What Is the SEVP Portal?
Quick Answer
The SEVP Portal is an online self-service platform managed by ICE where F-1 students on STEM OPT can directly report and update their personal information, including U.S. address, employer details, and employer name or address changes. It provides STEM OPT students with a way to fulfill their reporting obligations without relying solely on their DSO.
Key Takeaway
If you are on STEM OPT, you must use the SEVP Portal to report any changes to your address or employer information within 10 days—failing to do so can result in SEVIS termination and loss of your OPT status.
Overview of the SEVP Portal
The SEVP Portal (Student and Exchange Visitor Program Portal) is a web-based platform created by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) specifically for F-1 students on the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Launched to improve reporting efficiency and reduce the administrative burden on DSOs, the portal allows eligible students to directly update certain information in their SEVIS record without having to visit their school's international student office.
The portal is accessible at sevp.ice.gov/opt and requires students to create an account using the information from their SEVIS record. Once logged in, students can view their current SEVIS information, update their U.S. residential address, report changes to their employer's name or address, and confirm that their reported information is accurate.
It is important to understand that the SEVP Portal is available only to students on the STEM OPT extension—students on the initial 12-month post-completion OPT or pre-completion OPT do not have access to the portal and must report all changes through their DSO.
What You Can Do in the SEVP Portal
The SEVP Portal provides a limited but important set of self-service functions for STEM OPT students. The primary actions available include updating your U.S. physical address, reporting a change to your employer's name (such as after a company merger or rebranding), and reporting a change to your employer's physical address. Each update submitted through the portal is sent to your DSO for review and validation in SEVIS.
The portal also allows students to view their current SEVIS record information, including their SEVIS ID, program dates, OPT authorization dates, and reported employer details. This can be helpful for verifying that your record is accurate and up to date before making any immigration filings or traveling internationally.
Students cannot use the SEVP Portal to add a new employer, report the start of a new job with a different company, or make changes to their academic program. Those actions must still be initiated through the DSO. The portal is specifically designed for updating existing information rather than reporting new employment events.
- Update U.S. residential address
- Report change to employer's name
- Report change to employer's address
- View current SEVIS record details
- Confirm accuracy of reported information
Reporting Obligations for STEM OPT Students
STEM OPT students have heightened reporting obligations compared to students on the initial 12-month OPT. Under the STEM OPT regulations, students must report any change in their name, address, or employer information to their DSO within 10 days. The SEVP Portal facilitates some of these reporting requirements by allowing direct self-service updates.
In addition to the 10-day reporting requirement, STEM OPT students must complete a semi-annual self-validation in the SEVP Portal or through their DSO. This validation confirms that the student is still working for the reported employer, that the employment is directly related to their STEM degree, and that the terms and conditions of the Form I-983 Training Plan are being met.
Failure to complete reporting obligations or the semi-annual validation can result in the DSO recommending SEVIS termination. Once a SEVIS record is terminated, the student is considered out of status and must either apply for reinstatement or depart the United States. Given the serious consequences, STEM OPT students should set calendar reminders for their validation deadlines.
The SEVP Portal only handles address and employer name/address changes. Adding a new employer, reporting unemployment, or making any other changes still requires contacting your DSO directly.
Setting Up and Accessing Your SEVP Portal Account
To create a SEVP Portal account, you need your SEVIS ID number (from your I-20), your date of birth, and a valid email address. The system will verify your identity against the SEVIS database before granting access. If the information you enter does not match what is in SEVIS, you will not be able to create the account and should contact your DSO to verify your records.
Once your account is created, you should log in periodically to verify that your information is current and accurate. Some students have reported issues with the portal not reflecting recent changes made by their DSO, so it is good practice to cross-check portal information with your latest I-20 and any recent communications from your DSO.
If you experience technical issues with the SEVP Portal, you can contact the SEVP Response Center for assistance. Additionally, your DSO can always make the same updates in SEVIS directly, so the portal is a convenience tool rather than the only means of fulfilling reporting obligations.