Paying the SEVIS Fee
F-1 and J-1 students are required to pay a SEVIS fee directly to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security via electronic submission or Western Union Quick Pay.
DHS must process your SEVIS fee at least three business days prior to your visa interview. You may not pay this fee at the consulate.
Step by step:
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Receive and review your I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1) Form from Emory University.
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Submit your SEVIS fee payment online or via Western Union Quick Pay and print your receipt.
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Make a visa appointment with the U.S. embassy/consulate.
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Submit the SEVIS fee payment receipt (printed after online submission) with other required materials at your visa interview.
Entering the United States if you are not subject to the visa requirement:
Even if you do not require a visa to enter the United States, you are still required to pay the SEVIS fee. The SEVIS fee should be processed at least three business days prior to applying for admission at a U.S. port of entry.
Method of Payment:
You may pay the SEVIS fee by either of the following methods:
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Online submission of Form I-901 to DHS using a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express accepted); paying online allows you to print a receipt instantly.
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Western Union Quick Pay, which allows an electronic payment directly to the DHS. Cash payment in local currency may be taken to any Western Union location offering Quick Pay service. Print out the instructions from the website and take them to a Western Union Agent. Request and fill out the blue form. Within minutes, DHS will receive a notification indicating the payment. After three business days, check on FMJfee.com to view your payment status. Once you see confirmation of payment on FMJfee.com, print out the confirmation page.
Note: DHS will not refund the SEVIS fee if you are not granted a visa or choose not to come to the United States after your visa is granted. The fee is transferrable if you decide to attend another U.S. institution.