SEVIS Activation & Orientation

SEVIS Activation with the ISSS Office is a mandatory process done right before classes start after you have arrived to the U.S./to Stevens and must be completed before starting your program at Stevens. The process is required by the Department of Homeland Security, and ensures that all students who are beginning their F-1 or J-1 program at Stevens have arrived and are ready to begin.

Completing the Mandatory SEVIS Activation Form is essential for compliance with U.S. Department of Homeland Security regulations and University policies. Failure to timely check in and produce your documents to the ISSS Office may result in the loss of your lawful F-1 status.

Please review the SEVIS Activation Guide to answer many questions you might have while completing your SEVIS Activation Form.

SEVIS Activation (previously called ISSS Check-In) is conducted virtually, through an ISSS Student Portal and should be completed only after the student's arrival to Stevens. The ISSS Student Portal will be made accessible to newly admitted students 30 days prior to the start date of program listed on their Form I-20.

Students who are in the United States and are ready to begin their academic program at Stevens should follow the below instructions to complete SEVIS Activation.

Please use the SEVIS Activation Resources in order to complete the SEVIS Activation. You will need your Stevens credentials found in your admissions information in order to access the form.

If you have any questions regarding SEVIS Activation, please email ISSS at [email protected]. 

The SEVIS Activation Guide will answer many questions you have about completing SEVIS Activation.

Additional questions regarding the SEVIS Activation Form may be sent to [email protected].

All students beginning a new F-1 or J-1 program at Stevens must complete SEVIS Activation prior to the semester start date in order to activate their F-1 or J-1 SEVIS Records at Stevens.

This includes students who are transferring from another U.S. Institution, students who had previously studied at Stevens and are now returning to continue their program, students who were previously studying on a different immigration status (such as H-4), and previous Stevens students who are beginning a new degree level. SEVIS Activation is mandatory regardless of if the student traveled outside of the U.S. between their previous program and arriving at Stevens.

Students that do not complete the SEVIS Activation form in the ISSS Portal within 5 days of their arrival will receive a SEVIS Activation Workday hold on their academic records. The SEVIS Activation Workday hold will be removed 2-3 business days after submission.

The SEVIS Activation Workday Hold does not have any impact on your program and is placed on your records as a reminder of the requirement.

As a reminder, the SEVIS Activation Form cannot be submitted prior to August 3, 2025 (within 30 days of the program start date). The student must be in the United States and reporting to Stevens at the time of their SEVIS Activation Form submission.

You may begin your program as planned while the SEVIS Activation Hold is on your account. It will not impact your ability to choose or change classes or to attend your orientation or courses once the semester begins.

While the form is called a 'transcript hold', submission of transcripts is not necessary to remove the hold.