Last reviewed:
The SEVIS Fee
The I-901 SEVIS fee is a one-time charge that funds the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. It is $350 for F and M students and $220 for most J exchange visitors, paid at fmjfee.com against your SEVIS ID — and it is completely separate from the $185 visa application fee. Paying one does not cover the other, and you need both receipts.
Pay it before your visa interview. Some posts require it before you can even schedule the appointment.
The fee at a glance
| Official name | I-901 SEVIS fee |
| F and M students | $350 |
| Most J exchange visitors | $220 |
| Paid at | fmjfee.com — the official payment site |
| Paid against | Your SEVIS ID, which begins with N |
| When | Before the interview; some posts require it before scheduling |
| Covers the MRV fee? | No. Entirely separate from the $185 visa fee |
| Refundable | No, in the ordinary case |
Some J applicants are exempt, most commonly those on government-sponsored programmes. Your DS-2019 and the sponsor's guidance are the authority on whether you owe it.
"SEVIS login" — the thing most people are actually looking for
sevis login is searched far more than the fee itself, and it usually reflects a misunderstanding worth clearing up: students do not have a SEVIS login.
SEVIS is the government database that schools and programme sponsors use. Your record lives inside it, but access belongs to your school's designated school official (DSO) or your programme's responsible officer — not to you. There is no student portal, no student password, and nothing to sign into.
What you can sign into, and what people usually mean:
- fmjfee.com — the payment site. You can pay there and retrieve your receipt later using your SEVIS ID, surname and date of birth. This is the closest thing to a "SEVIS login" that a student has.
- Your applicant service profile — where the visa fee and appointment live. Unrelated to SEVIS.
- CEAC — where the DS-160 is, and it has no login either, only an Application ID.
If a page is asking for credentials you never created, you are almost certainly on the wrong one of these.
Finding your SEVIS ID
It is printed at the top of your Form I-20 (F and M students) or Form DS-2019 (J exchange visitors), and begins with the letter N followed by digits.
Copy it from the document itself rather than from memory or a school website. A SEVIS ID that does not match your I-20 is among the most common student errors on the DS-160, and it can force a new form before the interview — see the DS-160 guide for F-1 students.
When to pay, and in what order
- Get your I-20 or DS-2019 from your school or sponsor. You cannot pay before this, because the fee is paid against the SEVIS ID printed on it.
- Pay the I-901 fee at fmjfee.com. Keep the receipt — save a copy and print one.
- Complete the DS-160, using the SEVIS ID exactly as it appears on your document.
- Pay the separate visa application fee through your country's platform.
- Schedule the interview. Some posts check the SEVIS payment at this stage rather than at the interview.
- Bring both receipts to the interview, along with the DS-160 confirmation page and your I-20 or DS-2019.
Common problems
"I paid the visa fee — do I still owe SEVIS?" Yes. They are different fees to different systems. The $185 MRV fee is the visa application; the I-901 funds SEVIS. Neither substitutes for the other.
"I lost my receipt." You can retrieve it at fmjfee.com using your SEVIS ID, surname and date of birth. Do this before the interview rather than at the consulate.
"I paid but the consulate cannot see it." Payments can take up to three business days to appear in the system. This is why paying well before the interview, rather than the day before, matters.
"My visa was refused — do I pay SEVIS again if I reapply?" Generally the SEVIS payment stays valid for the same SEVIS record for a period, so a new application on the same I-20 usually does not need a new payment. A new I-20 with a new SEVIS ID does. Check with your DSO before paying twice.
"I changed schools." A new school issues a new I-20. Whether your existing SEVIS payment transfers depends on whether the SEVIS ID changed — your DSO can tell you, and they are the only ones who can see the record.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the SEVIS fee?
$350 for F-1 and M-1 students, and $220 for most J-1 exchange visitors. Some government-sponsored J categories are exempt.
Is the SEVIS fee the same as the visa fee?
No. The SEVIS fee funds the student tracking system and is paid at fmjfee.com. The $185 MRV visa fee is a separate payment through your country's appointment platform. Students pay both.
Can I pay the SEVIS fee before I have an I-20?
No. The payment is made against the SEVIS ID printed on your I-20 or DS-2019, so you need that document first.
Do I have a SEVIS username and password?
No. SEVIS is accessed by your school's DSO or your programme sponsor, not by students. The only site you sign into is fmjfee.com, using your SEVIS ID rather than a password you created.
How long before my interview should I pay?
At least three business days, since payments can take that long to appear. Paying earlier is safer, and some posts require it before you can schedule at all.
Is the SEVIS fee refundable if my visa is refused?
No. It is not refunded on refusal. This is one reason to be confident in your application before paying — see why applications are refused under 214(b).