The information appearing below is drawn from of the U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement's Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) web site. Additional information can be found there.
A Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Form I-901 fee is required for F, M, and J nonimmigrants authorized by Public Law 104-208, Subtitle D, Section 641. If you are subject to this fee and do not pay it, you will not be issued an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa for admission to the United States. If you are in the United States applying for a change of status and are subject to this fee, you must pay the fee or your application will not be processed. In order to determine if you are required to pay the fee, read the instructions contained on this page. You may pay the required fee by clicking "YES" at the bottom of this page (https://www.fmjfee.com). NOTE: The payment page is not maintained by Upper Iowa University. It is maintained by the U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement's Student and Exchange Visitor Program.
Who needs to pay the fee?
Fee Payment Required if the Applicant is:
- Seeking an F-1, F-3, J-1, M-1, or M-3 visa from an embassy or consulate abroad for initial attendance at a school approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), or for initial participation in an exchange visitor program designated by the Department of State (DOS). There is an exception for J-1 exchange visitors participating in a program sponsored by the Federal government.
- A person who does not need a visa to enter the United States as a student or exchange visitor who will be applying for admission at a U.S. port-of-entry to begin initial attendance at a SEVP-approved school or initial participation in a DOS-designated exchange visitor program. There is an exception for J-1 exchange visitors participating in a program sponsored by the Federal government.
- In the United States seeking a change of status to F-1, F-3, J-1, M-1, or M-3. There are exceptions noted below in sections j and n.
- An F-1, F-3, M-1, or M-3 nonimmigrant applying for reinstatement of student status, who has been out of student status for more than 5 months.
- An F-1, F-3, M-1, or M-3 nonimmigrant who has been absent from the United States for a period exceeding 5 months, was not working towards completion of curriculum in authorized overseas study, and now wishes to re-enter for a new F or M program of study in the United States.
Documents needed to fill out this form:
F-1, F-3, M-1, and M-3 status only: Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status) issued to you by the SEVP-approved school you will attend.
All forms must be completed in English. The personal information used to fill out your form must be an exact match for information on your I-20 or DS-2019.
Can someone pay the fee for me?
Yes. You may have a relative, friend or even a school or program sponsor pay the fee for you. If you are paying from overseas and you do not have access to the payment methods described in this web site, you may find it easier to have someone in the United States pay the fee for you. If someone else fills out the form for you, be sure you give them a copy of your Form I-20/DS-2019 or the information from the form. Whoever fills out the form will need your personal information exactly as it appears on this document.
How can the fee be paid?
- The fee can be paid by mail using Form I-901 together with a check or money order drawn on a U.S. bank and payable in U.S. dollars
- The fee can be paid electronically by completing Form I-901 through the Internet and using a credit card.
These options are similar to the usual means that any student or exchange visitor abroad would use to pay fees and expenses to the school or exchange visitor program. The requirement that a check or money order be drawn on a U.S. bank does not necessarily mean that an applicant living abroad must approach a United States bank to make a payment. Many foreign banks are able to issue checks or money orders drawn on a U.S. bank. Accordingly, payment may be made with checks from banks chartered or operated in the U.S., from foreign subsidiaries of U.S. banks, or from foreign banks that have an arrangement with a U.S. bank to issue a check, money order, or foreign draft that is drawn on a U.S. bank.
How can someone else pay the fee for me?
By Mail:
If you want to have someone in the U.S. pay the fee on your behalf, send them either a copy of your completed Form I-901 or provide them with the information needed to complete the Form I-901 for you.
The person who pays your fee must attach the copy of your Form I-901 to the payment they submit. The Form I-901 and payment cannot be accepted if mailed separately. If a copy of your Form I-901 is not attached to the payment, we will be unable to determine for whom the fee was paid, and your payment will be returned to you based on the address provided.
Over the Internet:
You may also have someone pay your fee on-line. The person who pays the fee for you may complete the Form I-901 on-line and pay by credit card or check according to the instructions on this Web site. Be sure you provide the correct personal and school or exchange visitor program information to the person who completes the Form I-901 for you.
When Can I Get My Visa and/or Enter the U.S.?
The SEVIS fee must be paid and fully processed before the applicant arrives at the consulate for the visa interview.
For those nonimmigrants who do not need a visa to enter the U.S. as a student or exchange visitor, the fee must be paid and fully processed before applying for entry at a U.S. port-of-entry.
A receipt will be sent by mail to the address that you indicate with your payment. Further, for those that pay the SEVIS fee on-line, a payment confirmation can be printed out immediately after the payment is made, and used as a receipt until the mailed receipt is received.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to bring a SEVIS fee payment receipt with them for the visa interview, or, for those that do not need a visa, to the U.S. port-of-entry.
Having a receipt for the SEVIS fee payment will facilitate the visa application process. However, if you are unable to print a receipt from an on-line payment and/or do not receive your mailed receipt in time for your visa interview you can still go to your interview as long as your fee has been processed by DHS.
For more detailed information on the fee payment process, go to the SEVP website at http://www.ice.gov/sevis.
