All prospective F and M international students must pay the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Fee prior to applying for a U.S. student visa and entering the United States.

 

Active F and M students who were issued a Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” after Sept. 1, 2004 must also have a valid I-901 SEVIS Fee payment in their SEVIS record.

 

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program notifies students who do not have a valid I-901 SEVIS Fee payment in their record by mail at the address listed in SEVIS. The notice informs students that they must pay the fee in a specified amount of time. However, school officials should also work with their students to ensure students have a valid payment in their current SEVIS record.

 

Students who do not have a valid payment and fail to submit timely payment will have their SEVIS status terminated. This means they are no longer maintaining their student status and are required to depart the United States immediately.

 

For more information about the I-901 SEVIS Fee, visit ICE.gov/sevis/i901.