Student I-20 Form
The SEVIS fee is a one-time payment that international students must pay before applying for their F-1 visa. It is required to cover the cost of the U.S. government’s system used to maintain information about foreign students and exchange visitors during their stay in the U.S.
Any student who receives an I-20 form from a U.S. school or university and plans to apply for an F-1 visa to study in the U.S. must pay this fee. It applies to both first-time applicants and students who are reapplying for an F-1 visa if their previous visa status was terminated.
The SEVIS fee must be paid before the student’s visa interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate. Proof of payment (the SEVIS fee receipt) is often required during the visa interview.
- The fee can be paid online through the official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) using a credit card.
- Once paid, the student will receive a receipt which they need to keep as proof of payment.
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Without the SEVIS fee payment, a student cannot proceed with the visa application process. The SEVIS fee receipt number is a critical piece of information for scheduling the visa interview and completing the visa application. The I-20 form and the visa application are linked through this SEVIS fee payment.
