I-901 SEVIS Fee Information

SEVIS I-901 FEE REQUIREMENT: F-1 Students – Important Update

Federal regulations require prospective F-1 students to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee before an F-1 visa can be issued.  This fee helps pay for SEVIS (Student and Exchange Information System), the system used to issue I-20 forms.  Currently, the fee is $200, but on June 24, 2019, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule will increase the I-901 fee from $200 to $350 for F-1 students. If you pay before June 24, 2019, the fee will still be $200.

Please note, if you are applying for a new visa, there will be additional visa application fees as well.

Frequently asked questions:

Who pays the SEVIS fee?

  • New students with I-20s marked for “initial attendance” who are applying for a new F-1 visa from outside the US.
  • New students with I-20s marked for “initial attendance” who are applying for a change to F-1 status from another status (B-2 for example).
  • Current F-1 students in the US filing for reinstatement after a violation of status or being out of the country for more than 5 months.

Can someone else (friend or family member) pay the fee for me?

Yes.  But you should keep a copy of the fee payment receipt that proves that the fee was paid.

Do I have to pay if I stay in the U.S. but transfer to another school or if I change levels (example:  US high school to undergraduate study)?

No

When do I pay the SEVIS fee?

The fee should be paid at least 3 business days before you apply for your visa, change of status or reinstatement application.

How do I pay the fee?

You can fill out the I-901 form and pay the fee directly at https://www.fmjfee.com.

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 print out and keep a copy of your fee receipt for your records.

For more information please visit:

https://www.fmjfee.com

https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/faq

https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/paying-your-i-901-sevis-fee

https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/i-901-sevis-fee-payment-tutorial

For additional information regarding the SEVIS fee requirement or other visa-related matters as it relates to you and Pitzer College, please contact Todd Sasaki at 909.621.8308.