In order to enter the United States and study at Midlands Technical College, international students must comply with U.S. immigration laws and regulations as set by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the United States Department of State (DOS). Midlands Technical College has several staff members who serve as Designated School Officials (DSO). They can provide information and authorization to the student on some immigration issues.

The staff member that students go to first is the International Student Coordinator.

Student and Exchange Visitor System (SEVIS):

SEVIS is a computer database operated by USCIS that maintains information on all international students in the United States holding F-1, J-1, or M-1 visas. All students with these Visas must be registered in SEVIS and possess an I-20 form generated by SEVIS. Midlands Technical College issues I-20 forms for students seeking F-1 visas only.

The SEVIS Fee:

The SEVIS I-901 fee is mandated by Congress to support the program office and the automated system that keeps track of students and exchange visitors and ensures that they maintain their status while in the United States. Each student issued an initial Form I-20 on after September 1, 2004 is responsible for paying this fee to SEVP. There are some exceptions.

The fee is used to:

• Maintain and update SEVIS
• Hire and train SEVIS Liaison Officers
• Staff and manage the SEVP Office to:
  • Support the current version of SEVIS and continue to add enhancements
  • Develop SEVP policies and procedures
  • Offer SEVIS-related training, assistance and problem resolution to the schools and exchange visitor program sponsors
• Maintain enforcement oversight to ensure that:
  • Schools and exchange visitor program sponsors are maintaining accurate, timely information
  • Students or exchange visitors who fail to maintain status either leave the United States or apply for reinstatement

This fee is paid directly to SEVIS after the student receives the I-20. DO NOT PAY THIS FEE TO Midlands Technical College.

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