Fee Changes for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently announced that The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has finalized changes in the fees to be charged by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The new fee schedule took effect on June 24, 2019 and impacts international students in F and M status, exchange visitors in J status, as well as SEVP-certified schools.

According to DHS, the program fees are used to cover current and projected costs for SEVP operations, including maintenance of technology, employment of SEVP and the implementation of enhancements to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). The Department also indicated that the increased and new fees will help better facilitate their monitoring of over one million international students pursuing academic and vocational studies in the United States and the numerous SEVP-certified schools. SEVP is funded entirely by its program fees and the fees have not changed since 2008.

In addition to facilitating oversight of international students in the United States, SEVIS is used by the U.S. Department of State in the administration of the exchange visitor J visa program. SEVP also shares SEVIS information with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in relation to national security efforts.

The fee increases include:

I-901 SEVIS fee for F and M international students – increase from $200 to $350. I-901 SEVIS fee for J exchange visitors other than those in the au pair, camp counselor and summer work travel program participant categories – increase from $180 to $220.
- Note: The current $35 fee for the I-901 for J exchange visitors in the au pair, camp counselor and summer work travel program participant categories remains unchanged.
SEVP School Certification Petition fee for initial certification – increase from $1,700 to $3,000.

The brand new fees include:

$1,250 fee for SEVP-certified schools filing a petition for recertification.
$675 fee when schools file a Notice of Appeal or Motion.
$655 fee when a SEVP-certified school changes its physical location or adds a new physical location or campus to its Petition for Approval of School for Attendance by Nonimmigrant Student.

More information about SEVP and SEVIS can be found at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's website available at www.ICE.gov/SEVP.