USCIS Website: http://uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
425 I Street, NW
Washington, DC 20536
June 29, 2004
INFORMATION
MEMORANDUM FOR: ALL ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS & PROGRAM SPONSORS

SUBJECT: Final Rule Authorizing The Collection Of The Fee Levied On F, J,
And M Nonimmigrant Classifications Under Public Law No. 104-208
Purpose To summarize the current status of the final rule authorizing the collection of the fee levied on F, J,
and M nonimmigrant classifications under Public Law No. 104-208; Student and Exchange Visitor
Information System (SEVIS).

Background
Section 641 of Public Law 104-208 IIRIRA, published September 30, 1996 mandated the
establishment of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program and that it be fee funded.

Discussion
This memorandum is to inform you of the current status of the final rule authorizing the collection of
the fee levied on F, J, and M nonimmigrant classifications under Public Law No. 104-208; Student
and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).The Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have approved the final rule and we anticipate that
it will be published on or about July 1, 2004. Upon implementation on September 1, 2004 students
and exchange visitors, unless exempted, will be required to pay the appropriate fee prior to obtaining
their visa.Specifically, all individuals receiving SEVIS Form I-20 or DS-2019 with an issuance date
of September 1, 2004 or later will be required to pay the SEVIS fee.This rule amends the DHS regulations to provide for the collection of a fee to be paid by certain aliens who are seeking status as F-1, F-3, M-1, or M-3 nonimmigrant students or as J-1 nonimmigrant exchange visitors. As the following chart depicts, the rule levies a fee of $100, although applicants for certain J-1 exchange visitor programs will pay a reduced fee of $35, and certain other aliens will be exempt from the fee altogether.

The purpose of this fee is to cover the costs for the continued operation of the Student and Exchange
Visitor Program (SEVP) including the administration and maintenance of SEVIS, compliance
activities, and the establishment of SEVIS Liaison Officers.
The current SEVIS fee regulation includes several fee payment options. Students and exchange
visitors will have the option to pay with a check by mail or with a credit card via the Internet. In
addition, exchange visitor sponsors can pay for an entire group of individuals through a batch
payment process.
DHS also will accept fee payment from a third party, either in the United States or
abroad. The SEVP continues to explore additional means of payment (i.e., Department of State pilot
program, Western Union Quick Pay), and notification will be given as these additional payment
methods are implemented.
The SEVP will continue to issue updates in an effort to keep all stakeholders informed regarding the
new SEVIS fee. In the future, SEVP will also establish a web address specifically for SEVIS fee
information. For current SEVIS information, please see the U.S. Immigration & Customs
Enforcement SEVP web site, www.ice.gov/graphics/enforce/imm/sevis/index.htm.