I-20 Form & I-901 SEVIS Fee

All F and M students that study in the United States need a Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.” Once accepted into a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school, international students will receive a Form I-20 from their designated school official (DSO).

You must also obtain a Form I-20 for any eligible dependents you plan to bring to the United States with you. However, please note that the name (i.e., Academic and Language students vs. Vocational Students) on the Form I-20 an SEVP-certified school issues you will dictate the type of student visa you may obtain from the U.S. Department of State and the status you will need to maintain in the United States. You and your DSO must both sign the Form I-20. If you are under age 18, your parents must sign the Form I-20 for you.

Form I-20 Uses

The Form I-20 is an important document that you should keep safe, as you will need it throughout the international student life cycle.

I-901 SEVIS Fee

Before you pay the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Fee, you must receive the Form I-20 from a DSO at the school you plan to attend. You will need information from the Form I-20 to pay the fee. The I-901 SEVIS Fee is mandatory and must be paid before you enter the United States.

In order to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee, all prospective F and M students will need to provide their:

Name, address, date of birth and email address.
Country of birth and country of citizenship.
School Code as listed on the Form I-20 “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.”
SEVIS Identification Number as listed on the Form I-20.

The payment website for this fee is at www.fmjfee.com. Continuing students and exchange visitors are not required to pay the fee except under certain circumstances.

For complete information on who needs to pay the fee (or does not need to) see the SEVP website at http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/faq.htm. There is a complete list of questions and answers on all aspects of SEVIS I-901 fee payment.

For more information about applying for a student visa, visit this website: https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students/prepare/students-and-the-form-i-20

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