SEVIS Fee Implementation Effective September 1, 2004 - Update

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) now requires the collection of a one-time SEVIS fee of $100 from certain F-1 students. This fee is being collected to fund operation of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program Office, which oversees SEVIS - the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. You can read more detailed information about the required fee and instructions for the required Form I-901 at the following websites: www.fmjfee.com or: www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm. For future reference more detailed information will be posted on our website.

You DO NOT have to pay the SEVIS Fee, if you are one of the following:

• Your Form I-20 for initial attendance was issued on or before August 31, 2004.
• Transferring between approved schools, changing educational levels, or applying for post-completion practical training.
• Applying for an extension of stay in a single program.
• An F-2 dependent
• Reapplying for a visa after having paid the SEVIS fee for a previous F-1 visa that was denied, and are applying again for the same type of program within 12 months of the initial denial
• Applied for a change of status to F classification, had the initial application denied for a reason other than failure to pay the SEVIS fee, and are applying for a motion to re-open the case within 12 months of the original denial.

You MUST pay the SEVIS Fee if your Form I-20 was issued on or after September 1, 2004 and are one of the following:

• Applying for an F-1 visa for initial attendance or, if no visa is required, for admission at a port of entry to begin initial attendance.
• In the U.S. and applying for a change of status to F-1.
• Applying for reinstatement of student status, after being out of status for more than five months.
• Absence from the U.S. for a period exceeding five months, unless authorized for overseas study.

Time of Payment of SEVIS Fee

A F-1 student or scholar who is subject to payment of the SEVIS Fee must remit the fee directly to DHS by completing Form I-901 electronically using the Internet or by mail as follows:

• Applying for the F-1 visa abroad: The SEVIS fee should be processed by DHS at least 3 business days prior to the consular interview. Fees will not be payable at the consulate. The following steps are a guideline for obtaining a F-1 visa from abroad:



• Receive I-20 from the university.
• Make visa appointment with U.S. Embassy/Consulate.
• Submit SEVIS fee payment in time to allow DHS to process payment at least 3 days prior to visa interview.
• Print SEVIS fee payment receipt from Internet or wait to receive form I-797 receipt from DHS via mail and submit receipt with visa application.
• Receive F-1 visa stamp in passport from U.S. Embassy/Consulate.
• Enter U.S. up to 30 days PRIOR to the start date indicated on the I-20.
• Report to ISSP to validate program immediately upon arrival and to attend International Student Orientation.


• Entering U.S. by individuals exempt from the visa requirement: The SEVIS fee should be processed at least 3 business days prior to applying for admission at a U.S. port-of-entry by non-immigrants, who are exempt from the visa requirement (i.e., citizens from Canada, Bermuda, and other island countries listed in 8 CFR 212.1).
• Changing status to F-1: A non-immigrant in the United States seeking a change of status to F-1 student must pay the SEVIS fee prior to submitting the application to USCIS for change of non-immigrant status.
• Applying for reinstatement: A F-1 student, who is applying for reinstatement after a being out of status more than five months must pay the SEVIS fee prior to applying to USCIS for reinstatement to F-1 status.

Procedures for payment of the SEVIS fee:

• On-line submission of Form I-901 (www.fmjfee.com) to DHS using a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express accepted).
• Mail-in submission of Form I-901 (http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm) to DHS address on form, along with the $100 SEVIS fee paid by check, money order, or foreign draft drawn on a financial institution in the U.S. and payable in U.S. currency.
• Another person (friend or family) can make the payment for a F-1 student by one of the two methods above.

Receipts:

DHS will issue and mail an official paper receipt (I-797) acknowledging every payment regardless of payment method. Express delivery service for the I-797 receipt may be requested at an additional cost. Anyone who submits an individual fee electronically will be able to print out an electronic receipt immediately at the time of payment for use in advance of the mail delivery of the official paper receipt.

Note

DHS will not refund the SEVIS fee if F-1 students are not granted a visa or choose not to come to the U.S. after their visas are granted.

For more information, be sure to carefully read the instruction page of Form I-901 www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm for payment by mail or www.fmjfee.com for online payment. The SEVIS Homepage is another source of information, www.ice.gov/sevis/.