SEVIS Fee

Last Updated on 12/27/2011

Beginning September 1, 2004 international students and exchange visitors (visa categories F-1, F-3, J-1, M-1 and M-3) are required to pay a SEVIS fee. Only principle applicants are required to pay the SEVIS fee, F-2, J-2 and M-2 derivatives do not pay. This fee must be paid before your visa can be issued. Individuals participating in a program sponsored by the Federal Government whose program number begins with G-1, G-2, or G3 are exempt from the fee. The SEVIS fee can be paid by credit card via the internet, by check through mail, or through your school or sponsor.

More information on the SEVIS fee and methods of payment can be found on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Student and Exchange Visitor Program web site.

The SEVIS fee is normally non-refundable. For more information, please visit the SEVIS fee FAQ page of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Frequently Asked Questions About the SEVIS Fee

What is SEVIS?

Beginning September 1, 2004 the Department of Homeland Security collects a Congressionally mandated fee to cover the costs for the continued operation of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). International students and exchange visitors are subject to this fee, which is used to administer and maintain the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), support compliance activities, and establish SEVIS Liaison Officers. Liaison Officers serve as local resources for schools and students, providing timely and accurate program and reporting information and assistance.

SEVIS, the automated system for collecting, maintaining and managing information about foreign students and exchange visitors during their entry to, stay in, and exit from the United States, is used to record and track the SEVIS fee payment. 

Who pays the fee?

Those who wish to enter the United States either as a student or an exchange visitor with a Form I-20 or DS-2019 dated on or after September 1, 2004 are required to pay the SEVIS fee.

Participants of federally sponsored exchange visitor programs, which are designated by program codes beginning with G-1, G-2, or G-3 are not subject to this fee. Spouses and dependent children of students and exchange visitors (F-2, M-2, and J-2) do not pay this fee.

How much is the fee?  

When do prospective students or exchange visitors pay the SEVIS fee?

Applicants who require a visa to enter the United States must pay the SEVIS fee before going to the U.S. embassy for their visa interview.

Applicants who are citizens of Canada, Bermuda, Bahamas and residents of certain other islands wishing to apply for F-1, F-3, M-1, M-3, or J-1 status at a Port of Entry into the United States must pay and process the SEVIS fee before appearing at the Port of Entry.

Non-immigrants currently in the United States who apply for student or exchange visitor status must pay the fee prior to filing their change of status application.

How is the fee paid?

• The fee is paid through the Internet at the SEVIS I-901 fee processing website by using a credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express) and completing the online Form I-901 (Fee for Remittance for Certain F, M, and J Non-immigrants); or
• Through the mail (available only outside Hungary) by submitting a completed Form I-901 and a check or money order drawn on a U.S. bank and payable in U.S. currency and sent to the DHS address listed on the Form I-901; or
• By a third party such as a school or sponsor; or
• By selected sponsors of an exchange program by submitting a bulk or group payment.

When must the fee be paid?

The fee must be paid sufficiently in advance of the interview to ensure that the payment can be deposited and recorded in SEVIS prior to the scheduled visa interview. The interviewing consular officer will confirm that the fee has been paid by accessing SEVIS. To allow for adequate processing time the fee must be paid: 

• At least three business days prior to the visa interview date for electronic submissions.
• At least three business days before the scheduled visa interview for mail submissions to allow for delivery at the DHS address listed on the Form I-901. This time frame allows the fee payment to be deposited and recorded in SEVIS. Please allow sufficient extra time for the mailing to reach the final destination before the interview and for the return receipt to be returned to the applicant.

How will the payment be verified?

• The payment will be recorded in the SEVIS system. However, it is recommended that the paper I-797 or the Internet generated receipt be brought to the visa interview.
• Individuals who file electronically will be able to print an electronic receipt immediately at the time of payment.
• DHS will issue an official paper receipt (I-797) for every payment received.
• Individuals may request express delivery service for the I-797 receipt at an additional cost of $30. 

Continuing students (F-1, F-3, M-1, or M-3 non-immigrants that have begun, but not finished, a program) must pay the SEVIS fee before:

• Filing an application for reinstatement when they have been out of status for more than 5 months; or
• When applying for a new visa or returning to the United States after an absence of more than 5 months that did not involve authorized overseas study; or
• When filing an application for a change of status to an F, M, or J classification except for changes between F-1 and F-3 or between M-1 and M-3.

Continuing exchange visitors (J-1 non-immigrants who have begun, but not finished a program) must pay the SEVIS fee before:

• Filing a reinstatement application after a substantive violation; or
• Filing a reinstatement application after they have been out of status between 121 and 269 days; or
• Applying for a change of exchange visitor category unless the new exchange visitor category is fee exempt (federally sponsored programs with program codes that start with G-1, G-2, or G-3).

Further Information

For additional information about this program please see SEVP on the web.

If you have additional questions about the I-901 fee, please contact the SEVP program office:

• by phone at 800.892.4829 for the SEVIS Help Desk
• by e-mail at SEVIS.Source@dhs.gov