On May 23, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule to adjust the fees charged to students, school and exchange visitors. There are important changes that Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)- certified schools and designated school officials should know.

At 12:00 a.m. EDT on June 24, 2019, when the fee rule is implemented, the following fee changes will take effect:

• The school certification petition fee for initial certification will increase from $1,700 to $3,000.
• DHS will maintain the $655 fee for a site visit for a petitioning school and its additional schools or campuses during initial certification.
• There will be a $1,250 fee for SEVP-certified schools filing a petition for recertification.
• DHS will also charge a $655 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.
• There will be a $675 fee when schools file the Form I-290B, “Notice of Appeal or Motion.”

Schools will continue to pay all fees related to the Form I-17 at Pay.gov, and will pay the new Form I-290B fee at Pay.gov.

Should a school file a complete initial certification or recertification petition, petition update or Form I-290B and it is not marked as filed or adjudicated before the June 24, 2019, fee implementation date, the school will not be required to pay the new or increased fee retroactively while in submitted status.

If your school has received the 180-day notice to submit for recertification (which means that your school’s certification expiration date (CED) is within the next 180 days), your school should submit for recertification as soon as possible.  If SEVP cancels a school’s submission on or after June 24, 2019 because the original petition was incomplete, your school will be required to pay the new fees when resubmitting your petition. 

Don’t forget to submit any additional edits to the Form I-17 along with your school’s recertification petition prior to the implementation of the new and increased fees on June 24, 2019. When your school submits a Form I-17 petition update before filing for recertification, the petition is then locked for most edits while pending adjudication. If your school submits a Form I-17 petition update after June 1, 2019, and your school has a CED within the next 180 days, your school is at risk of not having the update adjudicated in order to unlock the Form I-17 and file for recertification before the new fee takes effect. 

For more information on SEVP’s new school fees, please read the SEVP Announces Changes to Program Fees blog, and the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System Help Hub page on Paying the Form I-17.