Sevis Fee

The SEVIS fee is the charge assessed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to supplement federal government expenses involved in the maintenance and administration of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Effective October 27, 2008 the current fee for F-1 and M-1 visitors is $200 and J-1 visitors is $180.

How do I pay the SEVIS fee?

The SEVIS fee CANNOT be paid to the University of Iowa, to a U.S. embassy or consulate, or at a U.S. Port of Entry. View methods of payment for the SEVIS fee on the Immigration and Customs Enforcement website.  ISSS encourages you to pay online.

1. An alien seeking an inital F-1 or J-1 visa from an embassy or consulate abroad for initial attendance (as noted on the I-20 or DS-2019) at a DHS-approved school or initial participation in a Department of State designated exchange visitor program that is subject to the fee. The fee must be processed at least 3 business days before the consular interview, unless the applicant has a printed receipt from Internet payment. Fees will not be payable at the consulate.

2. An alien exempt from the visa requirement (e.g. Canadian citizens), who will be applying for admission at a United States port-of-entry to begin initial attendance in F-1, M-1 or J-1 status at a DHS-approved school or initial participation in J-1 status in a Department of State-designated exchange visitor program that is subject to the fee. The fee must be processed at least 3 business days before arriving for admission at a U.S. port of entry, unless the applicant has a printed receipt from Internet payment. Fees will not be payable at the port of entry.

3. An alien in the United States seeking a change of status to F-1, M-1 or J-1 must pay the SEVIS fee before mailing in the application to the USCIS to request the change of status. This includes changing from one SEVIS status to another (e.g. from F-1 to J-1, or from J-1 to F-1).

4. A nonimmigrant who was initially granted J-1 status as a participant in an exchange visitor program sponsored by the Federal government, (i.e., with a program identifier designation prefix of G-1, G-2, or G-3), and who is nowtransferring to another J-1 program in the same category that is not similarly sponsored (i.e., has a program identifier designation prefix other than G-1, G-2, or G-3) must pay the SEVIS fee.

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