Advisory on SEVIS Fee Rule for F-1 Students

Effective, September 1, 2004, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will require the collection of a SEVIS fee from certain F-1 students. This fee is being collected to fund operation of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program Office, which has oversight for SEVIS - the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. Please note the exceptions to the collection of the SEVIS fee, as stated below.

Remittance of the fee: Certain persons seeking to obtain non-immigrant status as F-1 students are required to pay a $200 SEVIS fee to DHS in advance, with the following exceptions:

  1. Continuing F-1s: No SEVIS fee is due for F-1s, whose program began BEFORE September 1, 2004, maintains that status, and whose initial I-20 was issued before September 1, 2004.
  2. F-2 dependents: The F-1 student must pay the SEVIS fee in order to obtain the F-2 visa for his or her dependents. However, the F-2 dependent is not required to pay a separate SEVIS fee in order to obtain F-2 status or during the time the F-2 remains in that status.

Time of payment of SEVIS fee: An F-1 student who is subject to payment of the SEVIS fee must remit the fee directly to DHS by completing Form I-901 electronically using the Internet or by mail as follows:

  1. Applying for the F-1 visa abroad: The SEVIS fee must be processed by DHS at least 3 business days prior to the consular interview. Fees will NOT be payable at the consulate. The following steps are a guideline for procuring the F-1 visa from abroad:

a.

Receive form I-20 from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

b.

Make visa appointment with U.S. Embassy/Consulate.

c.

Submit SEVIS fee payment in time to allow DHS to process payment at least 3 days prior to visa interview.

d.

Print SEVIS fee receipt from Internet OR wait to receive Form I-797 receipt from DHS via mail AND submit receipt with visa application.

e.

Receive F-1 visa stamp in passport from U.S. Embassy/Consulate.

f.

Enter U.S. up to 30 days PRIOR to the report date indicated on the form I-20.

g.

Report to the ISS to validate program no later than 30 days AFTER the I-20 report date.
  1. Being exempt from visa requirement: The SEVIS fee must be processed at least 3 business days prior to applying for admission at a U.S. port-of-entry by non-immigrants, who are exempt from the visa requirement (i.e., citizens from Canada, Bermuda, and other island countries listed in 8 CFR 212.1). Fees will NOT be payable at the U.S. port-of-entry.
  2. Changing status to F-1: Non-immigrants in the United States seeking a change of status to F-1 student status must pay the SEVIS fee to DHS before submitting the application for change of non-immigrant status.
  3. Applying for reinstatement: An F-1 student, who is applying for reinstatement after being out-of-status for more than 5 months, must pay the SEVIS fee to DHS prior to applying for reinstatement to F-1 status.
  4. Absent from the U.S.: An F-1 student, who is planning to return to the U.S. after an absence of more than 5 months and has not been authorized for overseas study, must pay the SEVIS fee at least 3 business days prior to applying for admission at a U.S. port-of-entry. Fees will NOT be payable at the U.S. port-of-entry.

Circumstances where no new fee is required: F-1 students, who have previously paid the SEVIS fee prior to obtaining his or her current status, are not required to pay a new fee in connection with:

  1. An application for an extension of stay in the current program.
  2. An application for a new visa as a continuing student returning after a temporary absence of not more than 5 months; or returning after authorized period of overseas study to complete program.
  3. Changing educational levels (i.e., bachelorกฏs to masterกฏs), as long as student had maintained continuous F-1 status.
  4. Transferring between DHS-approved schools at same educational level.
  5. A re-application for visa following denial of visa application by consular officer, as long as the re-application occurs within 12 months of the denial notice.
  6. An application for reinstatement to F-1 status, as long as F-1 student has not been out-of-status for more than 5 months.
  7. Application for optional practical training.
  8. A motion to re-open a change of status application, which was previously denied for reasons other than failure to pay the SEVIS fee, as long as the motion occurs within 12 months of the denial notice.

Procedures for payment of the SEVIS fee:

  • On-line submission of form I-901 (https://www.fmjfee.com/index.jhtml) to DHS using a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express accepted).
  • Mail-in submission of form I-901 to DHS address on form, along with the $200 SEVIS fee paid by check, money order, or foreign draft drawn on a financial institution in the U.S. and payable in U.S. currency. Phone number to use when sending SEVIS fee via courier is 314-418-8833.
  • Western Union submission of I-901 fee to DHS by completing the Western Union Quick Pay form at any Western Union location and submitting the $200 SEVIS fee to Western Union. Detailed instructions available at www.ice.gov/sevis.
  • Third-party payment, either in U.S. or abroad.
  • General questions about I-901 fee payments can be addressed to fmjfee.sevis@dhs.gov or to 785-330-1048.


Now available on-line at http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901: Verification of SEVIS fee payment & date of issuance of payment receipt.


Receipts: DHS will issue and mail an official paper receipt (I-797) acknowledging every payment regardless of payment method. Express delivery service for the I-797 receipt may be requested at an additional cost. Anyone who submits an individual fee electronically will be able to print out an electronic receipt

immediately at the time of payment for use in advance of the mail delivery of the official paper receipt.
Although SEVIS fee payments will be recorded by DHS in the F-1 studentกฏs SEVIS record and may be used by government officials to document the SEVIS fee payment, the ISS recommends that a SEVIS fee receipt, when applicable, be used to request any status-related benefit (i.e., application for visa, admission at U.S. port-of-entry, application to change status).


NOTE: DHS will not refund the SEVIS fee if F-1 student is not granted a visa or chooses not to come to the U.S. after the visa is granted.

 

 

 

 

 

2600 Campus Rd, QLCSS 206 Honolulu, Hawaii 96822-5076
Phone: (808) 956-8613 Fax: (808) 956-5076