Paying the SEVIS Fee

SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) is the data base of the U.S. Federal Government Department of Homeland Security that keeps records on students studying in the U.S. Federal law requires that this database be supported by fees paid by students and exchange visitors. Information on SEVIS and the fee can be found at www.ice.gov/sevis
 
You are required to pay the $200 SEVIS fee to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) prior to applying for the F-1 visa. (This is not a school fee or your visa application fee). You must have a paper receipt showing payment of this fee when applying for the visa.  Take your receipt to the visa interview. The SEVIS fee cannot be paid at the consulate. Payment can be made by one of the following: 1) by credit card over the internet; 2) by Western Union Quick Pay service using local currency; or 3) by paper check mailed to a US address.  Go to http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/ for information on paying the fee.
 
 
  • Payment by credit card or check:
If paying by check or over the internet, click “File the SEVIS I-901 Form online” and follow the instructions to enter the requested information for the I-901 form. It is strongly recommended that you complete the I-901 form on-line even if you are going to pay by check to eliminate confusion caused by hand writing.
  • Payment by Western Union “Quick Pay” service: 
If using the Western Union system, click “Payment by Western Union Quick Pay Instructions” Follow the instructions outlined there precisely. The Western Union receipt serves as your fee receipt for your visa interview.
 
You will be requested to enter specific information found on the I-20 enclosed in your packet.  
 
Payment by credit card via the internet: (Recommended method - Advantage – Get a printed receipt instantly)  At least 3 days before your visa interview, go to www.fmjfee.com and enter all the requested data on Form I-901. Then click on “Credit Card” and key in the requested data. Click the “submit payment” button. If your credit card is accepted, you will get a screen that you can print out as your fee receipt. Take this “receipt” to your visa interview.
 
 
Payment by check or money order: (Drawn on a U.S. bank and payable in U.S. dollars)
Complete Form I-901 either on-line at www.fmjfee.com and print out the payment coupon or print out the pdf of the paper form and complete it carefully by hand. Obtain a check or money order in U.S. dollars payable to the “I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee,” drawn on a U.S. bank. You also have the option of paying an additional $30 to have your receipt sent back to you by expedited delivery (courier service) rather than by regular airmail. If you ask for courier service, your check MUST include the additional $30 courier fee.
 
Mail the I-901 and your payment to:                              OR if sending by courier (FedEx, DHL, etc), address to:
I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee                    I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee
P.O. Box 970020                                                                1005 Convention Plaza
St. Louis, MO 63197-0020                                                   St. Louis, MO 63101
U.S.A.                                                                                U.S.A.
 
 
Paper forms are scanned and read by machine. If information is missing or hard to read, the form will be manually reviewed. This could cause a delay in processing your form or could result in the form being returned to you for correction. When using a paper form, print clearly. Your SEVIS ID number, last name (surname or family name) and date of birth must match the information on your Form I-20 or DS-2019 exactly.

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