September 1, 2004

FACT SHEET

I-901 SEVIS Fee for Visa Exempt Students and Exchange Visitors from Canada and Selected British Subject Residents

Beginning September 1, 2004, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will collect a fee to cover the costs for the continued operation of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

Some schools charge a fee by the year or the semester to support their foreign student/exchange visitor office and automated systems. These fees are not mandated nor collected by the U.S. government.

The I-901 Fee is mandated by the U.S. Congress to support the program office and the automated system that keeps track of students and exchange visitors and ensures that they maintain their status while in the United States.

International students and exchange visitors are subject to this fee which will be used to administer and maintain the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), support compliance activities, and establish SEVIS Liaison Officers to provide information and assistance on the program.

Who is considered to be visa exempt?

Certain applicants who are citizens of Canada, Bermuda, Bahamian nationals or British subjects who reside in the Cayman Islands, or in the Turks and Caicos Islands do not need a visa to enter the United States. See CFR 212. 1. (A)

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. 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 (F-2, M-2) of students or exchange visitors (J-2) do not pay this fee.

How much is the fee?

For students (F-1, F-3, M-1, or M-3)	$100
For spouses and dependent children (F-2, M-2, or J-2) of students or exchange visitors	None
For exchange visitors (J-1) except those listed separately below:	$100
Federally sponsored exchange visitor program (program codes start with G-1, G-2, or G-3)	None
Summer work/travel program	$35
Au Pair program	$35
Camp counselor program	$35

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

Applicants who are visa exempt and who wish to apply for F-1, F-3, M-1, M-3, or J-1 status at a Port of Entry (POE) into the United States must pay the SEVIS fee before appearing at the POE. The fee must be paid to ensure that the payment can be deposited and recorded in SEVIS prior to arrival at the POE. The time frame to process the fee is three business days once the payment has been received. Add local mail processing times to gauge the length of time it will take to receive an I-797 paper receipt if you are mailing your payment.

A U.S. immigration official will inspect your papers either at a preinspection site in Canada or upon entry into the United States. You must have with your proof of citizenship, your admission letter to the university or program you plan to attend, your Certificate of Eligibility (SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019), and proof of financial support that corresponds to the information on your Certificate of Eligibility. A receipt that confirms that the payment of the I-901 fee has been processed should also be hand carried with these other required documents.

How is the fee paid?

• Through the Internet at www.FMJfee.com by using a credit or debit card and completing the online Form I-901 (Fee for Remittance for Certain F, M, and J Nonimmigrants); or
• Through the mail 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; 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.

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 hand-carried to avoid the need for electronic verification through a secondary inspection that may affect or delay reaching connecting flights. There are several ways to receive a receipt:

• DHS will issue an official paper receipt (I-797) for every payment received.
• Individuals who are paying by mail, may request Express delivery service for the I-797 receipt at an additional cost of $30.
• Individuals who file electronically will be able to print an electronic receipt immediately at the time of payment.

When must continuing, visa exempt, students (F-1, F-3, M-1, or M-3 nonimmigrants that have begun, but not finished, a program) pay the SEVIS fee?

Continuing students must pay the SEVIS fee before:

• Filing an application for reinstatement when they have been out of status for more than five months; or
• When applying for a new visa and returning to the United States after an absence of more than five 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.

When must continuing exchange visitors (J-1 nonimmigrants who have begun, but not finished a program) pay the SEVIS fee?

Continuing exchange visitors 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).

# ICE #

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). ICE seeks to prevent acts of terrorism by targeting the people, money and materials that support terror and criminal networks.

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