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Questions from DSOs: How Do I Navigate Pay.gov?


July 25, 2019

Schools are required to pay fees to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and provide proof of payment to SEVP upon submission of their initial certification petition, recertification petition or Form I-290B, “Notice of Appeal or Motion.” Additionally, certain updates to the Form I-17, "Petition for Approval of School for Attendance by Nonimmigrant Student," also require proof of fee payment upon the submission of the updated petition.

As a reminder, schools are required to pay the following fees as of June 24, 2019:

  • A $3,000 fee for initial certification or a change of ownership.
  • A $655 site visit fee per site on the Form I-17.
  • A $1,250 fee for recertification.
  • A $675 fee for a Form I-290B.

Your school must pay all fees through the federal government’s secured Pay.gov website. A school may use a bank account (ACH - Automated Clearing House), debit card, or credit card to submit an electronic payment to SEVP using Pay.gov. 

Once you’ve submitted your payment, the confirmation page opens. If you selected the checkbox for a confirmation email, you will receive a confirmation email from Pay.gov.

Pay Form-17 Fees

To pay fees related to the Form I-17, including the initial certification, recertification, petition update and site visit fees, search “SEVIS” in the Pay.gov search bar. Select “I-17 SEVIS School Certifications” to continue. You must enter the amount your school is paying based on your school’s submission—Pay.gov will not automatically populate the amount. 

For step-by-step instructions, visit the Form I-17—Pay Fees page on the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Help Hub.

Pay the Form I-290B Fee 

To pay fees related to the Form I-290B, search “Form I-290B” in the Pay.gov search bar. Select “Form I-290B Notice of Appeal or Motion” to continue. The fee amount will be prepopulated by Pay.gov. In addition to the payment methods listed above, the Form I-290B fee also allows payment through PayPal and Amazon.

Your school must pay the $675 fee for each appeal. For step-by-step instructions, visit the Filing an Appeal or Motion – Pay Fees page on the SEVIS Help Hub.

For case specific questions, please contact the SEVP Response Center.

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