SEVIS Fee Payment India 2026: I-901 Cost, How to Pay at FMJfee.com & Processing Time for F1 Students
Wait time data updated daily from US State Department official data.
Quick Answer
SEVIS I-901 fee: $350 for F1 (approx. ₹29,100). Pay at FMJfee.com using SEVIS ID from I-20. Minimum 3 business days before interview. Non-refundable. Total F1 cost: $535 ($350 SEVIS + $185 MRV).
The SEVIS I-901 fee for F1 students is $350 in 2026 (approximately ₹29,100), paid online at FMJfee.com using the SEVIS ID from your Form I-20 — and you must pay at least 3 business days before your visa interview so the system registers the payment. The fee is non-refundable regardless of visa outcome. Combined with the $185 MRV visa fee, total F1 application cost is $535.
How Much Is the SEVIS Fee for F1 Students in 2026?
$350 is the SEVIS I-901 fee for F1 and M1 students. J1 exchange visitors pay $220.
| Visa Type | SEVIS Fee | MRV Fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 Student | $350 | $185 | $535 |
| J1 Exchange | $220 | $185 | $405 |
| M1 Vocational | $350 | $185 | $535 |
The SEVIS fee is paid to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) under DHS. The MRV fee is paid to the State Department via Axis Bank in India. These are separate payments to separate agencies — both are required before your interview. See the F1 visa fees India 2026 for the complete cost breakdown.
How to Pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee — Step by Step
6 steps to complete your SEVIS payment:
Locate your SEVIS ID on Form I-20
Your SEVIS ID is printed on the top-left of your I-20, starting with 'N' followed by 10 digits (e.g., N0012345678). This ID is unique to you and links your payment to your SEVIS record.
Go to FMJfee.com
FMJfee.com is the ONLY official SEVIS payment portal. Do not pay through any other website — phishing sites impersonating FMJfee.com exist and will steal your payment and personal information.
Select 'Form I-901, SEVIS Fee'
Choose 'F1 Student' as your visa category. Enter your SEVIS ID, name, date of birth, and school exactly as they appear on your I-20. Any mismatch will cause payment to not register.
Pay with international credit card
FMJfee.com accepts international Visa and Mastercard only. Most Indian debit cards do not work. Ask a family member with an international credit card if you don't have one.
Print your payment confirmation
Print the confirmation page immediately. This receipt shows your SEVIS ID, payment date, and confirmation number. Bring it to your visa interview — the consulate may ask for it.
Alternative: Western Union
If you cannot pay online, you can pay via Western Union. This takes 3+ business days to process and is not recommended due to delay risk. Western Union payments cannot be tracked online.
When Should You Pay the SEVIS Fee Relative to Your Interview?
3 business days minimum before your interview for online payment. The SEVIS system takes up to 72 hours to sync with the consulate's system. If payment doesn't show at your interview, the officer cannot verify your SEVIS status — and your appointment is effectively wasted.
| Payment Method | Minimum Lead Time | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Online (FMJfee.com) | 3 business days | 7 days (safe buffer) |
| Western Union | 3+ business days after receipt | 10+ days (not recommended) |
See the F1 application timeline for exactly when SEVIS payment fits in the overall sequence.
What Are the Most Common SEVIS Payment Errors Indian Students Make?
5 errors that cause problems at the interview or during DS-160 filing:
Wrong SEVIS ID entered
Double-check every digit of the N-number against your I-20. One wrong digit = payment linked to a different student's record.
Name mismatch between I-20 and FMJfee.com
Enter your name exactly as it appears on your I-20, not your passport. If your I-20 has 'Lastname, Firstname' format, follow that order.
Paying too late (< 3 business days)
Pay at least 7 days before your interview. If you pay 1 day before and the system hasn't synced, the officer cannot verify — appointment wasted.
Using a phishing website instead of FMJfee.com
Type FMJfee.com directly in your browser. Do not click links from emails, WhatsApp groups, or Google ads. Scam sites will take your $350 and personal data.
Paying J1 fee instead of F1
F1 = $350, J1 = $220. If you select J1 by mistake, the payment is non-refundable and you must pay the F1 fee separately.
Can You Get a SEVIS Fee Refund If Your Visa Is Denied?
No, the SEVIS I-901 fee is non-refundable regardless of visa outcome. If your F1 visa is denied under 214(b) and you reapply within 12 months using the same SEVIS ID (same I-20, same school), you do not need to pay the SEVIS fee again. If you receive a new I-20 with a new SEVIS ID, a new payment of $350 is required.
When You Do NOT Need to Pay Again
- ✓ Reapply within 12 months with same SEVIS ID
- ✓ Transfer to a new university (SEVIS record transfers)
- ✓ Change of I-20 within same school (program change)
When You MUST Pay Again
- ✗ New I-20 with new SEVIS ID (reapply after 12 months)
- ✗ Previously terminated SEVIS record (new enrollment)
Key Takeaways
- SEVIS I-901 fee: $350 for F1 (₹29,100). Total with MRV: $535
- Pay at FMJfee.com only — beware phishing sites
- Minimum 3 business days before interview (recommend 7 days)
- Non-refundable regardless of visa outcome
About This Data
WaitDelta tracks US visa interview wait times daily from the official US State Department Global Visa Wait Times tool. Data is refreshed every 24 hours via automated pipeline. Source: travel.state.gov. See our full methodology.
Builder & Growth Strategist
Builder and growth strategist based in Mumbai. Created WaitDelta — India’s real-time US visa wait time intelligence platform.
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