SEVIS Termination vs. SEVIS Completion

SEVIS Termination and SEVIS Completion represent distinct outcomes for an F-1 student’s record within the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Here’s a breakdown of the differences:

SEVIS Termination

What it means:

A SEVIS termination indicates that the student’s F-1 status record in the SEVIS database has been ended, often before the expected program completion date. This usually signifies that the student is no longer considered to be maintaining their F-1 status.

Reasons:

Terminations can occur for various reasons, categorized as either “negative” or “neutral”.

Negative Reasons:

These imply a violation of F-1 status regulations and can have serious immigration consequences. Common negative reasons include:

• Failure to enroll or maintain a full course of study without authorization.
• Unauthorized employment.
• Unauthorized withdrawal from classes.
• Academic suspension or expulsion.
• Failure to report OPT employment or exceeding unemployment limits.
• Failure to report to the school upon arrival (“No Show”).

Neutral/Administrative Reasons:

These are often procedural and may not carry negative immigration implications. Examples include:

• Authorized Early Withdrawal (e.g., approved leave of absence).
• Change of Status Approved (student changed to another visa status).
• Death.

Consequences:

A SEVIS termination, especially for negative reasons, results in the immediate loss of F-1 status and associated benefits like employment authorization (on-campus, CPT, OPT). The student typically has no grace period to remain in the U.S. (unless the termination reason is “Authorized Early Withdrawal,” which allows 15 days) and may begin accruing unlawful presence. Re-entry to the U.S. on the terminated SEVIS record is not possible. Corrective action usually involves applying for reinstatement with USCIS or departing and re-entering with a new I-20 and SEVIS record.

SEVIS Completion

What it means:

SEVIS completion signifies that the student has successfully finished their program of study according to the dates and requirements listed on their Form I-20. It is the standard, expected end to an F-1 student’s academic program when they have maintained status throughout.

Reasons:

The reason is simply that the student has graduated or otherwise fulfilled all requirements for their course of study.

SEVIS Action:

The Designated School Official (DSO) updates the student’s SEVIS record to “Completed” status.

Consequences:

Upon program completion (and the end of any authorized post-completion OPT), the student enters a standard 60-day grace period. During this time, they are still considered to be maintaining status and can prepare to depart the U.S., apply to transfer to another school, or apply to change to a different visa status. They cannot continue employment unless on authorized post-completion OPT that extends into the grace period.

Always communicate proactively with your DSO if you have questions about your status or anticipate issues with completing your program(or OPT/CPT) on time.