What is the primary purpose of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)?

The primary purpose of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is indeed to manage and monitor schools and exchange visitor programs in the U.S. SEVP operates within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and plays a crucial role in maintaining compliance with U.S. immigration regulations as they pertain to non-immigrant students and exchange visitors. By overseeing these educational and exchange programs, SEVP ensures that institutions adhere to the necessary standards and that students are in valid status while studying or participating in exchange programs in the country.

This function includes maintaining the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which tracks and monitors schools and exchange visitors, facilitating the reporting and data collection necessary for compliance. The emphasis on managing and monitoring schools and programs is vital for upholding the integrity of the U.S. immigration system as it relates to education and ensuring that foreign nationals are participating in authorized educational exchanges.

In contrast, processing visa applications for students is handled by the consular officers and specific visa categories rather than SEVP, which focuses on post-visa issuance. Enforcing immigration regulations for citizens pertains more to different aspects of immigration and customs enforcement rather than the educational programs specifically. Additionally, while some organizations may provide financial aid, this is not the