SEVIS Fee to be Implemented Sep 1, 2004
Posted Jul 09, 2004
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The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) published a final rule in the Federal Register on July 1, 2004 that implements a Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee for those who receive SEVIS Form I-20 or DS-2019 with an issuance date of September 1, 2004 or later. Because the schools and the international student community were vehemently opposed to these fees, ICE may have waited to implement the new fee increase until September 1, 2004 to avoid having the fees adversely affect students starting this fall. Students and exchange visitors may pay by check through the mail or by credit card via the Internet. ICE will also accept batch payments and payments from third parties.
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It is important to note that these fees are in addition to any DOS or USCIS fees one may incur. F-1s, F-3s, M-1s, and M-3s will be required to pay a $100 SEVIS fee. Their dependents, F-2s or M-2s, will not need to pay a SEVIS fee. J-1s will, generally, also owe a $100 SEVIS fee, unless they are subject to one of the exceptions. J-1s in a summer work / travel program, an au pair program, or a camp counselor program will only pay a $35 SEVIS fee. Those J-1s in a federally-sponsored exchange program will not need to pay any SEVIS fee if the program codes start with G-1, G-2, or G-3. As with other dependents, J-2s will not need to pay a SEVIS fee.
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The purpose of these fees is to cover the costs of maintaining and improving the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), including the establishment of SEVIS Liaison Officers.