SEVP and SEVIS Operational During Shutdown: Can DSOs Issue I-20s?

As the United States 🇺🇸 entered a partial federal government shutdown on October 1, 2025, the immediate question for international students, schools, and employers was whether student immigration services would slow or stop. The core answer is clear: SEVP and SEVIS remain operational, and Designated School Officials (DSOs) can keep issuing and updating Form I-20 without interruption. These functions continue because the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) are funded by fees rather than annual congressional spending.

That fee-funded structure, administered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), places SEVP and SEVIS outside the direct reach of shutdown furloughs and allows schools to keep student processes moving during the funding lapse.

Why SEVP/SEVIS stay open during a shutdown

Many federal services pause in a shutdown if they rely on yearly appropriations. When a program’s budget comes from application or compliance fees, however, the agency can usually run most day-to-day work.

• SEVP and SEVIS are fee-funded, not dependent on annual appropriations.
• SEVP oversees schools that enroll F-1 academic and M-1 vocational students.
• SEVIS is the secure platform where DSOs create and update student and school records.
• Fees include the I-901 SEVIS fee paid by students for visa processing or status changes.

Because SEVP and SEVIS don’t depend on a congressional spending vote to fund core operations, they remain open even if Congress has not passed a new spending bill. ICE treats these operations as essential services for the student visa system — a pattern that has held in past shutdowns as well.

SEVP and SEVIS are insulated from shutdown effects because they are supported by fees, enabling schools and DSOs to continue issuing and updating Form I-20 and maintaining student records.

What stays running — and what may slow

What continues:
– DSOs can issue and update Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status for:
– New admits needing F-1 or M-1 visas
– Continuing students with program changes, travel needs, or employment recommendations
– Transfers, reinstatements, program extensions, and STEM OPT recommendations
– SEVIS remains available for enrollment, address updates, and other compliance reporting
– The I-901 SEVIS fee payment system remains operational

What may pause or slow (outside SEVP/SEVIS):
– Department of Labor (DOL) functions that rely on appropriated funds, such as:
– Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) for H-1B filings
– PERM (permanent labor certification) for employment-based green cards
– Some consular services (Department of State) can vary by post and local conditions
– Third-party vendor or school IT systems that interface with SEVIS may have their own limits

This split picture means families in mixed-status situations can experience confusion: students typically see steadier progress through SEVP/SEVIS, while workers and employers may encounter DOL-related pauses.

Guidance for DSOs (operational reminders)

DSOs should continue regular work and compliance as usual. Key actions include:

1. Keep SEVIS reporting on time for:
   • Enrollment verification
   • Address updates
   • Status and program changes
2. Continue issuing and signing Form I-20 for:
   • Initial attendance and travel
   • Transfers and program extensions
   • Employment authorizations allowed by regulation (OPT, STEM OPT recommendations)
3. Document student conversations and decisions in student records to support audits or reviews
4. Remind students that standard rules still apply (full-time enrollment, reporting duties, program end dates)

Important: A shutdown does not waive student compliance rules. DSOs must authorize approved reduced course loads in SEVIS before students drop below full-time for medical reasons, just as in normal times.

Guidance for international students (practical steps)

Students should follow routine processes and keep in close contact with their school international office:

• New students:
  • Provide required documentation and proof of funding to obtain Form I-20
  • Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee as required before visa interviews or port-of-entry admission
• Continuing students:
  • Request I-20s for travel, employment training recommendations, or status updates as needed
  • Keep local address current in SEVIS through your school
  • Maintain a full course load unless a DSO approves a reduced load
  • Carry a properly signed I-20 for travel outside the U.S.
• OPT/STEM OPT applicants:
  • Ensure DSO recommendations appear on the I-20 before filing
  • Follow the school’s recommended timeline for applications

If you have trouble retrieving I-901 payment confirmations, your school can help match payment records to your SEVIS ID on the Form I-20.

Differences between student and employer-related immigration steps

• Student-related processes rely on SEVP/SEVIS and school-issued Form I-20; these continue during shutdowns.
• Employer-related processes often require DOL activities (e.g., LCAs) that may pause during a shutdown, blocking downstream USCIS filings.
• USCIS largely uses fee funding and typically continues core case processing, but some appropriations-tied programs may pause.

Plan accordingly: do not assume all immigration services are fully open or fully closed — the reality is mixed.

School contingency planning and student support

Schools with large international populations often prepare contingency plans that include:
– Staffing DSOs during federal lapses
– Maintaining SEVIS reporting schedules
– Communicating clearly with students about which services continue and which do not

Most institutions intend to staff DSOs and keep international offices operating. If a school uses a smaller team during the shutdown, response times may vary, but SEVIS access and I-20 issuance remain available.

Common questions answered

• Will a shutdown block new I-20s for January starts?
  • No. Schools can continue creating new I-20s and adjusting program start dates, provided changes align with school policy and federal rules.
• Will DSOs be reachable?
  • Generally yes — DSOs are part of campus operations. Continue contacting your international office by email, phone, or appointment.
• Does the shutdown change travel/visa operations at consulates?
  • Consular services are run by the Department of State and can vary by post. Students should check local consulate guidance.

Official resources

For authoritative program information, ICE maintains public guidance:
– SEVP main portal: https://www.ice.gov/sevis
– Form I-20 guidance: https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i20

These pages remain the go-to resources for I-20 creation, updates, and signature requirements.

Risks and caveats to watch

• Delays can still arise from:
  • Non-SEVP steps (e.g., DOL processes for spouses/employers)
  • International travel disruptions
  • School or vendor IT and synchronization issues
  • Local services (housing, banking, state IDs) operating on their own schedules
• A prolonged shutdown could create secondary effects, but as long as SEVP/SEVIS remain fee-funded and ICE designates them as continuing, the systems should keep operating.

Quick checklist for students while the shutdown continues

• Your school can still issue and update your Form I-20.
• SEVIS is active for record updates, transfers, and status maintenance.
• Continue meeting regular student obligations — a shutdown is not an exemption.
• Expect delays for processes outside SEVP, especially those involving the Department of Labor — discuss timing with your DSO.

The bottom line: while a federal shutdown creates uncertainty and can slow some immigration-related services, the student visa system — administered through fee-funded SEVP and SEVIS — continues to function. DSOs can perform their responsibilities without interruption, and students can request, receive, and use Form I-20 documents to start or continue their programs. Stay in close contact with your school’s international office for case-specific guidance.