Complete Guide to SEVIS I-901 Fee for USA Student Visa

What is SEVIS Fee?

SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) I-901 is a fee that international students, scholars, and exchange visitors must pay before applying for a U.S. student visa (F or M visa) or a J visa for exchange visitors. The dependant child or spouse does not require to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee if they are on F-2, M-2 or J-2 visa type. 

SEVIS is a web-based system that allows schools, sponsors, and the U.S. government to manage information about international students and exchange visitors in the U.S. The SEVIS I-901 fee is used to support the operation of the SEVIS program.

It's important to note that the SEVIS I-901 fee is separate from the visa application fee and does not guarantee the issuance of a visa.

How much is SEVIS I-901 Fees ?

The SEVIS Fee must be paid upfront by the F, M, and J Visa applicants before the interview. The SEVIS Fee for F-1 Visa or Study Visa is $350. 

How to pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee?

1. Open the fmjfee official website.
2. Enter your SEVIS ID, Last Name, Given Name and Date of Birth as mentioned in the I-20 Document provided by the University or College and Click on Submit button. 
3. In the next step, you will be asked to choose the application form type and select the I-20 Form.
4. Enter your Email Address, Nationality and Date of Birth
5. Enter your complete address under the Address Information section.
6. Enter the School Information as provided in the I-20 document.
7. Accept the Terms & Conditions and Submit the Form.
8. After you Submit, they will ask you to review the details and choose the payment method. 
9. Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee using Credit Card for instant processing.
10. After completing the payment, you can download the receipt and keep it for Visa Interview. 

What are the payment methods for SEVIS I-901 Fee?

There are three ways to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee:

1. Online Payment: The fastest and most convenient way to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee is to pay online by visiting the SEVIS fee payment website at fmjfee.com. You will need to provide your SEVIS ID number, name, address, and payment information (credit card, debit card, or bank account).
2. Payment by Mail: You can also pay the SEVIS I-901 fee by mail using a check, money order, or foreign draft. You will need to complete and print the SEVIS I-901 form from the same website (fmjfee.com), enclose the payment, and mail it to the address provided on the Form.
3. Western Union Quick Pay: You can pay the SEVIS I-901 fee using Western Union Quick Pay. To do this, you will need to complete the SEVIS I-901 form online, print the Western Union payment coupon, and take it to a participating Western Union agent location along with your payment. The Western Union agent will then process your payment and provide you with a receipt.

It's important to note that you must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee at least three days before your visa interview appointment and bring the payment receipt with you to the interview as proof of payment.

How to check the status of SEVIS I-901?

You can check the status of your SEVIS I-901 fee payment on the SEVIS fee payment website at fmjfee.com. Here's how to do it:

1. Go to the SEVIS fee payment website at fmjfee.com.
2. Click on the "Check I-901 Status" button on the homepage.
3. Enter your SEVIS ID number, last name, and date of birth in the fields provided.
4. Click on the "Submit" button.
5. You will see a summary of your SEVIS I-901 fee payment status, including the date and time of payment and the payment method used.

If your payment has been received and processed, you will see a message indicating that your payment has been confirmed. If your payment has not been received or processed, you will see a message indicating that your payment is still pending.

Suppose you encounter any issues with your SEVIS I-901 fee payment, such as a payment not being processed or a payment confirmation needing to be received. In that case, you should contact the SEVIS Help Desk at 1-800-892-4829 (inside the U.S.) or 1-212-620-3418 (outside the U.S.) for assistance.

How to get a refund for the SEVIS I-901 duplicate payment?

You may be eligible for a refund if you accidentally make a duplicate payment for the SEVIS I-901 fee. Here's how to request a refund for a duplicate SEVIS I-901 payment:

1. Contact the SEVIS Help Desk at 1-800-892-4829 (from inside the U.S.) or 1-212-620-3418 (from outside the U.S.) as soon as possible to report the duplicate payment and request a refund. You should provide your SEVIS ID number, name, and payment details to help the SEVIS Help Desk locate the duplicate payment. You can also contact them via email at fmjfee.sevis@ice.dhs.gov
2. The SEVIS Help Desk will review your payment history and confirm whether a duplicate payment was made. If a duplicate payment were made, they would provide you with instructions on how to submit a refund request.
3. To submit a refund request, complete the SEVIS I-901 Refund Request Form, which can be downloaded from the SEVIS fee payment website at fmjfee.com. You will need to provide your SEVIS ID number, name, payment details, and a brief explanation of the reason for the refund request.
4. Submit the completed Form and any supporting documentation (such as payment receipts) to the address provided on the Form. You can submit the Form by mail or fax.
5. The SEVIS Help Desk will review your refund request and notify you of the outcome. If the request is approved, the SEVIS fee payment processor will issue a refund to the original payment method within 7-10 business days.

It's important to note that duplicate payments may also be identified and refunded automatically by the SEVIS fee payment processor. However, if you believe you have made a duplicate payment and have yet to receive a refund, you should contact the SEVIS Help Desk to request a refund.