After 9-11, Congress required Immigration and Customs Enforcement to better track international students. So in 2003, ICE implemented a database for the students called the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
Laurie Cox, UW Madison’s International Student Services Director, says SEVIS allows universities can collect the information about students. Additionally, students can get a print out of their information to bring to their respective consulate for the student visa process. Fees are going up in October to pay for a more efficient, paperless SEVIS that even students can update with things like address changes. (Audio.)