NEW SEVIS FEE REQUIREMENT: F-1,M & J1 STUDENTS
 

 

F1


 

Beginning September 1, 2004, a new United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule goes into effect.  This rule requires F-1 and J-1 visa applicants to pay a one-time fee of $100 to supplement the administration and maintenance costs of the Student and Exchange Information System (SEVIS). The following information specifically addresses fee issues for F-1 students.

 

Who pays the SEVIS fee?

·        Prospective students with “initial attendance” I-20s dated on or after 9/1/2004 who are applying for an “initial ” F-1 visa from outside the US

·        Prospective students with “initial attendance” I-20s dated on or after 9/1/2004  who are applying for a change to F-1 status from another visa category

·        Current F-1 students in the US filing for reinstatement after being out of status more than 5 months, and who are issued an I-20 issued for reinstatement that is dated on or after 9/1/04

 

Will other F-1 students in the US have to pay?

No, unless the student’s circumstances change so that he or she fits one of the categories mentioned above.

 

What about my F-2 dependents?

F-2 dependents do not have to pay the fee, even if the I-20 that the F-2 dependents use is issued on or after 9/1/2004

 

Do I have to pay if I transfer to another school, travel outside the US or renew my visa?

The SEVIS fee is not required when transferring schools, changing to another degree program or level, requesting a program extension, renewing an F-1 visa or using F-1 program benefits such as practical training.  If you are in status when you travel internationally and are not physically outside of the U.S. for more than five months, you will not be required to pay the fee.

 

When do I pay the SEVIS fee?

The fee must be paid at least 3 business days prior to applying for your visa, or applying for admission at a US port-of-entry for those exempt from the visa requirement.  The fee must be paid prior to submission of a change of status petition or reinstatement application.

 

Can I pay the SEVIS fee at a university, consulate or port of entry?

No. At this time the SEVIS fee can only be processed by the Department of Homeland Security via mail or the Internet.

 

How do I pay the fee?

The fee can be paid to the DHS by mail or online and must be accompanied by a Form I-901.  It can be paid by you or by a third party, inside or outside the US.

 

To Pay By Mail

1. Obtain a Form I-901 “Fee Remittance for Certain F, J, and M Nonimmigrants.”

·        Download the form from www.FMJfee.com

·        Request the form by phone at 1-800-870-3676 (inside the US)

2. Complete the Form I-901. Be sure to write your name exactly as it appears on your I-20 form.

3. Prepare a check, international money order or foreign draft (drawn on US banks only1) in the amount of $100 USD, made payable to “I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee.”

4. Mail the completed I-901 and payment to the address listed on Form I-901).

5. A Form I-797 receipt notice should be mailed within 3 days of processing the fee.  Be sure to make copies of your receipt, and keep it with your other important immigration documents

 

To Pay Online

1. Find the Form I-901 at www.FMJfee.com.

2. Complete the form online and supply the necessary Visa, MasterCard or American Express information.  *Be sure to write your name exactly as it appears on your I-20 form.

3. Print a copy of the online receipt.

4. Be sure to make copies of your receipt, and keep it with your other important immigration documents

 

A Note About Processing Times and Payment Verification

 

If you pay the SEVIS fee by Internet, your payment is processed immediately and, at the time you make payment, you can print a receipt directly from your computer.  This computer-generated receipt can be used to verify you have paid the fee at an embassy, consular post, or port-of-entry.  Mailing the SEVIS fee does not constitute payment.  The fee is processed when it is received by DHS.  If you mail your payment rather than pay on the Internet, it can take a considerable amount of time for payment to be received and for you to receive a receipt by return mail. 

 

Whether you choose to pay the fee by the Internet or by mail, a paper receipt will be mailed to the address you provide on Form I-901.  You may choose to have this receipt sent to you either by regular mail or, at an additional charge, by express delivery. 

 

A paper receipt is not required in order for you to be issued a visa or to be admitted at the port of entry.  Embassies and consular posts will be able to verify your fee payment without a receipt in most circumstances if you pay the fee far enough in advance of your visa interview.  Electronic payments must be submitted at least 3 business days in advance of the interview if you will rely on electronic fee verification at the consulate.  Mailed payments must be sent in a manner that assures arrival at the DHS address listed on the I-901 at least 3 business days before the scheduled interview. 

 

Will the DHS keep a record of my payment on file?

Fee payments should be entered into your permanent immigration (SEVIS) record but it is strongly recommended that you retain a copy of your fee receipt (form I-797) to use as needed.

 

I applied to more than one school, and have more than one I-20 form.  What happens if I pay the SEVIS fee for one school, and then I change my mind and decide that I want to attend the other school?  Is my paid SEVIS fee transferable?

Yes.  But you must submit the I-20 form with the SEVIS ID number that you listed on the I-901 form with you to the U.S. consulate/embassy.  For change of status or reinstatement applications, please see next question.

 

What do I need to do to apply for an F-1 visa, change of status or reinstatement?

·        Obtain the appropriate Form I-20 from a DHS-approved school.

·        Pay the SEVIS fee by mail or online.

·        Make a copy of the I-797 (mail) or computer receipt (online) for your records.

·        Submit a copy of the I-797 or computer receipt with your visa, change of status or reinstatement application OR 

·        Students who are exempt from visa requirements, such as Canadians, should take a copy of the SEVIS fee receipt to present at the port of entry with the appropriate I-20. It will not be possible to pay the fee at the port of entry.

·        For change of status or reinstatement applications, if you previously paid the SEVIS fee while attending a different school, you should submit a copy of that school’s I-20 form with your application.

 

What if my F-1 visa application is denied?

The SEVIS fee will not be refunded. However, if you reapply for a new F-1 visa within 12 months of the denial, you will not have to pay the fee again.

 

J1

 

NEW SEVIS FEE REQUIREMENT: J-1 STUDENTS

 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) now requires the collection of a one-time SEVIS fee of $100 from certain J-1 Exchange Visitor students and scholars. This fee is being collected to fund operation of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program Office, which has oversight over SEVIS - the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System.

 

Exchange-Visitors Not Required to Pay the SEVIS Fee

 The following exchange visitors are not required to pay the SEVIS fee: 

 

1.       Continuing J-1s: No SEVIS fee is due for J-1 students or scholars, whose program began BEFORE September 1, 2004 who maintains that status, and whose initial DS-2019 for the current program was issued before September 1, 2004.

2.       J-1s sponsored by the U.S. federal government: No SEVIS fee is due for a J-1 exchange visitor who is coming to the United States as a participant in an exchange visitor program sponsored by the U.S. federal government (i.e., Fulbright).

3.       J-2 dependents:  J-2 dependents are not required to pay a separate SEVIS fee in order to obtain J-2 status or during the time the J-2 remains in that status.

 

Exchange-Visitors Who Are Required to Pay the SEVIS Fee

The following exchange visitors are required to pay the SEVIS fee if their form DS-2019 was issued on or after September 1, 2004: 

 

·         An individual applying for a J-1 visa for initial participation in a program

·         An individual in the U.S. applying for a change of status to J-1

·         An exchange visitor who is in a U.S. government sponsored program and who is transferring to a non-U.S. government sponsored program

·         An exchange visitor applying for a change of category (example – J-1 student to J-1 researcher)

·         A J-1 exchange visitor applying for reinstatement for a substantive violation

 

Time of payment of SEVIS fee: A J-1 student or scholar, who is subject to payment of the SEVIS fee, must remit the fee directly to DHS by completing Form I-901 electronically using the Internet or by mail as follows:

 

1.       Applying for the J-1 visa abroad: The SEVIS fee should be processed by DHS at least 3 business days prior to the consular interview. Fees will not be payable at the consulate. The following steps are a guideline for obtaining a J-1 visa from abroad:

a.       Receive DS-2019 from the Exchange Visitor Program.

b.       Make visa appointment with U.S. Embassy/Consulate.

c.       Submit SEVIS fee payment in time to allow DHS to process payment at least 3 days prior to visa interview.

d.       Print SEVIS fee payment receipt from Internet or wait to receive form I-797 receipt from DHS via mail and submit receipt with visa application.

e.       Receive J-1 visa stamp in passport from U.S. Embassy/Consulate.

f.        Enter U.S. up to 30 days PRIOR to the start date indicated on the DS-2019 and no later than 30 days AFTER the start date indicated on the DS-2019.

g.       Report to the Services for International Students & Scholars to validate program no later than 30 days AFTER the start date indicated on the DS-2019.

2.       Entering U.S. by individuals exempt from the visa requirement: The SEVIS fee should be processed at least 3 business days prior to applying for admission at a U.S. port-of-entry by non-immigrants, who are exempt from the visa requirement (i.e., citizens from Canada, Bermuda, and other island countries listed in 8 CFR 212.1).

3.       Change of J-1 category: A J-1 student or scholar applying for a change of category within the U.S. (i.e., J-1 student to J-1 research scholar) must pay the SEVIS fee prior to the Exchange Visitor Program approving a change of category

4.       Changing status to J-1: A non-immigrant in the United States seeking a change of status to J-1 student or scholar must pay the SEVIS fee prior to submitting the application to USCIS for change of non-immigrant status.

5.       Applying for reinstatement: A J-1 student or scholar, who is applying for reinstatement after a substantive violation or who has been out of program status for longer than 120 days, but less than 270 days during the course of his or her program, must pay the SEVIS fee prior to applying to the Exchange Visitor Program for reinstatement to J-1 status.

 

Note: SEVIS fees are transferable. If an applicant pays the SEVIS fee in connection with a previously issued DS-2019/SEVIS ID number other than the one associated with the document that s/he actually uses to apply for a benefit (new J-1 visa, change of status, reinstatement), it is strongly recommended that s/he submit a copy of the DS-2019 that is connected to the paid SEVIS fee, in addition to the original current DS-2019.

 

Circumstances where no new fee is required: J-1 students and scholars, who have previously paid the SEVIS fee prior to obtaining his or her current status, are not required to pay a new SEVIS fee in connection with:

 

1.       An application for an extension of stay in the current program.

2.       An application to transfer between programs in the same exchange visitor category where no differential fee exists (i.e., transfer between two non-fee-exempt exchange visitor programs or transfer between two fee-exempt exchange visitor programs).

3.       A re-application for a J-1 visa following denial of visa application by consular officer, as long as the re-application occurs within 12 months of the original denial notice.

4.       A motion to re-open a change of status application, which was previously denied for reasons other than failure to pay the SEVIS fee, as long as the motion occurs within 12 months of the original denial notice.

 

Procedures for payment of the SEVIS fee:

 

1.       On-line submission of Form I-901 (www.FMJfee.com) to DHS using a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express accepted).

2.       Mail-in submission of Form I-901 to DHS address on form, along with the $100 SEVIS fee paid by check, money order, or foreign draft drawn on a financial institution in the U.S. and payable in U.S. currency.

 

Another person (friend or family) can make the payment for an exchange visitor by one of the two methods above.

 

Receipts: DHS will issue and mail an official paper receipt (I-797) acknowledging every payment regardless of payment method. Express delivery service for the I-797 receipt may be requested at an additional cost. Anyone who submits an individual fee electronically will be able to print out an electronic receipt immediately at the time of payment for use in advance of the mail delivery of the official paper receipt.

 

Although SEVIS fee payments will be recorded by DHS in the J-1 students’ and scholars’ SEVIS records and will eventually be used by government officials to document the SEVIS fee payment, it is recommended that a SEVIS fee receipt be used to request any status-related benefit (i.e., application for visa, admission at U.S. port-of-entry, application to change status).

 

NOTE: DHS will not refund the SEVIS fee if J-1 students and scholars are not granted a visa or choose not to come to the U.S. after their visas are granted.