Under a new federal mandate, all international students in the United States must register by Aug. 1 in a Web-based student tracking system, SEVIS, or Student and Visitor Information System, in order to maintain lawful status.
Guardian
Earlier registration is required for international students going back to their native country in the summer, so they can be issued a new I-20 form called SEVIS I-20, allowing them re-entry to the United States. The government is able to keep track of all the foreign exchange students attending universities around the country with this universal Web-based system.
Government-required data on international students from the UCSD International Student and Scholar Office is uploaded into a SEVIS compliant software program and then sent to the Web-based SEVIS, where, in theory, all governmental and educational institutions can have access to the same information.
“”Since January 1, when UCSD became a SEVIS-approved institution, we have been entering students and advising them of the new rules,”” said Kim Jackson, associate adviser for the International Center.
International students must fill out a SEVIS form with their most current information, updating any changes from the records already in ISSO.
“”All I understand that is required is for us to fill in a new form with personal information,”” said Charles To, a UCSD international student from Hong Kong. “”I don’t think it will really affect international students that much.””
But male international students from a list of more than 20 selected countries also need to complete an additional special registration called National Security Entry-Exit Registration System or NSEERS, which is effective now. NSEERS is a more involved process than SEVIS. Thorough interviews are conducted by the Immigration and Naturalization Services, and before an individual registered in NSEERS can leave the country, that individual must be interviewed again by an INS official at the point of departure.
“”I was born in Iran, but I grew up in Luxembourg. I am a Luxembourg citizen. But I still had to register,”” said Borzo Baradari, a UCSD Education Abroad Program student from King’s College in London. Baradari is not a citizen of Iran.
According to what is stated in a U.S. federal mandate, any foreign national who came to the United States on or before the Sept. 30, 2002, deadline does not have to register under NSEERS. Baradari came shortly after that date.
Before leaving on a 10-day backpacking trip to Mexico, Baradari verified with ISSO that he did not have to register. Upon his return at the U.S./Mexico border, INS officials detained him, handcuffed him and required that he register for NSEERS.
“”They told me that the university had lied to me, that I had to register,”” Baradari said.
The INS later informed Baradari that officials at the border had made a mistake. Baradari has since mailed a complaint against the INS.
“”There is a lapse of time between when a new regulation is announced and when everyone around the chain of command is familiar with it,”” Baradari said. “”The questions they asked me were information that the Department of Justice already has. They are on my F-1 visa. But the INS told me they did not have access to the Department of Justice.””
The UCSD international center fully supports Baradari.
“”The incident with Borzo [Baradari] is a good example of how new regulations are rushed into without careful thought and consideration,”” Jackson said.
With the successful establishment of SEVIS, such communication problems should be minimized. SEVIS is designed so that all relevant information regarding entry and exit of the country, and activities of foreign nationals ,will be accessed by all parties approved for SEVIS login, including ISSO and the Department of Homeland Security.
“”SEVIS has not been put into use yet and has yet to prove itself,”” Jackson said. “”The positive side of SEVIS is a long time coming.””
Yet, SEVIS offers the possibility of security.
“”With access to the same information, we can stop the flow of unwanted non-citizens, and then America can be secure enough to welcome international students,”” Jackson said.
According to Jackson, there are two types of issues that face international students. One type is getting a student visa to study in the United States. The second type is maintaining lawful status. Last fall, UCSD had only a handful of problems of the first type with visa delays and denials. For the second type, the student needs to notify ISSO of any changes in address, major, full-time status, and amount and source of funding. International students need to state their source of funding, who their sponsors are and have at least a required amount of money in the bank to pay for tuition.
“”Less than 1 percent of our students have problems maintaining legal status,”” Jackson said.
Students who have fallen out of status with ISSO’s guidance can apply for reinstatement to status at the local INS office.
Not all international students have been greatly affected by these new policies.
Kinuko Kanda, a UCSD international student majoring in political science, said, “”Since I am Japanese, and Japan is not a target of NSEERS, I don’t feel like things changed much around me.””
Baradari however, questions the true intent of the registration.
“”Middle Eastern countries were first on the NSEERS list,”” Baradari said. “”It is also only the males that have to register. All this is just racial discrimination.””
The new SEVIS policy is of little concern to those international students who are not from targeted NSEERS countries.
Joe Chan, a UCSD international student from Hong Kong, said, “”So far I haven’t gotten into any trouble because of the new policy, but I feel the government is being more cautious [with] international students.””
The people and environment of the United States attracted Chan.
“”I came to the U.S. because I think studying abroad can broaden one’s horizon and [can help one] meet more people of different kinds,”” Chan said. “”I have been meeting a lot of people and learning a lot since I came to UCSD. I hope that UCSD can admit more international students so as to create a diversified environment.””
According to Kanda, international students face much hardship with English coursework and especially with making friends.
“”I want to tell students at UCSD to be more aware of the amount of trouble international students are going through,”” Kanda said.
After spring quarter, Baradari will return to London since the exchange program is only for one year.
“”The way the INS approached me or Middle Easterners is disrespectful. That is the problem,”” Baradari said. “”I had no problems with people here. No problems with Americans. It was just this situation.””
Kanda will graduate after spring. She looks forward to the future.
“”I plan on getting a job here, working for an international organization, maybe a nonprofit one,”” Kanda said.
As a last comment, Baradari said, “”Studying here was a good experience, but what happened was also part of the experience.””
