University of Nebraska Kearney

What is SEVIS?

   The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is an automated process for collecting, maintaining and managing information about international foreign students, exchange visitors and their dependents during their stay in the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provides for the collection of a Congressionally mandated fee to be paid by certain aliens who are seeking status as F–1, F–3, M–1, M–3 nonimmigrant students or as J–1 nonimmigrant exchange visitors.

Who must pay the SEVIS fee?

This fee is being levied on aliens seeking F–1, F–3, M–1, M–3, or J–1 nonimmigrant status to cover the costs of administering and maintaining the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

Important SEVIS fee information

 

Prior to applying for your student visa, you must pay a $200 SEVIS fee (if F-1) or $180 SEVIS fee (if J-1) to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  The SEVIS fee can be paid by credit card over the internet, by check, or my money order.  Please read these instructions carefully before attempting to pay the fee.  There are special instructions for individuals from Bermuda and Canada. 

Option #1:  Payment by Credit Card: 

DHS has set up a website on the internet to accept electronic submission of Form I-901 and payment of the SEVIS fee using a credit card.  Go to www.fmjfee.com.  Follow the on-line instructions.  Print out the payment screen to verify your payment.  Take the printout payment verification with you to your visa interview.  Students from the following countries are not able to use the credit card option at this time and must use option #2 or #3 below:  Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria. 

Option #2:  Payment by Western Union: 

This option allows Western Union, in local currency, to collect the SEVIS fee.  This option is only available in countries where Western Union offers its "Quick Pay" service.  A properly completed Western Union receipt serves as immediate proof of payment for the visa interview.  You must request a "Blue Form" by clicking on "Payment Services" or "Quick Pay."  More instruction for paying using this option can be found on the SEVIS website at http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/wu_instr.htm.  To find the nearest Western Union agent location, go to http://www.payment-solutions.com/agent.asp.

Option #3:  Payment by check or money order: 

When Paying by check or money order, there are two options:

1. Internet-generated coupon:  Students can go to the fee payment website (http://www.fmjfee.com), enter basic information, print out a coupon, and then mail a check or money order with the coupon to a lock-box address in Missouri.  Once the information and fee are processed, SEVIS would then be updated with the fee payment information.
2. Paper option:  Students can download or otherwise obtain Form I-901, fill it in and mail it with a check or money order, to the specified address in Missouri.  Once the information and fee are processed, SEVIS would then be updated with the fee payment information.

In both cases, a receipt notice will be issued when the fee is processed.  The mailing addresses for paying by check or money order using the coupon or the paper Form I-901 are:

Check Specifics: 

All checks and money orders must be:

1. Payable to the "I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee."
2. The check or money order must be made in U.S. dollars and drawn on a bank located in the United States.

Payment of the SEVIS fee is not limited to you the student.  DHS will accept fee payment from a third party individual or institution, either in the United States or abroad, using either option one (#1) or two (#2) above.

You will be able to print a receipt electronically if you use payment option #1.  You will receive a receipt by return mail if you use payment option #2.  The fee must be paid at least three business days prior to the scheduled date of your interview in order for the payment information to show up on the SEVIS system.  You should bring your I-901 receipt with you to your visa interview.  The paper receipt can be used as verification in place of the internet verification.

Completing Form I-901: 

1. You must have a Form I-20 or DS-2019 in order to complete the I-901.
2. You must have the University of Nebraska at Kearney's School Code.  Our School Code is OMA214F00187000 for F-1 students (I-20's) and P-1-05423 for J-1 visitors (DS-2019).

Students from Canada and Bermuda: 

Students from Cananda and Bermuda are exempt from having to apply for a visa.  You will have to provide SEVIS fee payment verification along with your I-20 or DS-2019 Form to an immigration inspector at the port of entry when applying for entry into the United States as an F-1 or J-1 student.

If your visa is denied: 

If your visa is denied, you may reapply for the visa within a twelve-month period, without having to pay the SEVIS fee again.  Please provide additional information based on denial reason.

Dependents: 

If you have obtained an I-20 or DS-2019 for a spouse or children, they do not have to pay the SEVIS fee in order to apply for an F-2 or J-2 visa.

If admitted to more than one school: 

If you have been accepted to more than one institution and paid the fee using the SEVIS ID number of another institution, but you wish to attend the University of Nebraska at Kearney, you will not have to pay the fee again.  Bring the I-20's of both the schools to the consulate or port-of-entry and tell the officer you wish to attend the University of Nebraska at Kearney.  For additional details on SEVIS and the SEVIS fee, access the SEVIS website at http://www.ice.gov/sevis.

You can pay SEVIS fee at :

 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Web Site 

Receipts

• DHS will issue an official paper receipt (I-797) acknowledging every payment regardless of payment method.
• Express delivery service for the I-797 receipt may be requested at additional cost.
• Anyone who submits an individual fee electronically will be able to print out an electronic receipt immediately at the time of payment for use in advance of the mail delivery of the official paper receipt.
•  DO NOT LOSE THE I-797 RECEIPT, IT MUST BE ATTACHED WITH OTHER IMMIGRATION DOCUMENTS. 

Frequently Asked Questions

 When must continuing students (F-1, F-3, M-1, or M-3 non-immigrants that have begun, but not finished, a program) pay the SEVIS fee? 

Continuing students must pay the SEVIS fee before:

• Filing an application for reinstatement when they have been out of status for more than 5 months.
• Applying for a new visa or returning to the U.S. after an absence of 5 months or more that did not involve authorized overseas study.
• Filing an application for a change of status except for changes between F-1 and F-3 or between M-1 and M-3.

 When must continuing exchange visitors (J-1 Non-immigrants who have begun, but not finished a program) pay the SEVIS fee? 

Continuing exchange visitors must pay the SEVIS fee before:

• Filing a reinstatement application after a substantive violation.
• Filing a reinstatement application after a substantive violation after they have been out of status between 121 and 269 days.

Applying for a change of exchange visitor category unless the new exchange visitor category is fee exempt (federally sponsored programs with program codes that start with G-1, G-2, or G-3).

More Information at: 

 SEVIS Web Site 

For further assistance with the immigration process you can go to: