SEVIS fee

What?

Before you obtain a J-1 visa, you must pay a fee of US$100, known as a “SEVIS Fee”. The purpose of this fee is to support the SEVIS system, a U.S. Government database used to keep records for F-1 and J-1 students and scholars and their F-2/J-2 dependents. Note that this fee is separate from the Visa Fee. While the Visa fee is paid to the U.S. Consulate which issues your visa, the SEVIS Fee must be paid to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which is a different U.S. Government agency and is not connected with the U.S. Consulate. This handout is designed to give you some instructions for paying this fee. For further information, also see the following DHS Web page:

http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm

Exchange students coming to The University of Tennessee, Knoxville who have any questions about this fee or problems paying it, should contact Wendy Syer in the UT Center for International Education (syer@utk.edu).

Who?

This fee must be paid by any person applying for a J-1 visa for a new J-1 program, using a Form DS-2019 issued on or after September 1, 2004.

Applicants for J-2 visas do not have to pay this fee. However, if the first DS-2019 form for a dependent was issued after September 1, 2004, the fee must be paid for the J-1 Visitor, if it was not paid in the past.

Persons coming to the U.S. with a U.S. Government J-1 program do not have to pay the fee. However, everyone getting a DS-2019 from The University of Tennessee will have to pay the fee.

When?

It is suggested that the fee be paid at least three business days before the visa interview. If the fee is not paid before the visa interview, the visa cannot be issued. In most cases, the fee may not be paid at the U.S. Consulate. At the time of your visa interview, you may be required to show proof that the fee has already been paid.

Note: After you pay the fee, there should be a record of this payment in the SEVIS database, and the Visa Officer should be able to see this record by checking the computer at the Consulate. However, it is possible that they will not be able to see this, especially while the SEVIS fee system is new. For this reason, we urge you to carry a fee receipt with you to your visa interview.

As Canadian citizens do not require a visa, the SEVIS fee should be paid at least three days before you enter the U.S. You will be required to show proof that the fee has been paid, before you are admitted to the U.S.

What if I have paid this fee before?

If you pay the fee and your J-1 visa is denied, you will not have to pay the fee again if you reapply for the visa within one year. If you paid the fee for another J-1 program, but then decide to come to The University of Tennessee instead, you can show the fee receipt and ask the Visa Officer to use the fee for The University of Tennessee program. However, if you paid the fee for another program and you did come to the U.S. with that program, you will have to pay the fee again when you begin a new program.

How do I pay this fee?

There are several ways to pay this fee:

FIRST CHOICE: Paying the fee at the Consulate

At a few consulates, it may be possible to pay the SEVIS fee at the Consulate. This may currently be possible in China and India. If you are applying in one of these countries, we urge you to contact the U.S. Consulate or their webpage at http://travel.state.gov/visa/questions_embassy.html to see if you can pay the fee at the Consulate.

SECOND CHOICE: Paying the fee on-line

To pay on-line, go to http://www.FMJfee.com. Answer all questions accurately, including the "Student Profile Information." If your program sponsor is The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, you should write the Program Number "P100378" in Question 14 of the I-901. Do not write anything for the "School Code". If the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is not your program sponsor, your program number will be different. [The name of your program sponsor and the program number can be found under Item 2 on your Form Ds-2019] Your "SEVIS Identification Number" is the 10-digit number after the "N" in the upper right hand corner of the DS-2019. Your "Exchange Visitor Category" is written on the DS-2019 in Section 4. Choose the credit card method of payment and give your credit card information. The credit card will be charged US $100.

Make sure that you give a correct address so that the official receipt can be mailed to you.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you print out the receipt from the internet site before you leave this page. You can use this printed receipt to apply for your visa.

THIRD CHOICE: Paying the fee by mail

We strongly urge you to use one of the first two choices for fee payment. However, if that is impossible, you may pay the SEVIS fee by mail. Note that you will be required to wait for the receipt to be mailed to you from the U.S. before your visa interview. Thus, this method of payment is much slower.

First you must complete a Form I-901. Download a Form I-901 (pdf). You can also complete the information online (as in the Second Choice above) but choose “Check or Money Order” for the payment order. IMPORTANT: If you want your receipt to be mailed to you by Express Courier, check this option on the form, and make sure to list a street address and telephone number where the receipt can be delivered. For the express delivery, you will be required to pay an additional $30 in addition to the $100 SEVIS fee. Print the completed I-901.

Then get a check or money drawn on financial institution in the United States. The amount should be US$100, or US$130 if you have chosen to get your receipt by Express Courier. The check/money order should be made out to: “I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee”. You should be able to get this check at a bank in your country. Write your name and SEVIS Number on the check/money order.

Mail the I-901 and check/money order to:
I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee
P.O. Box 970020
St. Louis, MO 63197-0020
USA

If you use a private courier, send to:
I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee
1005 Convention Plaza
St. Louis, MO 63101
USA

When you receive the receipt, you may go to the U.S. Consulate for your visa interview. (Note: If your check/money order has been received in St. Louis, then this information should be in the SEVIS record, and the Visa Officer should be able to see it. However, it is best to have the receipt with you when you have your visa interview in case the Visa Officer cannot see this information on the Consulate computer.)