In most cases, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee of $220 must be paid for the exchange visitor (EV) before the UH program can begin. It may be paid by the EV or another person, either in the U.S. or abroad, through the SEVIS I-901 Fee Processing website using a credit card or an ACH bank transaction. After the fee is paid, the EV prints the receipt to present with a visa application or Form I-539.

Failure to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee can result in a J-1 visa denial by a U.S. embassy or consulate or refusal of J-1 admission at a U.S. port of entry.

The SEVIS I-901 fee must be paid by:

• Anyone applying for a J-1 visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate to begin participating in a new exchange visitor program with a sponsor that does not have a G-1, G-2, or G-3 program code;
• Any Canadian or Bermudian who is applying for J-1 admission at a U.S. port of entry to begin participating in a new exchange visitor program with a sponsor that does not have a G-1, G-2, or G-3 program code;
• Anyone who is in the U.S. applying with USCIS for a change to J-1 status from another nonimmigrant status (e.g., F-1); and
• An EV who is transferring to UH from a federal government sponsor with a G-1, G-2, or G-3 program code.

The SEVIS I-901 fee does not need to be paid by:

• J-2 dependents;
• Someone who paid the SEVIS I-901 fee, but was denied a J-1 visa by a U.S. embassy/consulate, if they are applying for a second visa in the same J-1 category (e.g., research scholar) within 12 months of the first visa denial;
• An EV who is applying for a visa to return to the U.S. to continue an ongoing J-1 program with the same sponsor and in which status has been maintained;
• An EV transferring to UH in the same J-1 category (e.g., research scholar) from a sponsor without a G-1, G-2, or G-3 program code; and
• An EV applying for a Form DS-2019 extension in the same program.

The deadlines to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee are:

Circumstances	Deadlines
Applying for a J-1 visa and entry from outside the U.S.	Citizens of Canada and Bermuda must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee and print a receipt at least three business days before applying for J-1 admission at a U.S. port of entry. The SEVIS I-901 fee cannot be paid at U.S. ports of entry. Citizens of all other countries must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee and print a receipt at least three business days before applying for J-1 visas at U.S. embassies or consulates. The SEVIS I-901 fee cannot be paid at U.S. embassies and consulates.
Applying for an in-country change of status to J-1 with USCIS.	EV must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee after receiving the Form DS-2019, but before submitting the Form I-539 to USCIS. Attach a copy of the SEVIS I-901 fee receipt to the Form I-539.
Transferring to UH from a G-1, G-2, or G-3 program.	EV must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee after receiving the Form DS-2019 at the FSIS registration/orientation session. The fee must be paid within 30 days after the effective date of the transfer.