SEVIS

SEVIS Fee

SEVIS

International students are an important part of the Hunter College community. We are prepared to assist International students to understand their rights, responsibilities and benefits, help them make the best of their educational and extracurricular multicultural experiences while studying at Hunter College and graduate on a timely basis. In response to the events of 9/11, The United States Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) implemented regulations to better monitor international students in the United States. Those regulations included an internet-based tracking system, the Student and Exchange Visitor Informarion System (SEVIS). SEVIS requires schools to regularly report to the changes in a student's academic standing, address and immigration student status. Among other things, our office must report to the ICE the following information:

1. Start date of the student's next term or session.
   
2. Student's failure to enroll.
   
3. Student's dropping below a full course of study without prior authorization by the International Student Advisor.
   
4. Any failure to maintain status or complete the program.
   
5. Change of the student's or dependents legal name or U.S. address.
   
6. Any disciplinary action taken by the school against the student as a result of the student being convicted of a crime.
   
7. Student's graduation prior to the program end date listed on the form I-20.
   
8. Within 21 days of a change of name, US address or curriculum of a school, an International Student Advisor must update SEVIS with the current information.
   
9. Within 30 days:
   
   a.The International Student Advisor (ISA) must report the failure of the student or exchange visitor to enroll or commence studies.
   b. Date of the international student's enrollment in an approved institution or exchange program.
   c. Degree program and field of study.
   d. Date of the termination of enrollment and the reason for termination.
   
   

A SEVIS I-20 FOR ALL F-1 STUDENTS

• all currently enrolled F-1/J-1 students
• all currently enrolled Hunter College students who apply for a student visa or for optional practical training after January 30, 2003.
  
  

All schools in the United States must register their F-1/J-1 students in the SEVIS program. This means that all F-1 and J-1 students that are presently studying at the Hunter College will need a new SEVIS I-20 and have to be entered into SEVIS.

In order to receive a SEVIS I-20 form, a student must complete a SEVIS data collection form at the Hunter College International Student Office.

If you are applying for an F-1/ J-1 (student visa) for the first time, you must also provide the school with proof of financial support.

If you already have an F-1/J-1 (student visa), we must re-certify that you are progressing satisfactorily academically and that you are maintaining your F-1/J-1 immigration status.

Your SEVIS I-20 will be created and sent electronically to United States and Citizenship and Immigration Services, so that you can receive your new immigration identification number. NOTE: Only United States and Citizenship and Immigration Services may approve your I-20 request. Your SEVIS I-20 will be part of your new student record at United States and Citizenship and Immigration Services.

30 DAYS TO REPORT TO YOUR SCHOOL AND ATTEND CLASSES
If you enter the U.S.as an F-1/J-1 student, United States and Citizenship and Immigration Services will allow you 30 days to report to your school for registration. Note: If you are already in the U.S. as an F-1/J-1 student and wish to transfer to another school, you must also complete the procedure within 30 days of the closing of school registration (for classes).

Student’s Enrollment Status& Attendance must be reported to United States and Citizenship and Immigration Services
Schools must inform United States and Citizenship and Immigration Services immediately if a student does not register for full-time classes or stops attending without permission from the International Student Adviser. So, if you have a problem that may prevent you from enrolling in a full-time program or attending classes regularly, you must speak with the International Student Adviser. Once a school reports a student, he/she will lose his/her immigration status (F-1/J-1).

Ten Days to Report a Change of Address to United States and Citizenship and Immigration Services
If you move, you must give United States and Citizenship and Immigration Services the new address. It should be done within 10 calendar days of your living at the new address. The information must be sent on a special application that is available in the International Students Office. You can also call United States and Citizenship and Immigration Services at 1-800-870-3676 to order AR-11 form. There are very serious consequences for F-1/J-1 students (and visitors) who do not follow this immigration regulation.

All F-1 Students Currently Enrolled at Hunter College must Receive a SEVIS I-20.

All F-1 Students that are presently attending classes at Hunter College must have a SEVIS I-20. If you do not have this new I-20, please come to the International Student Office, so that we can help you get one. All United States and Citizenship and Immigration Services forms may be downloaded from the United States and Citizenship and Immigration Services website: www.uscis.gov.

Please make a note of these important changes. You are strongly advised to visit the International Students’ Office AT YOUR EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY.

For more information, download Sevis Fee Basics (PDF).

SEVIS Fee

Effective September 1, 2004, a fee, mandated by Congress, must be paid prior to VISA issuance. A $100 non-refundable fee is required for all F, M, and most J student exchange visitors. This fee can be paid through the internet at www.FMJfee.com, or through the mail by submitting the completed Form I-901 with a check or money order, drawn on a United States bank and payable in United States currency. All checks and money orders must be made payable to “I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee”. Please be sure to write the name of the student or exchange visitor with his/her SEVIS identification number on the check or money order.

Mail the Form I-901 and payment to:
        I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee
        P.O Box 970020
        St. Louis, MO 63197-0020

Or you can courier the Form I-901 and payment to:
        I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee
        1005 Convention Plaza
        St. Louis, MO 63101

For F-1, F-2, M-1, and M-3 status only, you will need to submit Form I-20 (certificate of eligibility for nonimmigrant status) in order to fill out the I-901 Form.

For J-1 status only, you will need to submit Form DS2019 (certificate of eligibility for exchange visitor J-1), which was issued to you by the designated exchange visitor program in which you will participate.

The following groups must pay the $100 fee:
A. An alien in the United States seeking a change of status to F-1, F-3, M-1, or M-3.

B. A student or exchange J-1 status visitor who is applying for a change of status from within the United States.

C. A person who is applying to reinstate his/her J-1 status after being out of status for up to 120 days.

D. An F-1, F-3, M-1, or M-3 status holder applying for reinstatement of student status; or an F-1, F-3, M-1, or M-3 status holder who had been absent from the United Stated for a period exceeding five months.

For more information, download Sevis Fee Basics (PDF).