A SEVIS school code is the alphanumeric identifier that the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System assigns to every school certified to enroll F-1 or M-1 students in the United States. You’ll find it printed on your Form I-20, and you can also look it up before your I-20 arrives through the Department of Homeland Security’s public school search tool. You will need this code to pay your I-901 SEVIS fee and to line up your visa paperwork correctly.
What the Code Is
The code is essentially a school’s registration number inside the federal immigration system. It confirms that the institution holds active certification from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which operates under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement within the Department of Homeland Security.1Study in the States. Getting Started with SEVP Certification Only SEVP-certified schools can issue the Form I-20 that F-1 and M-1 students use to apply for a visa.2Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual. 9 FAM 402.5 – Students and Exchange Visitors – F, M, and J Visas A school without one of these codes cannot legally enroll international students in nonimmigrant status.
The format is standardized: a three-letter prefix, usually tied to the school’s location, followed by a string of numbers and letters. A school in the Los Angeles area might carry a code like “LOS214F00291000.” A school in New Jersey might start with “NEW.”
Don’t confuse the school code with your personal SEVIS ID. Your SEVIS ID is the “N-number” (an N followed by digits) that identifies your individual immigration record. It stays with you even if you switch schools. The school code, by contrast, belongs to the institution.
J-1 Exchange Visitors Don’t Use One
If you’re coming to the United States as a J-1 exchange visitor rather than an F-1 or M-1 student, this code does not apply to you. J-1 participants receive a Form DS-2019 instead of an I-20, and their sponsor is identified by a program serial number with a different prefix system, such as G-1 or P-1.2Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual. 9 FAM 402.5 – Students and Exchange Visitors – F, M, and J Visas Make sure you’re looking for the identifier that matches your visa category.
How to Find Your School’s Code
The simplest place to find the code is on your Form I-20. It sits in the School Information section on the first page, next to the school’s name, address, and the name of your Designated School Official (DSO).3Study in the States. SEVP Form Series: Understanding the Form I-20 Write it down as soon as your I-20 arrives, because you’ll need it for the SEVIS fee payment before you can schedule your visa interview.4Study in the States. Paying the I-901 SEVIS Fee
If your I-20 hasn’t arrived yet, there are a few ways to get the code:
- Check your school’s international student services page. Most SEVP-certified schools publish the code there.
- Ask your DSO. The Designated School Official at your prospective school can send it directly.
- Use the DHS School Search tool. The Study in the States website hosts a searchable map of every SEVP-certified institution. You can search by school name, location, or visa type; green and blue icons show whether a school is certified for F-1 students, M-1 students, or both, and a star marks the main campus.5Study in the States. School Search
- Download the certified school list from that same Study in the States page if you want to compare multiple institutions offline.
The School Search tool also works as a verification check. Before you commit tuition money or book travel, confirming that your school appears on the current SEVP-certified list is a simple safeguard against enrolling somewhere that has lost its certification.
Multi-Campus Schools and Branch Codes
Schools with more than one campus don’t always share a single code. When a school adds a branch campus or off-site instructional location to its Form I-17 (the petition that establishes SEVP certification), SEVIS assigns that location its own code as an extension of the main campus code. A main campus might carry “NEW214F00278000” while a satellite of the same school gets “NEW214F00278001.”
This matters because your I-20 must reflect the specific campus where you’ll actually study. If you’re taking classes at a branch location, your DSO needs to issue your I-20 under that campus’s code, not the main campus code. On the School Search tool, multi-campus schools appear as a single listing that expands to show all locations, and the star icon marks the main campus.5Study in the States. School Search
Where You’ll Use the Code
Paying the I-901 SEVIS Fee
Before your visa interview, you must pay the I-901 SEVIS fee, which is $350 for F-1 and M-1 students.6U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. I-901 SEVIS Fee Frequently Asked Questions The online payment form asks for two things printed on your I-20: your personal SEVIS ID number and your school’s SEVIS code.4Study in the States. Paying the I-901 SEVIS Fee Allow at least three business days for the payment to be processed and verified before your interview. If you’re from a country that doesn’t require a visa, you still need to pay the fee and allow processing time before arriving at the U.S. port of entry.
The DS-160 Visa Application
The DS-160, the online nonimmigrant visa application, asks for your SEVIS ID number and the address of the school where you plan to study. Both come from your I-20, so keep the document beside you while you fill out the form.7U.S. Department of State. DS-160: Frequently Asked Questions Any mismatch between what you enter and what your I-20 shows can create problems at your interview.
Dependents on F-2 or M-2 Visas
If you’re bringing a spouse or children with you, each dependent needs their own Form I-20, issued under the same school’s SEVIS code. Your DSO creates these dependent I-20s in SEVIS, and the records are linked to your primary F-1 or M-1 record.
If Your School Loses SEVP Certification
A school’s code only functions while its SEVP certification is active. If DHS withdraws certification, the code becomes unusable for issuing new I-20s or maintaining student records. Students already enrolled are allowed to finish the current semester or term.8Study in the States. Current Students: What to Do if Your School Is No Longer SEVP Certified
If certification is not reinstated, SEVP sends affected students a letter. From the date of withdrawal, you have 30 days to transfer to another SEVP-certified school, change to a different nonimmigrant status, or leave the United States.8Study in the States. Current Students: What to Do if Your School Is No Longer SEVP Certified That window is tight. If you hear anything about your school’s certification being in jeopardy, start lining up backup options right away.