ICE’s Revised Student and Exchange Visitor Fees to Take Effect June 24

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At a glance

• Effective June 24, 2019, the Student and Exchange Visitor System (SEVIS) fee for F and M students will increase to $350, from $200, and for most J exchange visitors to $220, from $180.
• Schools requesting initial certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) will face a $3,000 fee, up from $1,700.
• SEVP-certified schools will now be subject to filing fees when seeking recertification, requiring a site visit after changing or adding a physical location or appealing the denial of a request for certification or recertification. 

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A closer look

Starting June 24, 2019, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will raise individual application fees on F and M students and most J exchange visitors, as well as the application fee for schools seeking initial certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). ICE will also impose new fees on schools requesting recertification, requiring a site visit when adding or changing the school’s location, or filing an appeal or motion after the denial of certification or recertification request. The final rule revising the fees was published in the Federal Register.

Revised Fee Schedule

The revised fee schedule is as follows:

About the SEVIS fee

Prospective foreign students and exchange visitors are responsible for paying the I-901 SEVIS registration fee on FMJFee.com before: (1) traveling to a U.S. port of entry, if the foreign national is from a visa-waived country; (2) appearing for a visa interview; or (3) submitting a change of status application within the United States. Though the new fees take effect June 24,  foreign students and exchange visitors who pay the I-901 SEVIS fee prior to the effective date, but before they obtain a visa, enter the United States or request a change of status will not need to pay the difference between the new fee and the old fee.

Similarly, schools and exchange programs, who must maintain their SEVP-certified status by paying fees related to certification and recertification on Pay.gov, will not be subject to the new or increased fees where their initial certification or recertification petition or appeal is filed before but not adjudicated by June 24. 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.