What is the SEVIS Fee?
Your “Entry Token” for the Consulate
You’ve paid your program fees. You’ve transferred the visa application fee to the embassy. And now, another bill suddenly appears? Welcome to the SEVIS Fee (Form I-901). We will explain why you must pay it and why it is the most critical document for your interview.
What is SEVIS exactly?
SEVIS stands for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. It might sound dry, but it’s serious: it is the central database of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
As soon as your sponsor issues your DS-2019 form, a digital file is created for you in this system. From that moment on, US authorities know:
- Who you are.
- Where you will be working.
- How long you intend to stay.
The SEVIS Fee is essentially an administrative fee for your own monitoring. You are paying for your data to be maintained and secured within the system.
The Expensive Mistake: SEVIS vs. MRV Fee
The most common error: applicants think everything is settled once they pay the consulate. This is incorrect. There are two separate fees paid to two completely different government entities.
Amount: approx. $185 (subject to change)
Recipient: US Embassy / Consulate.
Purpose: For the officer to process your application and print the visa in your passport.
Amount: $220 (for J-1 Visas)
Recipient: Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Purpose: Database maintenance and national security monitoring.
To the overview: All J-1 costs at a glance →
Instruction: Where and how do I pay?
In most cases, your sponsor does not handle this for you (unless explicitly agreed upon). You must take care of it yourself.
The process takes about 10 minutes:
- Go to the official site: fmjfee.com.
- Click on “Pay I-901 Fee”.
- Have your DS-2019 ready: you will need your SEVIS ID (the number in the top right corner starting with N00…).
- Pay via credit card (Visa/Mastercard).
The “Receipt”: No Confirmation, No Interview
After payment, you will receive a Payment Confirmation. This is the I-901 form.
When you attend your appointment at the US Consulate, you must have a physical printout of the SEVIS receipt. The officer at the window usually checks these first: Passport, DS-2019, and SEVIS Receipt. If the receipt is missing, you will likely be sent home immediately.
When should I pay?
At least 3 days before your interview appointment. The system needs time to link the payment to your SEVIS record. If you pay on the morning of your interview, the officer may see an “Unpaid” status in the system.