SEVIS Fee Increase Effective October 27, 2008

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced an increase in the SEVIS Fee for F-1 and J-1 students and scholars. The fees will increase from $100 to $200 for F-1 students and from $100 to $180 for J-1 students and scholars beginning October 27, 2008.

This new Fee will affect any prospective students or exchange visitors coming to Emory University who will be in either F-1 or J-1 status. Any new F-1 or J-1 who has already been issued the Form I-20 or Form DS-2019, should submit the Form I-901 either by mail or online in a timely manner to avoid the fee increase and any potential server overload leading up to the effective date of the new fee (October 27, 2008).

If an F-1 or J-1 student or exchange visitor has not paid the SEVIS Fee, and plan to arrive on or after October 27, 2008, the SEVIS Fee will need to be paid prior to October 27, 2008 in order to avoid the increase. Paper Form I-901s sent by mail must be postmarked by October 26, 2008 if a student wishes to pay the old fee. Paper Form I-901s postmarked on or after October 27, 2008 must reflect the new fee.

This increase is applicable also to non-immigrants who are changing status to either F-1 student or J-1 exchange visitor. A change of status application will include proof of the SEVIS Fee having been paid prior to the submission of the application to USCIS. Method of payment and other regulations pertaining to the SEVIS Fee remain the same. Please see the following website for detailed information: https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/.

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

Continuing J-1 program that began BEFORE September 1, 2008, maintains legal status, and your initial Form DS-2019 was issued before September 1, 2008.
J-1 sponsored by the U.S. Federal Government (i.e. Fulbright).
J-2 Dependent

You ARE REQUIRED to pay the SEVIS Fee if your Form DS-2019 was issued on or after September 1, 2008 and are one of the following:

Applying for a J-1 visa for initial participation in a program.
In the U.S. and applying for a change of status to J-1.
Currently sponsored by the U.S. Government and will transfer to a NON-U.S. Government sponsored program.
Currently a J-1 Exchange Visitor applying for a change of J-1 category.
Currently a J-1 Exchange Visitor applying for reinstatement for a substantive violation.

Time of Payment of SEVIS Fee

A J-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 J-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 J-1 visa from abroad:

Receive DS-2019 from the Exchange Visitor Program.
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 J-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 DS-2019 and no later than 30 days AFTER the start date indicated on the DS-2019.
Report to the International Student and Scholar Programs office to validate program immediately after arrival to the U.S.

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).
Change of J-1 category: A J-1 student or scholar applying for a change of category within the U.S. (i.e., J-1 student to J-1 research scholar) must pay the SEVIS fee prior to the Exchange Visitor Program approving a change of category
Changing status to J-1: A non-immigrant in the United States seeking a change of status to J-1 student or scholar must pay the SEVIS fee prior to submitting the application to USCIS for change of non-immigrant status.
Applying for reinstatement: A J-1 student or scholar, who is applying for reinstatement after a substantive violation or who has been out of program status for longer than 120 days, but less than 270 days during the course of his or her program, must pay the SEVIS fee prior to applying to the Exchange Visitor Program for reinstatement to J-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.fmjfee.com/i901fee) to DHS address on form, along with the $180 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 an exchange visitor 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 J-1 students and scholars 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.fmjfee.com/i901fee for payment by mail or www.fmjfee.com for online payment.