Federal I-901 SEVIS Fee To Increase Effective October 27, 2008

On September 26, 2008, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) published a final rule in the Federal Register that establishes a new fee structure for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, known as SEVIS.  This is a web-enabled database that provides current information on F, M and J non-immigrants in the United States. The fee increase is the first of its kind in five years, and will affect international students on F and M visas, exchange visitors on J visas, as well as schools that host them.

Beginning October 27, 2008, students applying for initial entry to the United States on an F or M visa (including those from countries that are visa-exempt, such as Canada) will pay a I-901 SEVIS fee of $200.00 (the current fee is $100.00).  Exchange visitors beginning a new program in J-1 status as a student, researcher, professor, trainee, or specialist will pay a I-901 SEVIS fee of $180.00 (the current fee is $100.00).

Most F and J students only pay the I-901 SEVIS fee once.  Therefore, this new rule will have the greatest impact on students seeking to enter the United States for the first time as students, or those already in the United States who wish to change their non-immigrant status to F-1.  New students admitted for the Spring 2009 and Fall 2009 semesters, will be among the first to be affected by the increase in the SEVIS fee. Dependents in F-2 or J-2 status are not required to pay the SEVIS fee.  Few current students will be affected by the increase in the SEVIS fee.

According to ICE, these fee adjustments are driven by two factors: (1) The need to comply with statutory and regulatory requirements that the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) review its fee structure every two years to ensure that the cost of the services that are provided are fully captured by fees assessed on those receiving the services; and (2) the need to enhance SEVP capability to meet current program requirements and to achieve its mission goals in support of homeland security and countering immigration fraud.

To view the ICE press release, visit:
http://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/sevp_release.pdf

To view the ICE fact sheet, visit:
http://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/sevp_factsheet.pdf

To view the text of the final rule as a pdf file (22 pages), visit:
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-22786.pdf

To view the text of the final rule as plain text, visit:
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-22786.htm