SEVIS I-901 Fee Frequently Asked Questions

6. How are refunds requested and processed?

6.A. Who is eligible for a refund?

6.B. Who can request a refund?

6.C. How do I request a refund?

6.D. Can I get a refund if I paid twice?

6.E. Can I get a refund if I paid by mistake?

6.F. Can I get a refund if I changed my mind?

6.G. What if two schools or sponsors pay for me? Can I get one fee refunded?

6.H. Where are refunds sent?

6.I. If my institution paid the SEVIS I-901 fee for a student or exchange visitor who decides not to come or who enrolls in a different school or program, can my institution request a refund?

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6.A. Who is eligible for a refund?

This chart has the most common refund scenarios. If your situation is not listed, you may submit a refund request with a full explanation of your situation and SEVP will make a case-by-case determination of whether or not to refund the fee.

Refund Eligibility

Am I eligible for a refund if:	Refund given
I decided not to come to the United States?	No
My visa or application was denied?	No
I was denied entry to the United States?	No
I paid for expedited delivery that was not available?	Yes, for the delivery fee only
I, or someone else, paid more than once for the same student or exchange visitor when only one fee was due?	Yes, for the duplicate payments
I paid in error a SEVIS I-901 fee was not required in my situation?	Yes
I withdrew my application for change of status or reinstatement?	No
The refund amount is less than $30?	No
My institution paid the fee for an applicant who went elsewhere?	No
I paid too much?	No. SEVP rejects overpayments and returns them immediately so there is no need for a refund.
I paid for expedited delivery on a duplicate payment?	No
Someone used my credit or debit card or checking account fraudulently?	Yes

6.B. Who can request a refund?

Only the student or exchange visitor who paid the fee or for whom the fee was paid can request a refund except in cases of suspected fraud. If the payment was made by check or credit or debit card, the refund will be paid to the person or institution who made the payment. Fees paid by money order will be refunded to the student or exchange visitor.

6.C. How do I request a refund ?

Mail or e-mail your refund request to SEVP. The e-mail address is fmjfee.SEVIS@DHS.gov. The mailing address is:

SEVIS I-901 Fee Refunds
800 K Street NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20536
United States

Your request must include:

• SEVIS I-901 Fee Refund in the subject line if you are using e-mail
• Your name and SEVIS ID number as it appears on your receipt(s)
• The reason for the refund (see the Refund Chart)
• A mailing address, phone number or e-mail address where you can be contacted if more information is required
• If you are requesting a refund because the SEVIS I-901 fee was paid more than once, indicate which payment should be refunded.
• If you are requesting a refund due to fraudulent use of your credit or debit card or checking account, describe the circumstances and provide as much information as possible. Include the correspondence with your bank and any policy reports that you filed.

6.D. Can I get a refund if I paid twice?

Yes, unless you are obligated to pay more than one SEVIS I-901 fee (see Who Pays the Fee?). However, you will not receive a refund for any expedited delivery charges where the delivery was sent.

6.E. Can I get a refund if I paid by mistake?

You may get a refund if:

• You mistakenly paid more than once
• You do not owe the fee because you are participating in a fee exempt exchange visitor program

However, if you paid the SEVIS I-901 fee and then decided not to apply for F-1, F-3, M-1, M-3 or J-1 status, you will not get a refund.

If you sent in a payment for the SEVIS I-901 fee, but did not attach a Form I-901 or do not have a Form I-20 or DS-2019; SEVP will return your payment. So there will be no need to apply for a refund in these cases.

6.F. Can I get a refund if I changed my mind?

No. You should not pay the SEVIS I-901 fee if you have not made the decision to come to the United States as a student or exchange program visitor. If you pay for one educational or exchange visitor program and decide to participate in a different program, you may not need to pay a second fee. For more information, see the section, Do I pay the fee?

6.G. What if two schools or sponsors pay for me? Can I get one fee refunded?

If more than one party pays your SEVIS I-901 fee and only one fee is owed, you can get the excess fees refunded.

6.H. Where are refunds sent?

Where the refund is sent depends on who paid the fee. If a third party used a check, credit or debit card to pay the fee, the refund goes to the third party. Otherwise, the refund is sent to the student or exchange visitor’s home address as reported in SEVIS.

Payments made by check or money order will be refunded by a DHS check. Payments by credit or debit card will be in the form of a credit to the account.

6.I. If my institution paid the SEVIS I-901 fee for a student or exchange visitor who decides not to come or who enrolls in a different school or program, can my institution request a refund?

No. Third party payments are made on the behalf of the student or exchange visitor. Only the student or exchange visitor can request a refund.

While SEVP will make refunds when a SEVIS I-901 fee is paid twice, only the student or exchange visitor may request a refund. However, if the student or exchange visitor does request a refund and your institution paid the fee, the refund will be sent to your institution, not to the student or exchange visitor.

SEVP will not refund the SEVIS I-901 fee in cases where a student or exchange visitor decides not to come to the United States or is denied a visa.

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