The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) SEVIS fee

All F-1 and J-1 visa holders are required to complete the I-901 SEVIS form and pay the accompanying fee. This form and fee are required for all international students and exchange visitors studying in the U.S. Complete this step after you receive your I-20 or DS-2019.

You must pay the SEVIS fee before you have your visa appointment, so don't delay this step. You can watch a video tutorial and then access the online payment form.

After paying the fee, immediately print a copy of your receipt. You'll need this receipt to activate your I-20 Form at the border of entry, so it is important that you have it. You can check the status of your fee payment.

WSU SEVIS fee

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) SEVIS fee, above, is separate from WSU's SEVIS administration fee, which is mandatory and you will pay later. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Office of International Students and Scholars by emailing oissmail@wayne.edu.

Unless exempted, F-1 and J-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors receiving an initial SEVIS Form I20 or DS-2019 are required to pay the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) SEVIS Fee of $220 USD for F-1 students and $350 for J-1 visa applicants. Please visit https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901 to learn more about and pay the fee.

What does this mean for you? It depends on your situation.

• If you are a continuing F-1 or J-1 student or J-1 scholar, you will not need to pay the federal SEVIS fee, as long as you maintain your current status. You will need to pay the fee if you change your visa status or if you fail to maintain your status and must apply for reinstatement.
• If you are a Canadian citizen who is currently a part-time student, you will receive a notation on your I-20 each term to designate that you are a continuing student and are thus not subject to the SEVIS fee.

Paying the SEVIS Fee

The fee can be paid to DHS either through a mail-in procedure or via the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (a division of DHS). The fee must be paid after you have received your I-20 or DS-2019 and before your visa appointment. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement also has helpful information about the federal SEVIS fee. As of May 1, 2005 you can verify online if your SEVIS fee payment was received and when the official receipt for the payment was issued. This capability is available for payments made on the Internet, by check or money order, by Western Union, and by bulk filing. Verification can be made by visiting the SEVIS fee website.

Please note: The Wayne State Institutional $50 SEVIS fee is mandatory and is assessed each term. The fee is charged to all students and scholars in F-1 or J-1 status. Individuals with F-1 status will be charged automatically through their Wayne State University account. Individuals with J-1 status will be required to pay the fee via Wayne State's CashNET.