SEVIS I-901 Fee Frequently Asked Questions

9. How are fee payment problems resolved?

9.A. What if I cannot make a full payment?

9.B. How will I know if my payment or Form I-901 is not accepted?

9.C. What if my payment or Form I-901 was returned, should I repay?

9.D. What is the mechanism for resolving problem cases?

9.E. What if I paid the SEVIS I-901 fee but SEVP does not have a record of the payment?

9.F. What if I paid a $35 fee and now I want to participate in a program that costs $100?

9.G. How do I clear my debt if my check bounces or is rejected by my bank?

9.H. What does a student or exchange visitor do if SEVIS shows that their payment status is Cancelled?

---

9.A. What if I cannot make a full payment?

SEVP cannot accept partial payments of the SEVIS I-901 fee. A third party can pay on your behalf.

9.B. How will I know if my payment or Form I-901 is not accepted?

If your SEVIS I-901 fee payment or Form I-901 is rejected, SEVP will send you a notice explaining the reasons for the rejection. See the section on what to do if your payment or form was returned for information on how to resolve the problem.

9.C. What if my payment or Form I-901 was returned, should I repay?

If you receive a receipt returning your payment and Form I-901, you need to file a new Form I-901 and pay the SEVIS I-901 fee again. Be sure to correct the errors noted on the return receipt. For more information, see the Payment Checklist.

If you did not get a notice rejecting your payment or Form I-901, but have reason to believe your payment was not processed, check with the Customer Service hotline at 1-212-620-3418 before you repay the SEVIS I-901 fee. Customer service will be able to tell you if your Form I-901 and fee payment were returned and the reasons why.

If your financial institution declines to honor your check (i.e. your check bounces), do not pay the SEVIS I-901 fee again. See the section on returned checks for the correct process to repay the fee.

9.D. What is the mechanism for resolving problem cases?

If you have problems, consult the SEVP website at www.ice.gov/sevis/i901 for information on ways to resolve common problems. You can also contact SEVP directly as explained in the section on sources of help.

9.E. What if I paid the SEVIS I-901 fee but SEVP does not have a record of the payment?

Be sure you have allowed sufficient time for the fee payment to reach SEVP. If SEVP rejects a payment you will receive a notice explaining the reasons for the rejection. The Customer Service Hotline at 1-212-620-3418 can also check the status of your payment.

If you still have an issue with the payment, you can ask SEVP to investigate. Write to SEVP via mail or e-mail. Put SEVIS I-901 fee Inquiry in the subject line. Give your name, SEVIS ID number and explain the circumstances. Include copies of any evidence of payment. SEVP will investigate and determine if the SEVIS I-901 fee is due and has been paid.

However, if you need a record of SEVIS I-901 fee payment in order to apply for a visa, admission or a benefit, you may chose to (re)pay the SEVIS I-901 fee. You can then apply for a refund of the duplicate fee.

9.F. What if I paid a $35 fee and now I want to participate in a program that costs $100?

You will need to pay the $100 SEVIS I-901 fee. If you complete one exchange visitor program and then start another, you must pay a new SEVIS I-901 fee. If you pay the SEVIS I-901 fee for one exchange visitor program and then decide to participate in another program instead, you can transfer the fee only when the fee for the new program is less than or equal to the fee you already paid.

For more information, see the section, Do I pay the fee?

, the Fee Amount Chart and the section on transferring fees.

9.G. How do I clear my debt if my check bounces or is rejected by my bank?

You will need to contact the DHS Debt Management Center to clear your debt. See the section on returned checks for the correct process.

9.H. What does a student or exchange visitor do if SEVIS shows that their payment status is Cancelled?

If your SEVIS record shows that your payment status is Cancelled, this means that your check was bounced or was rejected by your bank. See the section on returned checks for the correct process to repay the fee.

  Last Modified: