SEVIS Fee: Definition, Process, and Importance

Content Writer - Study Abroad | Updated On - Sep 20, 2024

SEVIS fee payment is an integral part of your US visa application process. SEVIS stands for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System and is a web-based system of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It manages the international status of the Students and Exchange Visitors to the country. SEVIS fee is different from the visa fee or MRV fee.

Students requiring an F, J, or M visa to enter the US, need to pay the SEVIS fee of 350 USD. You can choose to pay this fee online (recommended), by mail, or by courier before you go to your visa interview at a US Embassy or consulate. You can schedule your interview appointment before you make the SEVIS fee payment. It takes 3 business days for the payment to be received and verified.

When to make the SEVIS fee payment? Once you are selected by your chosen university and receive the I-20 form, you can apply for a student visa by filling out the DS-160 form. The I-901 SEVIS fee payment does not have to be completed until you appear for the visa interview. You can schedule a visa interview before you make the I-901 SEVIS fee payment.

How to Pay the SEVIS Fee

After submitting the DS-160 form by paying the MRV fee, you can make the SEVIS fee payment. The step-by-step process is explained below:

Step 1: Log on to https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/index.html
Step 2: Fill up the online form and click on submit. All the credentials to fill out the form are available in your I-20 form, provided by your university.
Step 3: Select the receipt delivery mode.
Step 4: Select the payment method between online, mail, courier, or Western Union Quick Pay.
Step 5: Provide card details.
Step 6: Print out the populated receipt.

SEVIS Fee Amount

The following table presents the I-901 SEVIS fee amount associated with the different visa categories:

Description	Amount (USD)
For students (F-1, F-3, M-1 or M-3)	350
For spouses and dependent children (F-2, M-2 or J-2) of students or exchange visitors	NA
For exchange visitors (J-1)	220
Federally sponsored exchange visitor program, Summer work/travel program, Au pair program, Camp counselor program	35

SEVIS Fee Receipt Processing Time

Depending on the payment method you choose, the SEVIS fee payment receipt processing time is decided. There are four ways to get the Form I-901 information to SEVP: the Internet, the mail, courier, or Western Union Quick Pay.

Internet is the fastest way. You can download and print the fee payment receipt immediately after paying the fees.
For mail, it takes around 2 weeks.
Courier services offer expedited delivery, but generally cost more than using the mail.

Difference Between SEVIS Fee, Visa Fee, and MRV Fee

SEVIS fee, visa fee, and MRV all are required for the US visa application process. Your visa can not be processed without any of them. Visa fees and MRV fees are somehow similar, but the SEVIS fee is a web-based information tracking and monitoring system and is paid at least three days before the visa interview. While the MRV fee or visa fee is paid before starting the US student visa application process.

SEVIS fee payment is valid for 12 months or 1 year. You need to receive your US student visa within this period. If you did not get the visa within 1 year of the fee payment, you need to pay the SEVIS fee again. But after your visa rejection, you do not need to pay the fee if you are allowed to apply for a new visa within 1 year.