Where Do I Find My SEVIS ID

September 27, 2026

Where to find your SEVIS ID on Form I-20

If you are an F-1 or M-1 student, start with your Form I-20. The SEVIS ID is printed near the top of the first page, but the exact placement can vary between document versions and descriptions.

Check these areas first:

Look in the upper-left area of the first page.
If you do not see it there, check the top-right area.
Look near the words Student’s Copy, the Annotation section, or the barcode.

Some document guides describe the number as being in the upper-left. Others point to the top-right of the first page, under “Student’s Copy” and above the barcode. Because those descriptions do not match perfectly, do not rely on one corner alone. Use the labels and nearby document features to confirm that you are looking at the right number.

Make sure you are viewing the first page of the I-20, not a scan of another page or a separate school instruction sheet. The SEVIS ID is tied to your student record and should appear on the I-20 issued by your school.

If your school issued the I-20 electronically, open the complete document and zoom in on the top section. A low-quality printout or phone preview may make the number hard to read.

Where to find your SEVIS ID on Form DS-2019

If you are a J-1 exchange visitor, look at your Form DS-2019. The SEVIS ID is located in the upper-right area of the form.

Check the top portion before looking through the longer program details. The number should be part of the document information printed near the upper-right corner.

Your DS-2019 may include several dates, sponsor details, program information, and other identifiers. Do not choose a number just because it appears near the top. Look for the number that is identified as the SEVIS ID or SEVIS number.

If you have more than one DS-2019, use the one connected to the program or application you are handling. If the form is old, replaced, or connected to a different program, ask your exchange-program sponsor which document applies.

What the SEVIS ID looks like and which labels to check

The safest way to identify your SEVIS ID number is by its label and location. The available document guidance identifies where to look, but it does not provide a reliable example of the exact letter-and-number pattern you should expect.

That means you should not guess based on appearance alone. Immigration documents often show several numbers close together, and a number that “looks right” may belong to something else.

On your document, check for:

The label SEVIS ID or SEVIS number
The top section of the first page
Student’s Copy on Form I-20
The Annotation area on Form I-20
The area above or near the barcode
The upper-right section of Form DS-2019

When a form asks for your SEVIS ID, copy the number exactly as it appears. Pay attention to letters, numbers, and any characters that could be confused when reading a scan.

SEVIS ID, visa number, USCIS identifier, and I-94 number: do not mix them up

You may see several identification numbers while preparing a visa, school, travel, or immigration form. They are not automatically interchangeable.

SEVIS ID

Your SEVIS ID is the number printed on your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019. It identifies your record in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System.

Use the number from the document when a form specifically asks for your SEVIS ID or SEVIS number.

Visa number

Your visa has its own identifying information. A visa number is not automatically the same as your SEVIS ID. Do not copy a number from the visa into a SEVIS ID field unless the instructions clearly ask for the visa number.

Your visa and your I-20 or DS-2019 serve different purposes, so check the document name requested by the form.

USCIS number

A USCIS-related number is also separate from the SEVIS ID. The supplied document guidance does not establish that these two numbers are the same.

If a form asks for a USCIS number, use the number from the USCIS document or notice it refers to. If it asks for a SEVIS ID, return to your I-20 or DS-2019.

I-94 number

Your I-94 number is connected to your admission and arrival record. It is not the number printed as your SEVIS ID on the I-20 or DS-2019.

This is an easy mistake to make when several immigration records are open on your screen. Read the field name carefully before entering anything.

What to do if you cannot find your SEVIS ID

First, check the document type:

F-1 or M-1 student: Form I-20
J-1 exchange visitor: Form DS-2019

Then open the full first page and inspect the top section at a larger size. On an I-20, check both the upper-left and upper-right areas. Look near Student’s Copy, Annotation, and the barcode. On a DS-2019, check the upper-right area.

You may not see a SEVIS ID if:

Your school or program has not issued the document yet.
You are looking at an incomplete scan.
The document is too blurry to read.
You received an admission notice but have not received the I-20.
You are checking the wrong document or an older version.

One supplied result says the SEVIS number is typically emailed 7–10 days after notification of admission and issuance of the I-20. If that period has passed and the number still is not available, contact your school’s international student office.

J-1 visitors should contact their exchange-program sponsor instead. Ask them to confirm the correct SEVIS ID rather than trying to identify it from another number on your paperwork.

How the SEVIS ID relates to the I-901 fee and payment confirmation

The SEVIS ID is used when handling the I-901 fee connected with your SEVIS record. This is why you may need the number before paying the fee or checking a payment record.

If you have already paid, the I-901 status page can be used to:

Check the status of an existing I-901 fee
Print an I-901 payment confirmation

Use the SEVIS ID from your I-20 or DS-2019 when the payment or status tool asks for it. Do not substitute your visa number, USCIS number, or I-94 number.

If the payment information does not match your document, stop and check the SEVIS ID again. If the problem continues, ask your school or program sponsor to verify the record details.

When SEVIS Search, SEVIS Login, or the SEVP Portal may be relevant

Finding your personal SEVIS ID is different from signing in to a SEVIS-related system.

You usually need your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 to locate the number. You do not normally find it by starting with a general SEVIS login or search page.

These tools may serve different purposes:

SEVIS Search may refer to a record-search function used by authorized users or systems. It is not necessarily a public lookup tool for finding your own number.
SEVIS Login is for accessing a particular SEVIS service. A login page does not replace the SEVIS ID printed on your immigration document.
SEVP Portal is a separate online service that may be relevant to some F-1 students and their school-related records. Access to a portal does not change which number appears on your I-20.

If a website asks for a SEVIS ID, find it on the document first. If your I-20 or DS-2019 is missing, unreadable, or does not show the expected number, contact your school or exchange-program sponsor before submitting the form.

Written by Ryan Mitchell

Ryan Mitchell is a U.S. visa consultant who helps individuals and families better understand the U.S. visa application process. He provides practical guidance on visa requirements, documentation, interview preparation, and common application questions, with a focus on making the process easier to understand.