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SEVIS I-901 fee
What is the SEVIS I-901 fee?
The SEVIS I-901 fee is mandated by Congress to support the program office and the automated system that keeps track of students and exchange visitors and ensures that they maintain their status while in the United States. Each student or exchange visitor issued an initial Form I-20 or DS-2019 on/after September 1, 2004 is responsible for paying this fee to SEVP. However, some exceptions exist.
Who pays or who does not pay the SEVIS I-901 fee? How much is the SEVIS I-901 fee?
| For students (F-1, M-1) | $100 | | For spouses and dependent children (F-2, M-2 or J-2) of students or exchange visitors | None | | For continuing student (F-1, M-1) / exchange visitor (J-1) | None | | For exchange visitors (J-1) | $100 | | UNLESS participating in: | | * Federally sponsored visitor program (program codes start with G-1, G-2 or G-3) | None | | * Summer Work and Travel program (J-1) | $35 | | * Au Pair program (J-1) | $35 | | * Camp Counselor program (J-1) | $35 |
Acceptable methods of the SEVIS I-901 fee payments
Currently Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations provide four options for payment:
- On-line payment using a credit card on the following website www.fmjfee.com. Individuals who pay on-line will be able to print an electronic receipt immediately.
- The SEVIS I-901 fee in cash may be paid via Western Union "Quick Pay" service at the two of the following authorized Western Union departments in Kyiv, Ukraine:
- In the ñashier hall of the metro station "Teatralna", tel: 238-5788;
- Metro station "Maydan Nezalezhnosti", shopping mall "Globus", 3rd line, tel: 278-1780.
- DHS has set up a lock box to accept fee payment by mail. Applicants will be able to submit a Form I-901, Fee Remittance for Certain F, M, and J Nonimmigrant, together with a check or money order drawn on a U.S. bank and payable in U.S. currency;
- Exchange visitor program sponsors may elect to pay the fees for their participants and may do so by applying to DHS to participate in the "Bulk Filer" program. DHS must approve a sponsor to participate in this payment process.
Confirmation of the SEVIS I-901 fee payment
The payment will be recorded into the SEVIS system. However, each prospective F-1, M-1 or J-1 applicant is required to bring the proof of the SEVIS fee payment along with all necessary documents on a visa interview day.
There are three acceptable proof of the SEVIS fee payment:
- The original paper I-797 receipt mailed to the applicant's address by the DHS;
- The electronic receipt which can be immediately printed out after the on-line payment is completed;
- The original "Quick Pay" receipt, in case a person paid cash at the Western Union authorized departments.
Individuals may request Express delivery service for the I-797 receipt at an additional cost of $30.
SEVIS I-901 Fee Payment by Western Union Quick Pay Instructions
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have implemented an alternative method of payment for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee for international students and exchange visitors. On November 1, 2004, nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors in more than 130 countries are able to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee locally using the Western Union "Quick Pay" service.
This initiative allows Western Union to collect the SEVIS I-901 fee, in local currency, along with the needed Form I-901 data and transmit the payment and data to ICE. The properly completed Western Union receipt serves as immediate proof-of-payment for a visa interview at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy.
For the time being, SEVIS I-901 fee can be paid in cash through Western Union "Quick Pay" at the two authorized Western Union departments in Kyiv at the following addresses:
- In the ñashier hall of the metro station "Teatralna" tel.: 238-5788, Kyiv;
- Metro station "Maydan Nezalezhnosti", shopping mall "Globus", 3rd line, tel.: 278-1780, Kyiv.
For your convenience, there are two samples of how to fill out the Western Union "Quick Pay" correctly.
Sample 1. J-1 Exchange Visitor visa.
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J-1 visa. Instructions
Enter the dollar amount in words and numbers:
*For Camp Counselor, Summer Work and Travel, Au Pair – SEVIS fee is $35;
*For all other exchange visitor programs, SEVIS fee is $100;
*If you would like to your form I-797 to be send by expedited delivery instead of regular mail, please add $30 to your fee amount.
Company name: US Bank DHS
Company code: JSEVISFEE, MO
Country: USA
First name and Last name: Write your name exactly as it appears on your Form DS-2019.
Address: Write the address where you want your I-797 receipt to be sent.
Telephone Number: Write your phone number including country and city codes.
Account Number: Write your SEVIS number exactly as it appears on your Form DS-2019, followed by a dash "-" and your date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format.
Reference Number: Write the exchange visitor program number found on your Form DS-2019.
Name/Department: Write your gender (MALE/FEMALE).
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Sample 2. Student F-1, M-1 visa.
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F-1, M-1 visa. Instructions
Enter the dollar amount in words and numbers:
*SEVIS fee is $100;
*If you would like to your form I-797 to be send by expedited delivery instead of regular mail, please add $30 to your fee amount ($130).
Company name: US Bank DHS
Company code: FMSEVISFEE, MO
Country: USA
First name and Last name: Write your name exactly as it appears on your Form DS-2019.
Address: Write the address where you want your I-797 receipt to be sent.
Telephone Number: Write your phone number including country and city codes.
Account Number: Write your SEVIS number exactly as it appears on your Form I-20, followed by a dash "-" and your date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format.
Reference Number: Write the exchange visitor program number found on your Form I-20.
Name/Department: Write your gender (MALE/FEMALE). |
SEVIS I-901 Fee Validity
The SEVIS I-901 fee is valid for twelve months from the date of the initial application. If an applicant is initially unsuccessful in obtaining a visa, he or she may apply again for the same or different program within twelve months without having to pay an additional SEVIS fee.
How to check the status of the SEVIS I-901 fee payment
The status of the SEVIS I-901 fee payment you can always check through the following website: www.fmjfee.com.
In order to check the status of the payment in the field "Check Status" a person needs to have an applicant's last name, date of birth and the SEVIS number.
SEVIS I-901 Fee Assistance
E-mail address: fmjfee.SEVIS@dhs.gov
I-901 Customer Service hotline at 212-620-3418
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