On September 1, 2004 a new United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule went into effect. This rule says that people who want F-1 and J-1 visas have to pay a one-time fee of $100. This fee helps pay for the Student and Exchange Information System (SEVIS) that U.S. schools use to make I-20 forms. If you are applying for a new visa, you may have to pay any applicable visa application fees.


FAQ's about SEVIS Fee

Who Pays the SEVIS Fee?

  • New students with I-20s marked for “initial attendance” that were issued on or after September 1, 2004 who are applying for an new F-1 visa from outside the United States.
  • New students with I-20s marked for “initial attendance” that were issued on or after September 1, 2004 who are applying for a change to F-1 status from another status (B-2 for example).
  • Current F-1 students in the United States filing for reinstatement after being out of status more than 5 months, and who are issued an I-20 issued for reinstatement that is dated on or after September 1, 2004.
  • Canadians (who do not need an F-1 visa to enter the United States) should take a copy of the SEVIS fee receipt to present at the port of entry with the appropriate I-20. It will not be possible to pay the fee at the port of entry.


Can Someone Else (friend or family member) Pay the Fee for Me?

Yes. But you should have a copy of the fee payment receipt that proves that they paid the fee for you.


Will Continuing F-1 Students in the United States Have to Pay?

No, unless the student falls out of status for more than 5 months and applies for reinstatement after, or is outside the United States for more than 5 months.


What About My F-2 Dependents?

F-2 dependents do not have to pay the fee.


Do I Have to Pay if I Stay in the United States but Transfer to Another School or if I Change Levels?

No


Do I Have to Pay the Fee if I Travel Outside the United States?

If you travel outside the United States for more than a 5 month period, then you will need to pay the fee. If you travel outside for less than a 5 month period, you do not need to pay the fee. If you are a continuing student, you will not need to pay the fee, even if you have to renew your visa stamp.


When do I Pay the SEVIS Fee?

The fee should be paid at least 3 business days before you apply for your visa, change of status or reinstatement application.


Can I Pay the SEVIS Fee at a University, Consulate or Port of Entry?


No. At this time the SEVIS fee can only be paid by mail or online.


How Do I Pay the Fee?

The fee can be paid to DHS by mail or online. You must include the Form I-901 with the fee. The fee can be paid by the student or by someone else (family member or friend) inside or outside the United States.

To Pay By Mail

1. Obtain a Form I-901 “Fee Remittance for Certain F, J, and M Nonimmigrants.”

2. Complete the Form I-901. Be sure to write your name exactly as it appears on the I-20 or DS-2019 form.

3. Prepare a check, international money order or foreign draft (drawn on U.S. banks only) in the amount of USD $100, made payable to “The Department of Homeland Security”. Sources for such checks and money orders include banks chartered or operated in the United States, foreign subsidiaries of U.S. banks, or foreign banks that have an arrangement with a U.S. bank to issue a check, money order, or foreign draft that is drawn on a U.S. bank.

4. Mail the completed Form I-901 and payment to the P.O. Box listed on the form.

5. A Form I-797 receipt notice should be mailed within 3 days of processing the fee. Be sure to make copies of your receipt, and keep it with your other important immigration documents.

  • By mail, by submitting Form I-901, fee remittance for Certain F, J, and M Nonimmigrants, together with a check or money order drawn on a U.S. bank and payable in U.S. currency.
  • If you mail the fee, then you must wait at least 3 business days after DHS receives your payment before trying to apply for your visa. DHS will mail you a paper receipt (called a Form I-797) to be used as evidence that you paid the fee, but there should also be an electronic record of your fee payment in the U.S. Consulate’s database. If there is an electronic record of fee payment in the database, you will not need to show your paper receipt (Form I-797) to apply for the visa or enter the United States. However, due to potential technical problems, it is strongly recommended that you wait for a copy of the paper fee payment receipt before making a visa application.
  • The paper receipt (Form I-797) is mailed to the address you wrote on Form I-901. If you want to pay more, you can ask DHS to express mail your receipt. Or you can wait until the receipt is mailed to via regular postal service.

To Pay Online

1. Find the Form I-901 at Student and Exchange Visitor Program

2. Complete the form online and supply the necessary Visa, MasterCard or American Express information. Be sure to write your name exactly as it appears on your I-20 or DS-2019 form.

3. Print a copy of the online receipt.

4. Be sure to make copies of your receipt, and keep it with your other important immigration documents.

  • A third party such as a friend, family member, or other interested party can pay the fee on your behalf through the same means described above.
  • If you pay the SEVIS fee by Internet, you can print a receipt directly from your computer at the same time. This computer-generated receipt can be used to prove you have paid the fee at an Embassy, Consular post, or port of entry.

Will the DHS Keep a Record of My Payment on File?

Fee payments should be entered into your permanent immigration (SEVIS) record but it is strongly recommended that you keep a copy of your fee receipt (form I-797) to use in the future.


Can I Move My SEVIS fee to a Another School?

Yes. But you should bring the I-20 form with the SEVIS ID number that you used to pay the fee with you to the U.S. Consulate/Embassy.


What Do I Need to Do to Apply for an F-1 Visa, Change of Status or Reinstatement?

  • Get a I-20 from the school that you want to attend.
  • Pay the SEVIS fee by mail or online.
  • Make a copy of the Form I-797 (mail) or computer receipt (online) for your records.
  • Submit a copy of the Form I-797 or computer receipt with your visa, change of status or reinstatement application.
  • For change of status or reinstatement applications, if you previously paid the SEVIS fee while attending a different school, you should submit a copy of that school’s I-20 form and a copy of the fee payment receipt with your application.


What if My F-1 Visa Application is Denied?

The SEVIS fee will not be refunded, but if you apply again for an F-1/J-1 visa within 12 months of a visa denial you will not have to pay the fee again.