In some specialized cases, to comply with U.S. Immigration laws and regulations, International Student Services is required to terminate the SEVIS records of F and J visa holders who fail to maintain or violate their non-immigrant status while in the United States.
The reason for the SEVIS record termination varies depending the student and/or dependent circumstances. Each termination reason can be considered neutral or negative:
- Negative termination reasons will likely cause difficulties on future visa applications or ability to return to the United States in the future, regardless of which visa category you would seek to return to the U.S.
- Neutral termination reasons will not cause difficulties on future visa applications or entries to the United States.
Most terminations reasons do not include a grace period that would grant additional time to depart the United States from the date the SEVIS record is terminated. The charts below list the most-common reasons for student and dependent terminations as well as when those reasons are used, if the reason is negative or neutral, and if it includes a grace period. However, it is not an extensive list of all SEVIS termination reasons.
Termination Reasons in SEVIS
F-1 Student Terminations Reasons
|
Reason
|
Used when ...
|
Negative or Neutral
|
Grace Period
|
| Authorized Early Withdrawal |
- A request to withdraw from a program of study was approved for the student by a Designated School Official (DSO).
- The student will interrupt studies for the term.
- The student cannot maintain enrollment at the school during the term.
|
Neutral
|
F-1 student must leave the U.S. within 15 days of the termination.
|
| Change of Status Approved |
- USCIS approved student’s change of status out of F.
- USCIS approved student’s adjustment of status to Permanent Residency.
|
Neutral
|
|
| Failure to Enroll |
The student fails to enroll in a full course of study the next session the student is expected.
|
Negative
|
U.S. Immigration does not allow a grace period and expects you to depart the U.S. immediately.
|
| Otherwise Failing to Maintain |
The student has not maintained status and no other termination reasons apply.
|
Negative
|
U.S. Immigration does not allow a grace period and expects you to depart the U.S. immediately.
|
| Suspension |
The student is suspended from school and can no longer maintain a full course of study.
|
Negative
|
U.S. Immigration does not allow a grace period and expects you to depart the U.S. immediately.
|
| Unauthorized Drop Below Full Course |
The student is not currently enrolled in a full course of study, and a reduced course load was not approved by the DSO in advance.
|
Negative
|
U.S. Immigration does not allow a grace period and expects you to depart the U.S. immediately.
|
| Unauthorized Employment |
The DSO has evidence the student is or was employed, and the DSO knows the student does or did not have work permission for all or part of that employment.
|
Negative
|
U.S. Immigration does not allow a grace period and expects you to depart the U.S. immediately.
|
F-2 Dependent Terminations Reasons
|
Reason
|
Used when ...
|
Negative or Neutral
|
Grace Period
|
| Divorce |
The dependent is the spouse of a student, and the student and spouse are divorced.
|
|
|
| Other |
- The dependent has not maintained status and no other termination reason applies.
- The dependent has changed to another non-immigrant status, such as to F student.
|
- Negative
- Neutral
|
- U.S. Immigration does not allow a grace period and expects you to depart the U.S. immediately.
- N/A
|
| Unauthorized Employment |
The DSO has reliable evidence the dependent is or was employed, and the DSO knows the dependent does not or did not have any form of work permission.
|
Negative
|
U.S. Immigration does not allow a grace period and expects you to depart the U.S. immediately.
|