December 2002 issue

On September 11, 2002, the State Department introduced the Interim Student and Exchange Authentication System (ISEAS), which will monitor the visa adjudication process of foreign students and exchange visitors who enter the United States in F, J, or M nonimmigrant visa categories.
As in the past, when a student or exchange visitor accepts an offer to study or engage in other exchange program activities, the approved U.S. institution or program sponsor must complete the appropriate form (academic or language institutions must complete the Form I-20 A-B; vocational schools must complete the Form I-20 M-N, and designated Exchange Visitor programs must complete Form DS-2019).

As of September 11, approved institutions of higher education or other approved educational institutions must also provide the Department of State with electronic evidence of the alien's acceptance at that institution before an F, J or M visa can be issued. To comply with this requirement, academic institutions and program sponsors will enter certain information into the ISEAS web application. Students and exchange visitors should, therefore, confirm with their program organizers that their information has been entered into the ISEAS system.

No student or exchange visitor visas can be issued until the State Department verifies that the student or exchange visitor has been entered into the ISEAS system.

IAP-66 Replaced by DS-2019
As of September 1, 2002, form DS-2019 replaced the IAP-66 as the official form to be used in the administration of Exchange Visitor programs which involve J visas. Form DS-2019 is identical in content to the IAP-66, but reflects the fact that the exchange visitor program is now administered by the Department of State rather than the U.S. Information Agency. The IAP-66 form will be accepted only if it was issued and dated on or before August 31, 2002.