SEVIS Fee: Amount, Payment Process & Receipt Guide for Indian Students

If you are getting ready for your F-1 visa interview, then you must be dealing with a lot of paperwork. The one thing that confuses many students is the SEVIS fee. It is a payment that is to be made, and it is separate from your visa fee, and if you miss it, then it can slow down your whole visa process. 

This guide covers what Indian students should know, how much it costs, how to pay it, and how to get your receipt without any confusion.

What Is the SEVIS Fee?

The full form of SEVIS is Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security runs this system to keep records of international students and exchange visitors during their stay in the country.

The I-901 SEVIS fee is a payment you must make, and it helps fund this system. It is not the same as the visa fee that you pay to the embassy or consulate, and it is not included in your university tuition fee. You need to make both payments before you can move ahead with your visa application.

Everyone has to pay this fee before they go for their visa interview, whether it’s an F-1 or M-1 student or J-1 exchange visitor. If you are coming to the United States from a country that does not require a visa, you still need to pay this fee before entering the United States.

SEVIS Fee Amount in Rupees

As of 2026, the SEVIS I-901 fee for students on an F-1 visa is 350 US dollars. J-1 exchange visitors have to pay a lower amount, which is around 220 US dollars. This fee amount can change spending on the exchange program.       

Since you pay this fee in US dollars, the exact SEVIS fee amount in rupees can change, because the exchange rate changes every day.Currently, this amount is somewhere between 33,000 and 34,000 rupees, but this number changes very frequently because of the market and it can increase or decrease by a few thousand rupees. 

You should never trust an old number, and you should always check the current exchange rate before you pay this fee. 

The main visa applicant has to pay this fee. If your family, your spouse, or your children are coming with you on F-2 status, then they don’t have to pay the SEVIS fee separately. 

Documents You Need Before Paying

If you are going to pay the SEVIS fee, then first you need to keep your I-20 form ready because it has the details that you will need while paying this fee. 

Your I-20 form has your SEVIS ID number, and a nine-digit code that starts with the letter “N”, which you will be needing to pay the fee. You should also know your full name, which should be the same that is written on the form, your date of birth, and the official code and address of your school.

It is recommended to have a card that you can use for making international payments, because most students pay using a card.

How to Complete Your SEVIS Fee Payment

You can pay this fee through the official website FMJfee.com, which is run and managed by the Department of Homeland Security. Don’t rely on third-party websites that charge a fee to pay the fee on your behalf. Use the official website only to make the payment.

Here are the steps you need to follow to pay this fee:

1. Go to FMJfee.com and select Form I-901. 
2. Enter your SEVIS ID, name, and date of birth in the form, and it should be the same as on your I-20 form. 
3. Fill in your school's details, including its code. It should also be the same as written in your I-20 form. 
4. Select your preferred payment method. There are many options, you can pay through a check, money order, or Western Union transfer, although most students pay by card.  
5. Check all the details that you filled before submitting the form, because even a small mistake can delay your application process. 
6. Complete the payment and then you will get a confirmation message on your screen. 

It is recommended that you pay this fee at least three days before your visa interview. If you pay the fee on time, it will get updated on the system before your interview, and your consular will be able to check it.

Getting Your SEVIS Fee Receipt

Once you have paid the fee, you can get the payment receipt and print it from the same website. This receipt is proof that you have paid the fee, and it is good to carry a copy of this receipt when you go for the visa interview. This also helps because the system takes a few days to update this. 

You can print this fee receipt again by going to FMJfee.com and checking your payment status. You can see it again by entering your SEVIS ID, last name, and date of birth.

Common Mistakes Indian Students Should Avoid

There are a few small mistakes that can cause an issue for students more often than it is expected. 

• If you enter your name differently and if it does not match the name that you filled in the I-20 form, even if it is a small spelling mistake, it can cause problems when your record is checked later.
• You should try paying the fee at least three days before your interview so that you have some extra time if there is a short delay in processing the payment.
• You should also avoid using third-party websites that charge some extra amount to pay this fee on your behalf. 
• You should only pay the SEVIS fee through the official portal.

Also Read: US Visa Slot Booking 2026: How to Book & Find Available Appointment Dates

Final Thoughts

The SEVIS fee might look like you just need to fill another form, but it is a very important step that should be done carefully, because it can delay your visa application if you don’t handle this properly.