10 facts about the SEVIS fee

By ScholarFare Nigeria

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Are you a Nigerian student considering applying/or have applied to the US for academic studies? If yes, then this post should prove enlightening on one of the requirements for applying for a US student visa – THE SEVIS FEE. Please note that the SEVIS fee is only required after you have been granted admission by a degree awarding institution in the United States AND NOT BEFORE.

1. What is SEVIS?
SEVIS is an acronym for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System.

2. For what purpose was the SEVIS fee administered?
The SEVIS fee was set up in 2004 to cater for administrative costs on running the Student Exchange Vistor Program (SEVP) which keeps tabs on international students studying in the US.

3. Who pays the SEVIS fee?
Students who have been granted admission by a university in the US and wants to apply for a US Student visa.


4. Where can I pay the SEVIS fee?
Unfortunately for students from Nigeria, the SEVIS fee can only be paid from overseas. The SEVP has not extended the possibility of paying the SEVIS fee within Nigerian borders.

5. How much is the SEVIS Fee?
The amount is dependent on what category of visa for which you are applying. The three major categories for a student visa are F, J, and M.

6. How much for each category?
For an F1 visa, the fee is $200. For a J1 visa, the fee is $180. For an M1 visa, the fee is $200.

7. Who does not pay the SEVIS fee?
If the admitted student will be travelling to the US with his/her spouse or children, the dependents are classified for a F2, J2, M2 visa. Applicants for the F2, M2, or J2 visa do not need to pay the SEVIS fee.

8. How long is the SEVIS fee valid?
The SEVIS fee is valid for one calendar year from the date of application. This means that if your visa application is unsuccessful, the intended student can make another visa application without having to pay another SEVIS fee.

9. What information is required to pay the SEVIS fee?
A Form I-20 or DS-2019 (determined by your visa category) which is a document issued by the DSO (school offering admission) will be needed to pay the SEVIS fee.

10. How long does the SEVIS fee take to process?
Once payment has been received, it often takes between 1-24 hours by the Department of Homeland Security to process and issue a receipt. There can be instances where the receipts take longer, between 24-72 hours to issue. Receipts can be printed online.


At ScholarFare, one of our services is to help Nigerian students in the payment of their SEVIS fees. If you want to pay the SEVIS fee, send us an email(scholar[at]scholarfare.com) or call our international number (+14065395916) and we will be glad to attend to you. Also visit our website, to read more about the SEVIS fee, our charges and other services which we offer.

ScholarFare Nigeria are international admission consultants. You can visit our website at www.scholarfare.com

[size=13pt]Read our other study abroad blog posts.[/size]