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SEVIS Fee Information

The Department of Homeland Security is in charge of all the schools and students coming to the USA. All schools are connected with this department through an internet based program called SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). This system enables the U.S. Government to maintain updated information on F and J visa holders. Through SEVIS, we are able to issue you, the student, the I-20 form. This is the form you need to apply for your visa.

The Department of Homeland Security is charging every new student who gets issued an I-20 form with what they call the “SEVIS I-901 fee”. This is an additional cost for you to the actual visa application fee.

We have tried to provide as much information below and have also attached the necessary form for you. Please make sure, you follow this procedure carefully as it is as important as your visa application.

For more information about SEVIS, please visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website.

How much is the SEVIS I-901 fee?

The fee for M1-students is $250.00. If any family members (wife & children) are traveling with you, they will not be charged any fee

How to Pay the SEVIS Fee

You can pay your fee by credit or debit card if you are submitting your form online. If you pay by credit or debit card, you should print out a receipt if you need one immediately and cannot wait to receive a receipt through the mail.

Online

You may call the toll number for all questions regarding the I-901 SEVIS fee that cannot be answered after viewing the information available at www.ice.gov/sevis/i901. {Also, www.ice.gov.sevis/i901 should be a link}

Click on “File the I-901 form online” tab to fill out the form and pay the fee.

If you are from the following countries a credit card will not be accepted by SEVIS and you will need to pay via a check or Western Union payment.

1. Ghana

2. Gambia

3. Kenya

4. Nigeria

5. Cameroon

You can pay by international money order or check drawn on a financial institution in the United States and payable in United States currency. The address to send your payment to is:

By Mail

I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee P.O. Box 970020 St. Louis, MO 63197-0020 United States

By Courier (to expedite delivery to SEVP)

I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee 1005 Convention Plaza St. Louis, MO 63101 United States Phone Number: 1-877-815-1205 (United States Country Code 011)

Check or Money Order (must have copy of I-901) Please visit FMJFEE.com {Also, should FMJFEE.com be a link}– for Western Union payment instructions & option to print the I-901 form to print to send with their check.

Ensure your payment envelope has your correct return address. Also, be sure the envelope has both your payment and your coupon or Form I-901.

If you fill in the Form I-901 online and choose the option to pay by check or money order, you will be able to print a payment coupon. There is a control number on the top of the coupon.

Write the control number, your name and your SEVIS ID number on your check or money order and attach the coupon.

If you use a paper Form I-901, write your SEVIS ID number and name on your check or money order and attach the form before sending it in.

You may call (212) 620-3418 between 8am and 8pm EST for questions

When do I pay the fee?

You must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee before going to the United States Embassy or Consulate for your visa interview. If you do not pay it, your visa application will be denied by the designated official.

Will I receive a payment confirmation?

Yes. Depending on what option you choose to submit your form and payment, the time for your payment receipt varies:

The Internet is fastest. It also speeds the processing step because the online form uses data validation rules to minimize the chances for error. If you file your Form I-901 online and pay with a credit or debit card, you can print a receipt immediately. You will also receive a receipt printed on a Form I-797 in the mail.

Mail service varies throughout the world, we suggest allowing at least 2 weeks for delivery.

Courier services offer expedited delivery, but generally cost more than using the mail.

Can I make an appointment with the Embassy before I have the receipt?

Yes. However, you need to ensure that there is a record of your payment before you go to your interview.

How do I fill out the I-901 form?

Apart from the actual payment, the I-901 form is important for you to fill out. You will need to fill in a Form I-901 with information from your Form I-20 or DS-2019 and pay the required fee.

We have attached a blank form for you to fill out. Paper forms are scanned and read by machine. If information is missing or hard to read, the form will be manually reviewed. SEVP will attempt to fill in missing or hard-to-read information. This could cause a short delay in processing your form or could result in the form being returned to you for correction.

When using a paper form, please print clearly. Your SEVIS ID number, last name (surname or family name) and date of birth are critical data elements. These are needed to match the information on your Form I-20 or DS-2019. The address for the paper version of the form is the same as for your payment.

You will need a copy of your Form I-20 or DS-2019 for the school or Exchange Visitor Program you wish to attend.

Checklist for Paper Form I-901:

  •  Legible printing
  • SEVIS ID number is correct and matches your Form I-20 or DS-2019
  • Your last name is entered exactly as it appears on your Form I-20 or DS-2019
  • You have given the address where you want your receipt sent
  • If you have chosen expedited delivery your address must be a street address not a post office box
  • Your date of birth is entered exactly as it appears on your Form I-20 or DS-2019
  • You have correctly indicated the fee amount
  • You have selected expedited delivery if you want to pay the optional $30 for delivery by courier

Your total includes the fee and the delivery charge if you requested expedited delivery You may also fill out the form online: www.fmjfee.com. If filling in the Form I-901 online, the system will prevent most errors. The most important information for the online system is your SEVIS ID number. Be careful to enter this number correctly.

Further information Please read the SEVIS website