What is the SEVIS fee? Why do you have to pay it?

Published October 22, 2026

If you are an international student or exchange visitor coming to the United States, your school or program will tell you to “pay your SEVIS fee.” It is easy to mix up with the visa fee or with what your school charges. This guide explains what it is, why it exists and what happens if you skip it.

The short answer

The SEVIS fee, officially the I-901 fee, is a one-time government fee that pays for the system the U.S. government uses to keep records on international students and exchange visitors. Congress requires it. You pay it to the U.S. government, not to your school, and it is separate from your visa application fee.

What SEVIS is

SEVIS stands for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. It is run by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Your school or exchange program enters your record into SEVIS and gives you a Form I-20 (F and M students) or DS-2019 (J exchange visitors). That form carries your SEVIS ID, the number you use to pay the fee.

What the fee pays for

According to ICE, the I-901 fee funds SEVP and SEVIS, the program and the system that track students and exchange visitors. That is the reason it exists: the program that keeps your record is paid for by the people whose records it keeps, not by general tax money. It is not a school fee, and your school does not keep it.

Who pays and how much

• F-1 and F-3 students, M-1 and M-3 students: $350.
• J-1 exchange visitors, most programs: $220.
• J-1 summer work travel, au pair and camp counselor programs: $35.
• J-1 visitors in certain federally sponsored programs (program codes starting G-1, G-2, G-3 or G-7): no fee.
• Spouses and children (F-2, M-2, J-2): generally no fee, unless they change to F-1, M-1 or J-1 themselves.

Use our SEVIS fee calculator to see which one applies to you.

Why you have to pay it

Because the law requires it, and the government will not move your case forward without it. ICE says there are no fee waivers. Here is what can happen if a required fee is not paid:

• You can be denied a visa, or denied entry at the border.
• If you are already in the U.S., applications that depend on your status, such as a work permit, can be denied.
• If you reach the U.S. without having paid, border officers can give you a form (I-515A) with 30 days to pay. If the payment does not arrive, your record can be sent for investigation and possible removal.

Not paying alone is not a ground for removal, but it can put your status at risk, and not keeping your status can be. If you find out you should have paid, pay as soon as you can.

When to pay

• You need a visa and are outside the U.S.: pay before your visa interview. You can book the interview first, but allow at least three business days for the payment to be received and checked.
• You do not need a visa: pay and allow processing time before you travel. You cannot pay at the port of entry.
• You are in the U.S. changing status or seeking reinstatement: pay before you file.

How to pay

1. Get your SEVIS ID and school or program code from your I-20 or DS-2019.
2. Pay on the official ICE payment site, fmjfee.com, by credit card in U.S. dollars. Other ways, such as a check, money order or Western Union, are also listed by ICE.
3. Print your payment confirmation from the same site (you will need your SEVIS ID, last name and date of birth). ICE no longer mails receipts.
4. Keep the confirmation. You may need it for your visa interview, at the border, and for later filings with USCIS. You can print it again as many times as you need.

Pay only on the official site linked from ICE. The correct fee is fixed, so be careful with any site that charges extra to “help” you pay.

Can someone else pay for you?

Yes. A parent, sponsor, employer or school can pay on your behalf, as long as the payment is for the exact amount. Only you, the student or exchange visitor, can ask for a refund or a fee transfer.

Do you have to pay again later?

Usually not, if you are a continuing student who keeps the same SEVIS ID and maintains status. Transferring between schools at the same level generally does not need a new fee. Some situations do need a new payment, such as starting a new program with a new SEVIS ID or being out of status for more than five months. Exchange visitors have their own rules. When in doubt, ask your school or sponsor before you pay twice.

Refunds and mistakes

• Refundable: duplicate payments, and payments made when no fee was owed. Requests must reach ICE within 90 days of the payment.
• Not refundable: if your visa is denied, you decide not to come, or you withdraw your application.
• If your visa is denied and you reapply within 12 months for the same type of visa, you do not pay again.

Common mistakes

• Mixing up the SEVIS fee with the visa application fee. They are two separate payments to two places.
• Waiting until the day before the visa interview. Allow at least three business days.
• Paying through a look-alike website, or paying twice.
• Losing the confirmation. Reprint it on the official site.

Need help organizing your documents?

One Path Finder can help you gather and organize documents where permitted by law. We are not a law firm and can’t tell you what applies to your case. Contact us to start a conversation. For legal advice, ask us for a referral to our partner law firm.