SEVIS Fee

You must pay the SEVIS fee if you are:

  • Applying for a visa as a new student beginning an IU program with an I-20
  • Applying to change your status to F-1 from another nonimmigrant status while in the United States
  • Filing for reinstatement after being out of status while in the United States for more than five months
  • Traveling to the United States in F-1 status as a Canadian citizen. You cannot pay the fee at your port of entry.

You do not need to pay the SEVIS fee if you are:

  • An F-1 student in lawful status transferring between schools in the United States
  • The dependent of an F-1 student and you have F-2 status

  1. Go to the SEVIS fee processing site.
  2. Complete Form I-901 online (be sure to insert your name exactly as it appears on your I-20) and supply the necessary MasterCard, Visa, or American Express credit card information.
  3. Print a copy of the online receipt.
  4. Keep a copy of your receipt with your other immigration documents.

  1. Obtain Form I-901 (Fee Remittance for Certain F Nonimmigrants). You can download the form or request the form by phone at 1-800-870-3676 (inside the United States).
  2. Complete Form I-901. Be sure to write your name exactly as it appears on your I-20 form.
  3. Prepare a check, international money order, or foreign draft (drawn on U.S. banks only) in the amount of $350, made payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security.”
  4. Mail the completed Form I-901 and payment to the address indicated on Form I-901.

You can print your I-901 receipt online after it has been received by ICE. Keep these documents with your other important immigration documents.

  1. Complete Form I-901. You will get a unique payment coupon number, necessary to validate and process your payment at Western Union. You cannot submit a SEVIS fee payment via Western Union without this coupon number.
  2. Print a copy of the payment coupon and take it to your local Western Union office.
  3. Fill out the Quick Collect/Quick Pay Form according to the information found at the bottom of the printed coupon.
  4. Present the coupon and your payment to the Western Union agent for processing.

A copy of instructions and sample forms can be viewed at and printed from the ICE website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fee payments should be entered into your permanent immigration (SEVIS) record but it is strongly recommended that you retain a copy of your fee receipt to use as needed.

Yes, the SEVIS fee is transferable. But you must take the I-20 form with the SEVIS ID number that you listed on the I-901 form to the U.S. consulate/embassy, in addition to the I-20 form from the school you wish to attend. Be sure to make your intentions clear to the Consular Officer.

For more information see these SEVIS I-901 Fee FAQs

The SEVIS fee will not be refunded. However, if you reapply for a new F-1 visa within 12 months of the denial, you will not have to pay the fee again.

Helpful SEVIS Links

Get Help Understanding SEVIS

OIS is here to help, so if you have questions or concerns, please contact us.