International Student & Scholar Services

Forms, Fees & Other Useful Information

USCIS I-901 Fee--The SEVIS Fee

F-1: For students with F-1 status, beginning October 27, 2008 the new fee for I-901 SEVIS fee is increased to $200.
Note: F-2 dependants are NOT required to pay this fee.
$200 F-1 SEVIS Fee
Paying SEVIS Fee On-line
http://www.fmjfee.com

J-1: For students, research scholars and professors with J-1 status, beginning October 27, 2008 the new fee for I-901
Note: J-2 dependants are NOT required to pay this fee.
SEVIS fee is increased to $180.
$180 J-1 SEVIS Fee
Paying SEVIS Fee On-line
http://www.fmjfee.com

Exchange Visitors, J-1 Information

Important Information for J-1 Students/Scholars

J-1 Exchange Visitor information: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1267.hmtl

Visa information: www.travel.state.gov

Brochure #20: J-1 Information

Brochure #21: J-2 Employment

Changing Status to F-1

Changing Non-Immigrant Status in the United States  

Brochure #30: Change of Non-Immigrant Status

Maintaining & Regaining Status

Important Information for F-1 & J-1 Students and Scholars

Reinstatement to F-1 Status

Brochure #33: Reinstatement to Status

Travel & U.S. Re-Entry

Overseas Travel/re-entry to the United States

Travel to Canada

Brochure #32: Travel

Employment

Request Form to Receive On-Campus Employment Permission

Employment and F-1 Student Status

Brochure #40: F-1 Employment

CPT-Curricular Practical Training 

Advisor's Recommendation Form

Brochure #41: CPT-Curricular Practical Training

EHE-Economic Hardship Employment,  

Brochure #42: EHE-Economic Hardship Employment

OPT-Optional Practical Training Employment  

Brochure #44: OPT-Optional Practical Training

Effective July 30th, 2007, the  fees for many types of immigration applications increased substantially. Please check the website of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ( www.uscis.gov) for more information or click this link to view the new fees 

http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/FinalUSCISFeeSchedule052907.pdf

SEVIS Fee

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal SEVIS Fee took effect on September 1, 2004 and was increased on October 27, 2008. The fee of $200.00 for F-1 students and $180 for J-1 status holders is generally a one-time fee (see exceptions, below) and is required of those who are applying for an F-1, J-1 or M-1 visa based on an I-20 issued for "initial attendance" or a DS-2019 issued to "begin a new program." Proof of fee payment must be presented at the visa interview.

Who Has to Pay the SEVIS Fee
You must pay the SEVIS fee if you are seeking an initial F-1 or J-1 visa from an embassy or consulate abroad for initial attendance or initial participation in an exchange visitor program.

You must pay the SEVIS fee if you have previously been enrolled at a U.S. school, but you are no longer enrolled and you have been outside the United States for more than five months, even if you have an unexpired F-1 visa in your passport.

You must pay the SEVIS Fee if you are a Canadian citizen, and are therefore exempt from the U.S. visa requirement, before you can enter the United States.

You must pay the SEVIS fee if you are already in the United States prior to submitting a change of non-immigrant status application to F-1 or J-1.  

You must pay the fee if you are an F-1 or J-1 student or scholar applying for reinstatement of your lawful status in the United States.

You do NOT need to pay the SEVIS fee if item 3 on your CCNY I-20 reads "transfer pending from <name of school>", even if you will be applying for a new F-1 visa.

Applicants for F-2 or J-2 dependent visas are NOT required to pay the SEVIS fee.

SEVIS Fee Rules
The SEVIS fee must be processed at least three business days before the visa interview, unless you have a printed receipt from an Internet payment.

The SEVIS fee cannot be paid at the embassy or consulate, or at the U.S. Border.

A visa will not be issued unless the visa officer can verify that the SEVIS fee payment has been made. However, you may schedule your visa interview prior to paying the SEVIS fee.

The SEVIS fee is not refundable. If your visa application is denied, and you decide to re-apply for the same type of visa at a later date, you will not be
asked to make a second SEVIS fee payment as long as your visa application is made within 12 months of the initial denial.

How to Pay the SEVIS Fee
Currently, there are three payment methods:

·         Payment in U.S. dollars by credit card over the Internet, (this is the recommended method).  When using this method, try to pay at least three (3) days before the consulate interview.  Always print out your receipt and take it to the Interview.

Have the following items at the computer

1.       Your SEVIS ID Number located at the top of the bar code on the first page of the Form I-20

2.       A credit card to pay the F-1 $200 fee or the J-1 $180 fee

3.       Access to a printer for printing out the receipt

Go to this website and and follow the instructions

www.fmjfee.com

·         Pay by mail by submitting the completed form I-901 with a check or money order, drawn on a United States bank and payable in United States currency.  All checks and money orders must be made payable to "I-901 Stduent/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee".

·         Payment by Western Union Quick Pay – payment can be made in local currency. In order to pay using this option, go to http://www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/i901/wu_instr.htm   and follow the instructions. It is important that you print out an appropriate sample payment form and provide it to the Western Union agent. Be sure to request a Blue Form from the agent. To find the location of the nearest Western Union office go to http://www.payment-solutions.com/agent.asp

Payment of the SEVIS fee may be made by you or by any other individual,either in the United States or abroad, including family or friends, anyone paying the fee on your behalf will need to have a copy of your I-20 or DS-2019, or a completed copy of Form I-901.

Procedure for Paying the SEVIS Fee

1.       Obtain form I-20 or DS-2019 from The City College of New York.

2.       Access form I-901 on the Internet at http://www.fmjfee.com OR use the form I-901 included with your I-20 or DS-2019

3.       Complete form I-901, answering all questions (you must have an I-20 or DS-2019 from The City College of New York in order to complete form I-901). Be sure that you  enter your personal information exactly as it appears on the I-20 or DS-2019 form

4.       Pay the F-1 $200 or J-1 $180 SEVIS fee according to one of the methods described below.

Note:To complete form I-901, you must enter the CCNY School Code of NYC(214F)00812005 if you have been sent an I-20, OR the CCNY Program Number of P100009 if you have been sent a DS-2019. You must also enter your SEVIS ID number, which is printed at the top right of the I-20 or DS-2019, above the bar code. It starts with the letter "N."

Paying on the Internet
Once you have received your I-20 or DS-2019, you can make the fee payment by submitting form I-901 on-line using a credit card. The web address is http://www.fmjfee.com

MasterCard, Visa, or American Express debit or credit cards are accepted. It does not matter if the card was issued in the United States or overseas. Follow the on-line instructions, include the required credit card information, and print out the payment screen to verify your payment. The printed receipt should be presented at the visa interview or at the U.S. port of entry as proof of payment. Thus, when paying the fee on the Internet, it is essential that your printer be ready before starting the payment process. Do not exit the receipt page until you have successfully printed the receipt. You will not be able to return to the receipt page.

Paying by Mail
To pay by mail, you must download and print form I-901 from http://www.fmjfee.com or use the paper copy provided with your I-20 or DS-2019, fill out the form and mail it with your payment to the address below.

Your payment must be in U.S. dollars by check, money order or bank draft, drawn on a U.S. bank. Your check, bank draft or money order should be made payable to:

"I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee."

Also, be sure to print your name and SEVIS ID number in the lower left-hand corner of the check, money order or bank draft. The need for a check, bank draft or money order in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank does not mean that only a U.S. bank can issue the document. Many foreign banks are able to issue checks or money orders drawn on a U.S. bank, because they are chartered in the United States, or because they are foreign subsidiaries of a U.S. bank, or because they have arrangements with a U.S. bank to issue a check, money order, or foreign draft that is drawn on a U.S. bank. 

Mail the payment and form I-901 to:

I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Visa Processing Fee

P.O. Box 970020

St. Louis, MO 63197-0020 USA

To send by courier, use the following address:

I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee

1005 Convention Plaza

St. Louis, MO 63101

USA

Phone Number: 1-314-418-8833 (United States Country Code 011)

Once the form and fee are processed, a paper receipt will be mailed to you.

Return courier service is available for an additional fee.

Payment by mail is not the recommended process for fee payment from abroad, as it can take as long as four weeks from the day you mail in the fee to the day that you receive the required receipt in the mail if you are applying from outside the United States, unless you pay for courier service.

Showing Proof of SEVIS Fee Payment at the Visa Interview and/or the U.S. Port of Entry

You must be able to prove that the fee has been paid when you appear for your visa interview, and when you enter the United States. This is done by presenting a printed receipt, either from the Internet if you made an on-line payment, or a mailed receipt if you paid by mail.

Visa officers and U.S. port-of entry inspectors should be able to verify SEVIS fee payment electronically three business days after payment is processed, but in case of problems, having a printed receipt is the best evidence of fee payment. If you lose or did not receive a receipt for fee payment, the U.S. government does retain an electronic record that the fee has been paid.

A visa will not be issued unless verification of the SEVIS fee payment can be made.

For detailed information on the SEVIS fee payment process, and for a list of frequently asked questions, visit:

http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm

* This information was developed by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services, Binghamton University, NY and is used with their permission