses may not always be recognized by the SEVIS address check software, especially for large schools with their own Zip Codes. To validate a campus address, the school name, residence hall address, and mailbox number can be entered in the "Other" field.
It is important to note that the address status and type displayed in the SEVIS record help classify the address. The address status indicates whether the address was immediately recognized by SEVIS as valid, while the address type indicates the type of mail-receiving facility or dwelling associated with the address.
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Frequently asked questions
SEVIS stands for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. It is a web-based system that tracks and monitors F, M, and J nonimmigrants and their dependents throughout their time in the US education system or a designated exchange program.
SEVIS maintains records on international students, including their addresses, and receives updates from schools and sponsors. The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) will use the mailing address on file in SEVIS to contact students for official government business.
A US physical address is required. The address should include the street address, apartment or house number, city, state, and postal code. Do not enter a P.O. Box.
Report any changes of address to your Designated School Official (DSO) within 10 days of moving. They will then input the new information into your SEVIS record.
If your address is incorrect, you may not receive important communications from SEVP. It is your responsibility to ensure your address is up to date.
























