Knowing ‘What is SEVIS fee’ is important if you are planning to study in the USA. SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) is an online system that is employed by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the following purposes:
To maintain information regarding SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program)-certified schools.
To maintain information about students studying with F1 and M1 visas and their dependents.
To maintain information about exchange visitor program applicants with J1 visas and their dependents.
To maintain information about exchange visitor program sponsors designated by the US Department of State.
You will be assigned a SEVIS number which you must keep handy through the entire application process. You will be tracked consistently from the time you receive your Form I-20 (a form that proves you are legally enrolled under a program in the USA) until you complete the course. The Office of International Affairs updates the SEVIS record.
SEVIS fee for an F1 visa is $350 (INR 26,028 approximately) and has to be paid if you are:
A new student starting a course with an I-20 form and applying for a visa.
Want to change your status to F1 from non-immigrant status while in the US.
Out of status for more than five months in the US and want to file for reinstatement.
The visa application fee paid to the embassy is not inclusive of this service, and additional fee payment is required, which must be done before filing the visa application form. The receipt of the SEVIS fee for an F1 visa is to be sent by post and may take two weeks to arrive. The original receipt is required while submitting the documents.
How to Pay the SEVIS Fee for an F1 Visa?
You must pay the SEVIS fee at least three days before your visa interview appointment. You can pay the fee online or via mail. You, as a student, can pay the fee, or a third party can do it. DHS provides instructions for payment. Here’s a lowdown of the steps:
● For paying the SEVIS fee with a Credit Card, visit www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm. You must take a printout of the receipt and carry it during your visa interview.
● For paying the fee with a cheque or money order, visit https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/faq#questions-about-payments. The cheque or money order must be drawn on a financial institution based in the USA. It should be payable to “I-901 Student or Exchange Visitor Processing Fee”. The payment must accompany a duly completed Form I-901. You will receive a receipt from DHS via mail which you have to carry to the visa interview.
● For paying the fee through the Western Union Quick Pay™ service, visit the website at https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/wu-instructions. Through this service, SEVIS fees can be collected in local currency by some participating Western Union locations.
● You can send the I-901 form and make the payment by courier. The address for the courier is:
I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee
1005 Convention Plaza
St. Louis, MO 63101
United States
Phone Number: 1-314-425-1809 (United States Country Code 011)
These payment methods can be used to learn how to pay the SEVIS fee for an F1 visa in India.
What is the validity of the SEVIS fee for an F1 visa?
The SEVIS fee for an F1 visa is valid till the time you hold your F1 status, uninterrupted.
The fee is valid for 12 months from the date of payment. If you haven’t obtained a visa within 12 months, you will have to make the SEVIS fee payment again.
It is imperative to keep all receipts, acknowledgements, and other payment records safe with you. You may be asked to produce these when you go for the F1 visa interview. You are advised to retain the receipts till the time you have finished your degree in the US.
Sevis Fee Amount
The I-901 SEVIS fee amount varies for different groups. The below-mentioned table enlists the fee against each specific group:
Table of contents
Fee
Students with F-1, F-3, M-1 or M-3 Visa holder
USD 350
Dependents (F-2, M-2 or J-2) of students or Exchange visitors
None
Exchange visitors (J-1)
USD 220
(Source: Official Website of the Department of Homeland Security)
There is an additional fee that one needs to pay if they have opted for any of the below-mentioned programs
Table of contents
Fee
Summer work/travel program
USD 35
Camp counselor program
USD 35
Au pair program
USD 35
Federally sponsored exchange visitor program (program codes start with G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-7)
None
(Source: Official Website of the Department of Homeland Security)
Who Needs to Pay the SEVIS Fee?
Sevis Fee is paid by the students with F-1, F-3, M-1, or M-3 Visa holders. SEVIS fee for F1 visa and other visa holders like F-3, M-1, or M-3 is USD 350. Apart from this, if you are enrolled in any of the programs like summer work/travel program, AU pair program, or camp counsellor program then there is an additional fee of USD 35 that needs to be paid.
Who does not Need to Pay SEVIS fee?
The dependents with (F-2, M-2, or J-2) visas of students or exchange visitors are exempted from paying the fee.
Available Payment Methods
There are many options available by which you can pay the SEVIS fee. You can opt for any of the following payment methods that are best suited to you:
Debit/ Visa, MasterCard, or American Express Credit Card
Courier Payment/Money order
Western Union Quick Pay
It is to be noted that credit or debit cards can only be utilized when you choose the online medium for paying the SEVIS fee online after submitting the Form I-901 online at www.fmjfee.com.
You can also opt for an international money order or check drawn from a financial institution in the United States and payable in United States currency. In the case of the courier payments, you need to send the fee at the address mentioned below:
I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee
1005 Convention Plaza
St. Louis, MO 63101
United States
Phone Number: 1-314-425-1809 (United States Country Code 011)
In addition, you need to bear in mind some guidelines before you make a payment through any of the means listed above in the article:
A nominal fee of USD 35 is charged in case the bank on which the check is drawn does not honour it.
While filling the Form I-901 online you can opt to pay by check or money order, you will be able to print a payment coupon. You need to write the control number (mentioned on the top of the coupon), your name, and your SEVIS ID number on your check or money order and attach the coupon.
In case you opt for a paper Form I-901, you need to write your SEVIS ID number and name on your money order or check and enclose the form before sending it in.
If you opt to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee through the Western Union gateway then you will be required to fill out the Form I-901 online before visiting Western Union. A coupon number is also required to complete the payment.
In case you filled the wrong information in the SEVIS form, you do not need to fill the form again instead you need to reach fmjfee.sevis@ice.dhs.gov via mail with the details of the information that needs to be changed.
How to Print the Payment Receipt?
After successfully filling the Sevis I-901 application form you can check the I-901 status and print the payment confirmation for future reference.
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Students need to pay the Sevis I-901 fee before they apply for their visa using DS 160 form. The SEVIS fee receipt for the payment take long time to reach the applicant sometimes ever 15 days as they are sent through post.
Where do we need to pay the SEVIS fee?
The fee needs to be couriered at the following address: 1005 Convention Plaza St. Louis, MO 63101 United States Phone Number: 1-314-425-1809 (United States Country Code 011)
Why do we need to pay the SEVIS fee?
Many candidates are confused on the need of SEVIS fee. Let us try to answer, what is SEVIS Fee first? The I-901 SEVIS Fee is made compulsory by the Congress to assist the program office and the automated system that keeps record of students and exchange visitors and ensures that they keep up with their status during their stay in the US.
How to transfer SEVIS fee from one university to another?
If a student in the initial status of Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) did not attend the school and wants to transfer to another Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school or program then he or she can request for I-901 SEVIS transfer. The transfer will allow the student to move the I-901 SEVIS Fee from one SEVIS ID number to another. The request can be directly raised on FMJFee.com. A green Request Transfer button will appear on the screen if there is a valid record of SEVIS I-901 fee in your name. The whole process usually takes two business days after you confirm all the details like email id, mailing address, new SEVIS ID number and your new school code or program number on the portal and confirming your submission.
With over 12 years of experience in the education sector, Harjeet specializes in study abroad counseling and visa management. She has a proven ability to guide students through university applications...
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