What does SEVIS fee mean?

SEVIS fees are used for the daily maintenance of the SEVIS database.

SEVIS, the full name of Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, is a network database that stores information about international students and exchange scholars in the United States.

According to Chapter 641 of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Act, Section 104-208 of Part D, every foreigner who intends to apply for an F1, F3, J1, M1 or M3 non-immigrant visa must pay $200 SEVIS fee.

The U.S. Congress issued a decree requiring all international students and exchange visitors to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee for international students and exchange visitors projects. This fee is different from the visa fee and the SEVIS administrative fee of the institution. The official website of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has video tutorials for payment guidance, and payment receipts can be printed.

Extended information:

The necessity of paying SEVIS fees:

1. In accordance with the requirements of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), each school and Exchange programs of all types must verify the registration status of all new students, senior foreign students, and exchange visitors. Paying the SEVIS fee is a prerequisite for student visa applicants to be issued a visa

2. Before studying in the United States, you must pay the SEVIS fee on time. Generally speaking, if the SEVIS number remains unchanged, the SEVIS fee only needs to be paid once. If you study in University A in the United States as an undergraduate, and transfer to University B in the United States as a graduate student, as long as your SEVIS number remains unchanged, you do not need to pay again. But individual cases are not excluded.

3. There is no mandatory payment time for SEVIS fees. Students can pay the SEVIS fee from the time they get their I-20 to about one week before the interview appointment. It is recommended that students pay SEVIS fees as early as possible to allow sufficient time to prevent unexpected situations from delaying the interview.

Reference material: Baidu Encyclopedia-SEVIS fee