Database still has its kinks
By Bill Morrison
Staff Reporter

A federal government database, which was supposed to be up and running three months ago to track international students, is not yet fully operational. Despite the government’s delay, TCU is on schedule entering students into the new database, said International Student Services Director John Singleton.

The USA Patriot Act required the Immigration and Naturalization Service to create a database that tracked all foreign students by Jan. 1. INS developed and rolled out the Student and Exchange Visitors Information System, but a Justice Department report in March found that INS failed to have the system working. International Student Services officials said they have had no major problems with the system, but expect there may be some in the future.

Singleton said the only problem they have with the system right now is that it takes longer to input data into the system. He said there have been times when the system has been down, and they haven’t been able to access it at all. Singleton said the system has an auto log-off feature that will erase information when left unattended for too long.

“There have been the problems inherent in learning new software,” Singleton said. “What used to take us 10 minutes to enter a document, with the new government organized software, it has taken us somewhat longer.”

Originally the government claimed that SEVIS would make obtaining visas easier, but Singleton said that is not the case. He said no one in his field believed SEVIS would make things easier.

“Historically, we generated our I-20 (a form signed by the government, stating someone is a full-time student) and sent it to the student, and now we have to send it to INS first for approval,” Singleton said. “Now, the way the system is organized, we have to wait until INS says, ‘Yep, that person is recognized.’”

Sayuri Tamura, a senior international economics major, said she really hasn’t been affected by the new system in the two years she has studied abroad.

“I’ve never had any problems traveling,” Tamura said. “There is just some increased security, and that is for everybody, whether you’re a foreigner or not.”

Singleton said one student had trouble regaining entrance into the country from Mexico.

He said the person was unable to find his record, and he had to call and give them the student’s SEVIS document number.

Lynda Velasquez, a sophomore accounting and finance major, said the only change she has seen is increased security.

“It hasn’t affected me personally, but I think the big changes are coming after March,” Velasquez said. “So I think that it might affect me more after I try to leave and then come back, the next time I leave.”

The INS set a deadline for all foreign students to be entered into SEVIS by Aug. 1, and Singleton said they have all new students entered and are in the process of entering all other international students. He said although they have had no major problems, he expects there may be problems in a month when it is crunch time.

w.c.morrison@tcu.edu