How Do I Pay the SEVIS Fee

The SEVIS fee is paid through Form I-901. Most students start the process online at FMJfee.com, then choose the payment method that works for them. You can pay by credit card online, use Western Union Quick Pay, or send a check or money order by mail.

The key is to match your payment method with the proof you need to keep. You’ll need proof of payment for your visa interview.

What the SEVIS fee and I-901 fee refer to

“SEVIS fee” and “I-901 fee” refer to the same payment process.

SEVIS is the student record system connected with your U.S. study plans. Form I-901 is the form used to submit the related fee. So, if a school or visa instruction tells you to pay the SEVIS fee, it is directing you to complete Form I-901 and pay the I-901 fee.

Your school’s Form I-20 is part of this process. Keep it nearby while you complete the form so you can enter your information as it appears on your school documents.

The online credit-card route is usually the simplest place to start. If that option doesn’t work for you, you can switch to Western Union Quick Pay or payment by mail.

What to prepare before starting Form I-901

Have your school and immigration documents in front of you before opening the form. This helps you enter your details consistently and catch errors before submitting payment.

Prepare:

• Your Form I-20
• The personal information used on your student and visa documents
• The school information shown on your I-20
• A payment method that matches one of the available routes
• A way to save or print your payment proof

Check every entry before you submit the form. Pay close attention to names, dates, school details, and any identifying information shown on your documents.

A small mistake can make it harder to match your payment with your student record. If you notice an issue, don’t simply guess at the correction. Check the official instructions before paying.

How to pay the SEVIS fee online at FMJfee.com

The online credit-card option is the most direct route if you have a card available for payment.

Follow these steps

1. Go to FMJfee.com.
2. Open Form I-901.
3. Enter the requested information using your Form I-20 and other immigration documents.
4. Review the form carefully before submitting it.
5. Select the online credit-card payment option.
6. Complete the payment steps shown on the site.
7. Save and print the payment confirmation or other proof provided after payment.

The form and payment are separate parts of one process. Completing Form I-901 does not mean you have finished until the payment has also been submitted successfully.

After paying, save the proof in more than one place if possible. Keep a printed copy with your visa documents. Also save an electronic copy where you can find it quickly.

If the page does not show a clear confirmation, don’t assume the payment went through. Look for the payment record or confirmation provided by the payment system, then keep that record for your interview.

How to pay through Western Union Quick Pay

Western Union Quick Pay is another option if you don’t want to use a credit card online.

The process starts online, even though the payment itself is made through Western Union. You first complete Form I-901 at FMJfee.com. After you complete the form, the system generates a payment coupon.

The Western Union process

1. Go to FMJfee.com and complete Form I-901.
2. Choose the Western Union payment option, if available for your application.
3. Generate the payment coupon.
4. Print the coupon.
5. Take the printed coupon with your payment to Western Union Quick Pay.
6. Keep the payment receipt and any other payment confirmation.

The coupon connects your Western Union payment to the Form I-901 information you entered. Don’t leave it at home or try to make the payment without it. The supplied instructions specifically say to print the coupon and take it with the payment.

Your receipt matters too. Keep the printed coupon, the Western Union receipt, and any later confirmation together. Bring proof of payment to your visa interview.

How to pay by check or money order

You can also pay by sending a check or money order by mail.

Start by completing the required Form I-901 information. Then prepare the payment in the form allowed by the instructions and send it by mail as directed.

Before mailing anything, check the current official instructions for:

• The correct payment amount
• How the check or money order should be made payable
• The mailing address
• Any required form or coupon to include
• The proof you should keep before sending the package

The available research confirms the mail route, but it does not provide the current mailing address or detailed check instructions. Don’t use an old address or copy payment details from an unrelated page.

Make a complete copy of everything you send. Keep a copy of the form, the check or money order details, and your mailing record. If you receive a receipt or payment confirmation, save that with your other visa documents.

A SEVIS fee check is not a separate type of fee. It is simply one possible way to send the payment when you use the mail option.

What proof of payment to keep for the visa interview

You need proof that the I-901 payment was made. The proof will depend on the payment route you choose.

Keep the following:

• Online credit card: the payment confirmation or other proof shown after payment
• Western Union Quick Pay: the printed payment coupon and the Western Union payment receipt
• Check or money order by mail: a copy of the payment and mailing records, plus any confirmation you receive

Print the proof even if you also save it on your phone or computer. A paper copy is easier to place with your passport, Form I-20, and other interview documents.

Use a simple file or folder for these records. Put your payment proof together with the Form I-20 that you used when completing Form I-901. That makes it easier to check that the documents belong to the same application.

How third-party payment fits into the process

You do not have to be the person who makes the payment. Third-party payment is permitted.

That means another person may pay the I-901 fee for you. This could be useful if you don’t have a suitable credit card or if someone else is helping with your application.

You still need to complete Form I-901 with your own correct student information. Make sure the person paying receives the right payment instructions and gives you the final proof of payment.

For Western Union Quick Pay, the person making the payment should have the printed payment coupon. For online payment, make sure you receive the payment confirmation after the transaction. For a mailed check or money order, keep copies of the documents and payment record.

The payer and the student can be different people. The payment proof should still be kept with your visa documents.

SEVIS fee amount and F-1 renewal questions to verify separately

Payment instructions and eligibility questions are two different things. Completing Form I-901 tells you how to submit the fee. It does not, by itself, answer every question about your case.

How much is the SEVIS fee for an F-1 visa?

The supplied instructions do not confirm a current fee amount. Because amounts can change, check the amount shown in the current official Form I-901 instructions at FMJfee.com before submitting payment.

Do not rely on an old receipt, a friend’s payment record, or a number copied from an earlier application. Confirm the amount for your own application at the time you pay.

Do I need to pay the SEVIS fee for an F-1 renewal?

The available information does not establish whether an F-1 renewal requires a new SEVIS fee. Don’t assume that a renewal always requires a new payment, and don’t assume that a previous payment automatically covers every later application.

Verify the renewal rule through the relevant official guidance for your situation. Your school’s international student office may also help you identify which instructions apply, but the payment and renewal details should be checked against current official guidance.

Quick answers to common payment questions

How do I pay my SEVIS fee online?

Go to FMJfee.com, complete Form I-901, choose online credit-card payment, and save the confirmation or other proof of payment.

How is the SEVIS fee paid?

The listed options are online credit card payment, Western Union Quick Pay, and payment by check or money order by mail.

Are the SEVIS fee and I-901 fee the same thing?

Yes. These terms refer to the same payment process, with Form I-901 used to submit the fee.

Before you submit anything, check your Form I-901 details one more time. Confirm the payment instructions and current fee information through the official FMJfee.com or Study in the States guidance.