On May 23, 2019, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule to adjust fees charged by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to international students, exchange visitors and SEVP-certified schools. The final rule is available on the Federal Register and will take effect June 24, 2019.

Fee Increases

DHS will implement an increase in the following fees:

• The I-901 SEVIS Fee for F and M international students will increase from $200 to $350.
• DHS will maintain the $35 I-901 SEVIS Fee for J exchange visitors in the au pair, camp counselor, and summer work or travel program participant categories, but increase the full I-901 SEVIS Fee for other J exchange visitors from $180 to $220.
• The SEVP school certification petition fee for initial certification will increase from $1,700 to $3,000.

New Fees

DHS will introduce the following new fees:

• A $1,250 fee for SEVP-certified schools filing a petition for recertification.
• A $675 fee when schools file the Form I-290B, “Notice of Appeal or Motion."
• DHS will maintain the $655 fee for a site visit for a petitioning school and its additional schools or campuses during initial certification, but will also charge this fee when a SEVP-certified school changes its physical location or adds a new physical location or campus to its Form I-17, “Petition for Approval of School for Attendance by Nonimmigrant Student."

The new fees will be implemented at 12:00 a.m. EDT June 24, 2019, after which time all schools and students will be required to pay the new and increased fees. 

Students

Regulation requires all prospective F, M and J students to pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee before the Department of State issues a visa. Students and exchange visitors who pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee prior to the fee implementation date, but before they obtain a visa or enter the United States, will not need to pay the difference between the new fee and the old fee. Students will continue to pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee on FMJfee.com. 

Schools

Schools will continue to pay all fees related to the Form I-17 at Pay.gov, and will pay the new Form I-290B, “Notice of Appeal or Motion,” fee at Pay.gov. Should a school submit a complete initial certification or recertification petition, petition update or Form I-290B and it is not filed or adjudicated before the fee implementation date, the school will not be required to pay the new or increased fee retroactively while in submitted status. If SEVP cancels a school’s submission on or after the date the new fees are implemented because the original petition was incomplete, the school will be required to pay the new fees when resubmitting their petition.

SEVP will communicate all updates regarding the new fee changes to SEVP’s social media channels and ICE.gov/SEVP. For specific questions, please contact the SEVP Response Center. 

For more information on the new fees, read the published rule on the Federal Register.