UTE8775
ORIGIN VO-01    

INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AF-00    AIT-03   AMAD-00  AOP-00   AEX-00   
      AS-01    A-00     CA-01    COME-00  CCOE-00  DIM-00   ANHR-00  
      WHA-00   DS-00    MEDE-00  EAP-00   EB-00    EUR-00   UTED-00  
      VC-00    FSI-00   OBO-00   H-01     TEDE-00  INSE-00  IO-00    
      VCE-00   MMP-00   MOFM-05  M-00     AC-01    NEA-00   NSAE-00  
      OIG-03   PER-00   PM-00    ACE-00   SCT-00   IRM-00   SSO-00   
      SS-00    TEST-00  USIE-00  SA-00    FMP-00   R-00     ECA-00   
      SDBU-00  PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-00   ALM-00   SAS-00   PMA-00   
        /016R


SOURCE: DISKETTE.025344
DRAFTED BY: CA/VO/F/P:TWSMITH:TWS -- 02/03/03 202-663-1156 APPROVED BY: CA:CBARRY 
CA/VO/F:MBREGAN  CA/VO/F/P:DWMERZ ECA/EC/ECD:SLAWRENCE USINS:MSJARINA  
CA/VO/F/S:MLSARDINAS CA/VO/L:SKFISCHEL CA/VO/P:LAPIASCIK CA/P:EHVAZQUEZ
M:EROONEY   S/ES-O:KINGMANSON
DESIRED DISTRIBUTION:
CA, ECA, CA/VO, ECA/EC/ECD
                  ------------------31F9F7  061514Z /38    
R 061447Z FEB 03
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS
SPECIAL EMBASSY PROGRAM
AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 
AMEMBASSY KABUL 
AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 


UNCLAS STATE 034372
VISAS, FOR CONSULS, ALSO FOR PAO'S


O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS, KPAO
SUBJECT: SEVIS GRACE PERIOD


REF: A) STATE 26911, B) STATE 1452 AND PREVIOUS


      Reftel A informed the field that the INS Student and 
Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) full
implementation date has been pushed back two weeks to
February 15, 2003.  The full text of the INS
announcement, which refers to the two week delay as a
grace period to accommodate schools and exchange visitor programs 
experiencing difficulties in becoming compliant with SEVIS, is 
provided in para four.  Reftel A also stated that the Department's 
Interim Student and Exchange Authentication System (ISEAS) will 
remain available during this grace period and that all established 
ISEAS procedures remain in place.
      One issue not addressed directly in Reftel A is the
impact on Forms I-20 and DS-2019 issued by educational institutions 
and exchange visitor program sponsors during the grace period; i.e. 
through February 14, 2003. Essentially, the ISEAS-to-SEVIS transition 
period referred to in Reftel B and prior cables commences on February 15, 
rather than January 30.  Therefore, for all Forms I-20 and DS-2019 
issued through February 14, 2003, whether they are the older "paper" 
documents or created within SEVIS, educational institutions and exchange 
visitor program sponsors have been instructed to continue to enter ISEAS 
records.  Non-SEVIS documents issued during the grace period are valid for 
the purposes of visa application, entry to the U.S., etc.
      When presented with a Form I-20 or DS-2019 issued prior
to February 15, 2003, ISEAS remains viable as a
verification tool for both "paper" forms and SEVIS forms.
Once SEVIS records become available to posts, users can
opt to use SEVIS to verify any SEVIS-generated I-20 or
DS-2019.  When such verifications are successful there is
no need to double-check and verify the record in ISEAS. However, 
for SEVIS documents issued prior to February 15, 2003, where 
there is no supporting SEVIS record, consular employees should 
check ISEAS before suspending the case under 221(g) and advising 
the applicant to contact his or her institution regarding the need 
for an electronic record.  Per ISEAS procedures, for any document 
issued before February 15, 2003, electronic verification can be 
accomplished within ISEAS, or via e-mail verification according to 
the workaround procedures described in ISEAS guidance cables.  
For documents issued on or after February 15, 2003, SEVIS will be 
the only option for electronic verification, and there will be no 
e-mail workaround option.
      Text of INS announcement: SEVIS GRACE PERIOD


On January 1, 2003, the Immigration and Naturalization
Service (INS) completed the deployment of its Student and 
Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and over three 
thousand schools have been admitted to use the system.  In 
order to accommodate schools and exchange visitor programs 
that are new users of SEVIS, the INS has decided to grant 
a grace period, until February 15, 2003.
During this period, the Service encourages schools and
exchange visitor programs to enter information and issue
forms through the SEVIS system as anticipated by our 
regulations, but we will continue to accept forms issued 
under the previous paper system to accommodate schools 
that may have initial difficulty accessing or using SEVIS.  
Schools that have difficulties should report them promptly 
to the SEVIS Help Desk so that INS and the schools may 
use this period effectively to work together to resolve 
problems and make the transition to SEVIS one that works 
for INS, the schools, and the foreign students.
INS will not accept forms issued after February 15, 2003, 
unless they were issued through SEVIS.


 Minimize considered.
POWELL


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