How Much Is the SEVIS Fee

If you’re applying for an F-1 student visa, the I-901 SEVIS fee is listed as $350. J-1 exchange visitors are listed at $220, but J-1 charges can depend on the exact category, so check the current amount for your program before paying. The SEVIS fee is separate from the visa application fee paid through the DS-160 process.

The current SEVIS fee amount by visa category

The I-901 SEVIS fee is the payment used for certain people applying for U.S. student or exchange visitor status. The amount depends on the visa category connected to your program.

Here are the amounts most often listed for the main categories:

The clearest answer is for F-1 students: the F-1 SEVIS fee is $350.

J-1 applicants need to be more careful. Search results sometimes show $220, while older-looking information may mention $200. Don't assume that one number applies to every J-1 applicant. Your program type and exact status matter, so verify the amount shown for your category before submitting Form I-901.

How much is the F-1 SEVIS fee?

The F-1 SEVIS fee is $350.

This is generally the amount listed for a prospective international student applying for F-1 status. You usually connect the payment to the SEVIS record shown on your Form I-20, the document issued for your student program.

The payment is made using Form I-901. Your information needs to match your immigration documents. A mistake in your name, date of birth, passport details, or SEVIS identification information can create problems later, so check each field before you finish the payment.

People sometimes call this the “I-20 SEVIS fee.” That wording can be confusing. The I-20 itself does not appear to have a separate SEVIS charge in the information available here. The $350 is the I-901 SEVIS payment connected to your F-1 record, not a separate fee for printing or receiving the I-20.

What the I-901 SEVIS fee covers and who pays it

SEVIS stands for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. It is the system used for records connected with certain international students and exchange visitors.

The I-901 payment is tied to that record. Form I-901 is used by prospective applicants in several categories, including:

• F-1 students
• F-3 students
• M-1 students
• M-3 students
• J-1 exchange visitors

The payment is not the same thing as your visa application. It also does not replace the forms or documents required for your school or exchange program.

For an F-1 student, the usual paperwork includes an I-20 from the school and the visa application materials. The SEVIS payment is one part of that process. It should be treated as its own payment and checked separately from other fees.

The key question is not simply, “How much is the SEVIS fee for the USA?” There is no single amount for everyone. The answer depends on your visa category.

How the SEVIS fee relates to the I-20 and DS-160 visa fee

These three items are connected, but they are not the same:

The I-20

The Form I-20 is connected with F-1, and in relevant cases other student categories. It contains information about your school or program and your SEVIS record.

Your I-20 helps identify the record that the I-901 payment should match. It does not mean you pay a second “I-20 fee.” For an F-1 applicant, the listed SEVIS amount is $350.

The I-901 SEVIS payment

The I-901 fee is the SEVIS payment itself. F-1 applicants are listed at $350. J-1 applicants are listed at $220, with a warning that the correct amount may vary by category or by the current fee information.

Keep your payment confirmation. You may need it as part of the visa process, and it gives you a record that the payment was submitted.

The DS-160 visa fee

The DS-160 is the online nonimmigrant visa application. The visa application fee is separate from the I-901 SEVIS fee.

One listed amount for the DS-160 visa fee is $160. That means an F-1 applicant may need to account for both:

• The $350 I-901 SEVIS fee
• The separate $160 visa application fee

Paying one does not pay the other. This is one of the most common sources of confusion when people search for the total cost of applying for a U.S. student visa.

J-1, F-3, M-1 and other category differences

The F-1 amount is easy to state because the available information consistently lists it as $350. Other categories need a closer check.

J-1 exchange visitors

The listed J-1 SEVIS fee is $220. However, some search results show $200, which may reflect older information or a different J-visa category.

That conflict is a reason to pause before paying. Don't use the F-1 amount for a J-1 application, and don't treat $220 as a universal charge for every J-1 program without checking your exact status.

F-3 students

F-3 is included among the categories that use Form I-901. The information provided here does not give a separate F-3 amount. If your document shows F-3 status, confirm the current fee for that category rather than borrowing the F-1 price.

M-1 and M-3 students

M-1 applicants study in vocational or nonacademic programs. M-3 is also included among the categories associated with Form I-901. The available information does not provide a specific amount for these categories.

That means you should verify the charge for your exact category before submitting the form. The $350 F-1 fee should not automatically be used for M-1 or M-3 applicants.

How long a SEVIS fee payment is valid

Many applicants ask, “How long is a SEVIS fee valid?” The information available for this guide identifies the question but does not give a confirmed validity period.

Because of that, don't rely on an exact number of months or years unless it is confirmed for your situation. Check the payment information against your current SEVIS record and visa plans. If your school, exchange program, or immigration paperwork changes, ask the relevant office how that affects the payment you already made.

Also check that the payment is connected to the correct record. A payment made with incorrect information may not solve the problem simply because the amount was right.

Do spouses and dependent children pay a SEVIS fee?

A listed result says that spouses and dependent children in F-2, M-2, or J-2 categories do not pay a separate SEVIS fee.

That means a dependent accompanying an F-1, M-1, or J-1 applicant is treated differently from the main student or exchange visitor for this payment. The principal applicant still needs to check the fee for their own category.

Your dependents may have other visa paperwork or application costs. The no-SEVIS-fee point applies to the SEVIS payment, not necessarily to every cost connected with their visa applications.

What to check before submitting payment

Before paying the I-901 fee, take a few minutes to compare the payment form with your immigration documents.

Check these details:

• Your exact visa category: F-1, J-1, F-3, M-1, or M-3
• The SEVIS identification details on your I-20 or other program document
• Your full name and date of birth
• Your passport information
• The fee shown for your specific category
• Whether you are the main applicant or a dependent
• Your payment confirmation after submission

For an F-1 student, the main figure to remember is $350. For a J-1 applicant, start with the listed $220 amount, but verify it because conflicting $200 information appears in search results and category details can matter.

Finally, keep the I-901 payment separate in your mind from the I-20 and the DS-160 visa fee. Confirm your exact visa category, match the payment to your I-20 or program details, and check the current I-901 amount before you submit.