Saturday, March 29, 2025
US Restores SEVIS Status for Indian Students : The US government recently reinstated SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) records for many Indian students whose records were previously terminated. However, this restoration does not reinstate their F-1 visas, which remain revoked, leaving many students stranded in India and unsure of how to return to the US.
Indian students who fled the US after receiving SEVIS termination notices are now finding their records quietly restored. Despite this, their F-1 visas remain invalid for re-entry. This situation has caused confusion and frustration among students who thought they were following the proper legal procedures.
One student from Telangana, who fled the US after a sudden SEVIS termination, checked his record and found that his status had been restored. “I was shocked,” he said. “But now, my SEVIS is active, and my visa is still revoked. I’m stuck in India with no clear path forward.”
Many of these students fled the US due to fear of detention or deportation, fueled by misinformation or threatening language in their visa revocation notices. They acted quickly, but later learned their SEVIS status would be restored.
While SEVIS reinstatement allows students to continue their studies or work on OPT (Optional Practical Training), those who have left the country now face a significant challenge. Their visas remain revoked, preventing re-entry without applying for a new visa. The legal challenges surrounding these revocations remain unresolved in court. US Restores SEVIS Status for Indian Students
Houston-based immigration attorney Rahul Reddy explained that the SEVIS restorations came as a result of legal pressure, not a shift in government policy. “The SEVIS restorations stemmed from lawsuits, not from a change in government approach,” Reddy said. “But the visa revocations were never challenged in court, and the State Department still holds the power to revoke visas.”
The experiences of many students show how widespread these issues are. A 26-year-old woman from Hyderabad, working on OPT, saw her SEVIS reinstated after her visa was revoked due to a dismissed shoplifting charge. She now faces uncertainty about her future. “My SEVIS is back, but I have no visa now. I don’t know how to tell my parents who took out a huge loan for my education,” she said.
Another student from Texas, who was selected in the H-1B visa lottery, saw his SEVIS reinstated but his visa remained revoked. “I didn’t expect my SEVIS to come back, but now that it has, I’m stuck in India,” he said.
A US State Department spokesperson clarified that SEVIS and visas are handled by separate entities. “Reinstating a SEVIS record does not reinstate a visa,” the spokesperson said. “Individuals whose visas have been revoked must apply for new visas to re-enter the US.”
Even though many students had their SEVIS records reinstated, they continue to face an uncertain future. They are unsure whether to pursue legal action, reapply for visas, or wait for further developments.
“I followed all the rules, but now I’m stuck at home with an active SEVIS record and no way to return to the US,” said the student from Telangana.
