Updates on University of Northern New Jersey – SEVP Updates

University of Northern New Jersey:

On April 4 and 5, 2016, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) exercised its authority to terminate the initial and active student records of any nonimmigrant student enrolled at the University of Northern New Jersey (UNNJ), as well as many active nonimmigrant students who have since transferred from UNNJ. The students were found to have knowingly participated in visa fraud by enrolling at UNNJ for the sole purpose of illegally obtaining and/or maintaining their F-1 nonimmigrant status.

UNNJ is a school operated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark. It was created as a part of an enforcement action that targeted SEVP-certified schools and officials who sought to fraudulently utilize SEVP and the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to commit various violations of federal law.

Approximately 60 more active records of former UNNJ students (who have transferred to other schools) will also be set to terminated status for findings of fraud in the coming weeks. Any nonimmigrant student terminated for enrollment at UNNJ will be notified of their termination via a letter from SEVP.

Any student terminated as a result of his or her current or previous enrollment at UNNJ and chooses not to file for reinstatement or has their reinstatement application denied must depart the country immediately.

Please note, students are not eligible to transfer to another SEVP-certified school unless U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approves the student for reinstatement following the student’s termination. Students who previously attended UNNJ, transferred to other schools and were terminated are also not eligible for transfer. In such cases, the current SEVP-certified school will be notified of the termination and the students’ ineligibility for transfer.

Nonimmigrant students who have questions should call the SEVP Response Center at 703-603-3400. This number is staffed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (ET), Monday through Friday, except holidays. Additionally, the SEVP Response Center will be closed every Wednesday from 12:45 to 1:30 p.m. ET for system maintenance and testing.

Students who call the SEVP Response Center should provide the following information to SEVP staff:

First and last name
SEVIS ID number
Address
Telephone number where you can be reached
E-mail address
Current SEVP-certified school