Other Fees

Nonimmigrant Visa Issuance Fees

Additionally, applicants from certain countries may be required to pay a visa issuance fee after their application is approved. These fees are based on “reciprocity” (what another country charges a U.S. citizen for a similar-type of visa). The United States strives to eliminate visa issuance fees whenever possible; however, when a foreign government imposes such fees on U.S. citizens for certain types of visas, the United States will impose a “reciprocal” fee to a national of that country for similar-types of visas. Please see the Department of State website at http://travel.state.gov/visa/fees/fees_3272.html to see what, if any, issuance fee applies to your nationality.

SEVIS Fees

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is an Internet-based system that tracks F, M and J visa participants (and their family members) from the time they receive their initial documentation (either an I-20 or a DS-2019) until they graduate/leave school or conclude/leave program.

F, M and J visa principal applicants: Check with your U.S. school to make sure your information has been entered into SEVIS. You will need to pay a separate SEVIS fee in addition to the MRV application fee.  For nonimmigrant students with Form I-20, the fee is USD $200.00; for most exchange visitors with DS-2019, the fee is USD $180.00. Proof of payment is required before your student or exchange visitor visa will be issued. Please bring your I-901 SEVIS fee receipt to the interview. Payment cannot be made at the offsite bank or the Embassy/Consulate.  Instructions on paying the SEVIS fee can be found at www.fmjfee.com.

SEVIS Fee Exception:

Applicants participating in a U.S. Government-sponsored program (program codes start with G-1, G-2, G-3, G-7) are not required to pay the SEVIS fee.

Fraud Prevention and Detection Fees (Blanket L1)

The principal applicant (only) of a blanket L petition must pay a Fraud Prevention and Detection fee, which is either USD $500.00, USD $2,000.00, or USD $2,250.00 depending on the size of the company.  This fee is paid at the Embassy on the day of your interview.

Note: The U.S. petitioner pays this Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee for individual L, H-1B and H-2B petitions when they file the petition with USCIS.