The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has published the final rule regarding the SEVIS fee.
This fee has been mandated by Congress to cover the cost associated with the continued operation of the Student and
Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Funds raised from the
fee will be used to administer and maintain the SEVIS database, support compliance activities, and establish liaison
personnel to serve as local resources for schools and students.
The SEVIS fee became effective September 1, 2004. The fee is set at $100 and can be paid online with a
credit card, by mail, or at a U.S. consulate (currently China and India only) by filing
Form I-901. In general, the SEVIS fee is a
one-time payment that applies to students and exchange visitors who wish to begin an "initial" program of study or research.
The fee must be paid before a visa will be issued. The SEVIS fee does
NOT apply to most continuing student and scholars at USC. More detailed
information on who is required to pay the fee and payment instructions can be found below.
PLEASE NOTE, the SEVIS fee is required by the U.S. Government
and made payable to the Department of Homeland Security. USC receives no funds or services as a result of this fee.
For more detailed information please see the SEVIS
I-901 Fee Frequently Asked Questions section of the ICE website.
Who is required to pay the SEVIS fee?
- F-1 Students and J-1 Exchange Visitors
Who is NOT required to pay the SEVIS fee?
How do I pay the SEVIS fee?
Telephone number for International I-901 SSEVIS fee customers : (212) 620-3418
International Students and Exchange Visitors may call the number for all questions regarding the I-901 SEVIS fee that cannot be answered after viewing the information available at http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm.
Please note that the toll number is for international callers only and is available during the following business hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
