The SEVIS I-901 Fee: How Much It Costs, How to Pay, and Common Mistakes
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Aug 19, 2026
You pay the SEVIS I-901 fee once, before your F-1 visa interview or before you file a change of status, using the exact name and SEVIS ID printed on your I-20.
💵 Pay online at fmjfee.com with a card, or by mail with a check or money order.
📩 The current fee amount is posted on the official I-901 payment page and changes over time, so check it before you pay.
🎓 Your SEVIS ID starts with the letter N and sits in the top right corner of your I-20.
⏱️ Pay early enough that your receipt is ready before your visa interview date.
🛂 Bring a printed payment receipt to your interview and to the US port of entry.
What the SEVIS I-901 fee pays for
The SEVIS I-901 fee funds the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, the database that tracks F-1 and J-1 students while they study in the United States. Your school issues your Form I-20 through this system, and the government charges a one-time fee tied to that record.
You pay it directly to the Department of Homeland Security through the official portal at fmjfee.com , not through your school or a visa agency.
This fee is separate from your visa application fee, the MRV fee you pay through the DS-160 process. The two payments go to different agencies, and neither one substitutes for the other. Bring proof of both to your interview.
Who has to pay, and who does not
New F-1 students starting a program for the first time pay the I-901 fee before their visa interview. Students already in the US who are changing their status to F-1 by filing Form I-539 also pay it before submitting that application.
Continuing students transferring between schools normally do not pay again, since their existing SEVIS record moves with them. If your DSO issues a new initial I-20 after a formal reinstatement or a large program change, ask your international office whether SEVP requires a new payment for your specific case.
How much it costs
The amount depends on your visa category and changes periodically through federal rulemaking. Check the current F-1 amount on the official I-901 payment page before you pay, and confirm it again if weeks pass between checking and paying.
Do not rely on a figure from a blog, an agent, or an old printout.
When to pay in your timeline
Pay after your school issues your initial I-20, and before you schedule or attend your visa interview. Consulates expect your I-901 payment to show in SEVIS by the time they review your case, and a same-day online payment sometimes has not synced yet when an officer checks the system.
Pay a few days ahead of your interview where possible, rather than the morning of. If you mail your payment, allow several weeks, since a check has to arrive, get processed, and appear in SEVIS before your interview date.
How to pay
| Method | How it works |
|---|---|
| Online | Pay by credit or debit card at fmjfee.com and print your receipt immediately. |
| Send a check or money order in US dollars with a printed Form I-901 to the address listed on the payment site. | |
| Third-party agent | Students in select countries pay through a listed money-transfer partner. Check the site for your country's options. |
Online payment gives you an instant receipt, which matters when your interview date is close. Mailed payments take longer to process, so start that route weeks ahead, not days.
What your receipt should show
A valid receipt lists your name, your SEVIS ID, the payment date, and a unique receipt number. Check these details as soon as you get it, since this is your proof of payment if a consulate does not find your record in SEVIS on the day of your interview.
Save a digital copy and a printed copy. Email accounts get locked out and phones run out of battery, so a printed page removes one point of failure on interview day.
If you already have a visa and travel again
You do not pay the I-901 fee again for renewed travel on the same SEVIS record. The fee is tied to your SEVIS record, not to each individual visa application or each trip.
Information you need before you start
Your SEVIS ID number, exactly as printed on your I-20 (format N0000000000).
Your full legal name spelled exactly as it appears in your passport, including every middle name.
Your date of birth, country of birth, and school code from the I-20.
A payment method that completes a transaction in US dollars.
Common mistakes that cause payment problems
A name mismatch is the most frequent error. Paying with a shortened name, a missing middle name, or a different transliteration than your passport creates a receipt that does not match your visa application and raises questions at your interview. Type your name exactly as your passport shows it, not as your school database shortens it.
Transcribing the SEVIS ID incorrectly is the second common mistake. One wrong digit ties the receipt to someone else's record or to no record at all. Copy the ID directly from your I-20 rather than retyping it from memory.
Some students pay before their school issues the I-20, guessing at the SEVIS ID from an offer letter. Wait for the real I-20, since the SEVIS ID only exists once your school creates that record.
Others confuse the I-901 fee with the visa application fee, or assume paying one covers the other. Keep both receipts and bring printed copies to your interview, since some consulates do not accept a phone screenshot.
If you find an error after paying
Contact SEVP support through the phone number and email listed on fmjfee.com as soon as you notice a mistake. Corrections take time to process, so handle this before you schedule your visa interview, not the week of it.