Elevated
Significant Risk of Terrorist Attacks
September 1, 2004
Beginning September 1, 2004, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will collect a congressionally mandated fee to cover the costs of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
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 establish SEVIS Liaison Officers to provide information and assistance to students and schools.
Some schools charge a fee by the year or the semester to support their foreign student/exchange visitor offices and automated systems. These fees are neither mandated nor collected by the U.S. Government.
The payment of I-901 fees will be recorded and tracked in SEVIS, the automated system for collecting, maintaining, and managing information about nonimmigrant student and exchange visitors in the United States.
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?
How is the fee paid?
When must the fee be paid?
The fee must be paid to ensure that the payment can be deposited and recorded in SEVIS prior to the scheduled visa interview. The interviewing consular officer will confirm that the fee has been paid by accessing SEVIS. To allow for adequate processing time the fee must be paid:
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 brought to the visa interview.
When must continuing students (F-1, F-3, M-1, or M-3 nonimmigrants who have begun but not finished a program) pay the SEVIS fee?
Continuing students must pay the SEVIS fee before:
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:
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