INFORMATION FOR NEWLY ADMITTED STUDENTS

SEVIS Fee

The SEVIS Fee is a fee that is being charged by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to defray the costs of the administration and maintenance of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). This is the system used to monitor and track F-1 students, J-1 Exchange Visitors and their dependents.

This fee went into effect on September 1, 2004 and states that any foreign national that must be entered into the SEVIS system must pay a fee and show proof that this fee has been paid when applying for an entry visa and when entering the U.S.

New Students

If you are coming from outside of the country, as an initial student, or changing your status within the country to F-1 or J-1, you will need to pay the SEVIS Fee. This payment must be made before you apply for an entry visa and/or before you submit a change of status application. Please note, student who are already in the U.S. on an F-1 visa and are transferring within the SEVIS system do not need to pay the SEVIS Fee, because your previous SEVIS Fee payment is still valid.

Once you receive your I-20 or DS-2019, you will need to pay the SEVIS fee by completing an I-901 Fee Remittance form in English and submitting the form with your payment. This form can be completed on-line at http://www.fmjfee.com or downloaded from the web and mailed, http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm.

SEVIS Fee Payment Instructions for F-1 Students

SEVIS Fee Payment Instructions for J-1 Students

When you make an appointment for a visa application at a U.S. consulate abroad, you will be required to provide a receipt to the consular office proving the SEVIS fee payment has been made. The fee payment will also have to be verified before allowing entry into the U.S. by showing the receipt to the officer at the port of entry.

Continuing Students

Washington University students who apply for entry visas (i.e., visa renewals) while continuing in their academic programs are NOT subject to the SEVIS fee provided they have maintained F-1 or J-1 status.