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SEVIS
FEE
Effective September 1, 2004, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
has imposed a $100 SEVIS fee on all new applicants for F-1, F-3, J-1, M-1
and M-3 visas or status whose INITIAL I-20 or DS-2019 forms are issued
on or after September 1, 2004.
The SEVIS fee is mandated by Congress to be used for the operational
costs of the SEVIS program. SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor
Information System) is a computer system which manages data on all persons
in F, J and M status in the U.S. At UTHSC, we do not have an M
student (vocational studies) program.
Below is information specifically for F-1 Students
and J-1 Exchange Visitors:
F-1
Who Should Pay the SEVIS Fee?
Prospective UTHSC F-1 students whose I-20 for Initial Attendance was
issued on or after September 1, 2004, who are:
- applying for an initial F-1 visa at a U.S. consulate
- visa exempt and applying for entry to the U.S. in F-1 status at a
Port of Entry (Canadians, Bermudians)
- applying for a change of status to F-1 from another visa status
Current F-1 students who:
- have fallen out of status and are applying for reinstatement after
more than 5 months
- have been outside the U.S. for more than 5 months and are returning
to resume a degree program or begin a new degree program
Who Does NOT Have to Pay the Fee?
Continuing students who are:
- extending their degree program
- transferring to a different school
- changing educational levels or programs
- applying for renewal of their F-1 visa
F-2 dependents
Is the SEVIS Fee Transferable?
Yes. Please see http://www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/i901/faq.htm
for detailed instructions.
When Do I Pay the Fee?
The fee must be paid at least 3 U.S. government business days before
your visa interview or before your entry to the U.S. in F-1 status if you
are visa exempt. You may set up the visa appointment before paying
the fee.
The fee must also be paid before an application for change of status to
F-1 or application for reinstatement to F-1 status is submitted to the
Department of Homeland Security.
My Visa Application Was Denied -- What Now?
Your fee payment remains valid for 12 months, so you can re-apply for
an F-1 visa within the 12-month period without paying a new fee. The
fee is not refundable.
Where Do I Pay the Fee?
You must pay the fee directly to the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security via mail, the internet or Western Union Quick Pay.
How Do I Pay the Fee?
The fee can be paid online (which we strongly recommend), via Western
Union Quick Pay, or by
mail. A third party, such as a family member or friend, may also pay
the fee for you. Online payment is recommended because you will be
able to print a receipt immediately, which you can bring to your visa
interview.
Online Payment:
- Go to www.fmjfee.com
for the electronic I-901 SEVIS fee application
- Complete the
form online and pay with a credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American
Express) or debit card (with Visa or Mastercard logo). *Note: Your
name should be written EXACTLY as it is on your I-20
- Print a copy
of the online receipt
- Make extra
copies of your receipt and keep the receipts in a safe place with your
other immigration documents. You may need to provide proof
of having paid the fee later on.
Western
Union Quick Pay:
-
Go
to www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/i901/wu_instr.htm
for instructions and sample Western Union forms, which you should
print out, so you can refer to them while at the Western Union office.
Note: there are different instructions depending on
whether you are outside or inside the U.S. and whether you are
applying for an F/M or J visa.
-
Find
your local Western Union Quick Pay office by going to: www.payment-solutions.com/agent.asp.
Note: not all Western Union locations have Quick Pay
available.
-
Request
the Blue
Form and complete
it as shown in the sample form you printed out.
Pay the $100 fee in your local currency.
-
Make
sure you enter the address where you wish to receive the SEVIS fee
receipt from the U.S.
- A
form I-797 receipt will be airmailed to you.
Be sure to make extra copies of your receipt and keep them in a
safe place with your other immigration documents.
You may need to provide proof of having paid the fee later on.
Mail Payment:
- Go to www.fmjfee.com,
complete the form online and choose the option to pay with a check or
money order, and print out a payment coupon, or
- Go to
www.ice.gov/sevis/i901
for the PDF version of the I-901 SEVIS fee application, print
out the I-901 form and complete it. *Note:
Your name should be written EXACTLY as it is on your I-20
- Mail the
payment coupon or I-901 form with a check or international money order
in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank. The check or money
order should be payable to "I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor
Processing Fee" and should have your SEVIS ID # in the memo
section.
- A form I-797
receipt will be airmailed to you. Be sure to make extra copies
of your receipt and keep the receipts in a safe place with your other
immigration documents. You may need to provide proof of
having paid the fee later on.
Does SEVIS Keep a Record of Fee Payment?
Yes, an electronic record of your fee payment should be created in your
SEVIS record, but it is strongly recommended that you also keep several
paper copies of your receipt.
J-1
Who Should Pay the SEVIS Fee?
J-1 exchange visitors beginning a new program at UTHSC, whose DS-2019
to Begin a New Program was issued on or after September 1, 2004, who are:
- applying for an initial J-1 visa at a U.S. consulate
- visa exempt and applying for entry to the U.S. in J-1 status at a
Port of Entry (Canadians, Bermudians)
- applying for a change of status to J-1 from another visa status
Current J-1 exchange visitors who:
- have fallen out of status and are applying for reinstatement after
more than 120 days
- wish to change exchange visitor category (e.g. from Research Scholar
to Student). Exception: changing from the Research Scholar to
the Professor category or vice versa is NOT considered a change of
category and no fee should be paid
- wish to participate in a new J program
Who Does NOT Have to Pay the Fee?
Continuing exchange visitors who are:
- extending their program
- transferring to a different program
- applying for renewal of their J-1 visa for a continuing J program
J-2 dependents
Is the SEVIS Fee Transferable?
Yes. Please see http://www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/i901/faq.htm
for detailed instructions.
When Do I Pay the Fee?
The fee must be paid at least 3 U.S. government business days before
your visa interview or before your entry to the U.S. in J-1 status if you
are visa exempt. You may set up the visa appointment before paying
the fee.
The fee must also be paid before an application for change of status to
J-1 is submitted to the Department of Homeland Security or an application
for reinstatement to J-1 status is submitted to the Department of State.
My Visa Application Was Denied -- What Now?
Your fee payment remains valid for 12 months, so you can re-apply for a
J-1 visa within the 12-month period without paying a new fee. The
fee is not refundable.
Where Do I Pay the Fee?
You must pay the fee directly to the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security via mail or the internet.
How Do I Pay the Fee?
The fee can be paid online (which we strongly recommend) or by
mail. A third party, such as a family member or friend, may also pay
the fee for you. Online payment is recommended because you will be
able to print a receipt immediately, which you can bring to your visa
interview.
Online Payment:
- Go to www.fmjfee.com
for the electronic I-901 SEVIS fee application
- Complete the
form online and pay with a credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American
Express) or debit card (with Visa or Mastercard logo). *Note: Your
name should be written EXACTLY as it is on your DS-2019
- Print a copy
of the online receipt
- Make extra
copies of your receipt and keep the receipts in a safe place with your
other immigration documents. You may need to provide proof
of having paid the fee later on.
Western
Union Quick Pay:
-
Go
to www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/i901/wu_instr.htm
for instructions and sample Western Union forms, which you should
print out, so you can refer to them while at the Western Union office.
Note: there are different instructions depending on
whether you are outside or inside the U.S. and whether you are
applying for an F/M or J visa.
-
Find
your local Western Union Quick Pay office by going to: www.payment-solutions.com/agent.asp.
Note: not all Western Union locations have Quick Pay
available.
-
Request
the Blue
Form and complete
it as shown in the sample form you printed out.
Pay the $100 fee in your local currency.
-
Make
sure you enter the address where you wish to receive the SEVIS fee
receipt from the U.S.
- A
form I-797 receipt will be airmailed to you.
Be sure to make extra copies of your receipt and keep them in a
safe place with your other immigration documents.
You may need to provide proof of having paid the fee later on.
Mail Payment:
- Go to www.fmjfee.com,
complete the form online and choose the option to pay with a check or
money order, and print out a payment coupon, or
- Go to
www.ice.gov/sevis/i901
for the PDF version of the I-901 SEVIS fee application, print
out the I-901 form and complete it. *Note:
Your name should be written EXACTLY as it is on your DS-2019
- Mail the
payment coupon or I-901 form with a check or international money order
in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank. The check or money
order should be payable to "I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor
Processing Fee" and should have your SEVIS ID # in the memo
section.
- A form I-797
receipt will be airmailed to you. Be sure to make extra copies
of your receipt and keep the receipts in a safe place with your other
immigration documents. You may need to provide proof of
having paid the fee later on.
Does SEVIS Keep a Record of Fee Payment?
Yes, an electronic record of your fee payment should be created in your
SEVIS record, but it is strongly recommended that you also keep several
paper copies of your receipt.
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