SEVIS fees for overseas students in the US to be hiked

The DHS - Department of Homeland Security has announced that the SEVIS fees for overseas students in the US will be hiked by 75%. The fee for school certification petition will be increased by 76% it added. (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System)

DHS manages the overseas students on M-1 and F-1 Study Visas. The current SEVIS fee for overseas students is $ 200 and will be increased to $ 350. The increase in fee is aimed at addressing the gaps in funding, said the DHS.

The DHS has updated the announcement on its website:

• The I-901 SEVIS Fee for M and F overseas students will increase to $350 from $200
• The I-901 SEVIS Fee for J exchange visitors in travel program participant, summer work, camp counsellor, and au pair categories will remain at $35
• The I-901 SEVIS Fee for remaining J exchange visitors will be increased to $200 from $180
• The SEVP school certification application fee for primary certification will be increased to $3,000 from $1,700

The increase in fee will be effective from 24 June 2019 at 12:00 am EDT. From this time all schools and students in the US will have to pay the hiked fee, said DHS.

J (exchange student), M, and F Visa applicants have to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee. This is prior to their application for a US Visa as an exchange visitor or student. This fee has been made mandatory by the US Congress for supporting the program office and automated system. These maintain a track of the overseas students and exchange visitors. It is to ensure that they maintain their status in the US, adds the DHS website, as quoted by the Study International.

The DHS website specifies that the Student and Exchange Visitor Program administers schools, M and F Visa category non-immigrant students and their dependents. The Department of State administers programs for exchange visitors, J-Visa category non-immigrant exchange visitors and their dependents.

Both of them utilize SEVIS for tracking and monitoring overseas students on J, M, and F Visas while studying in the US.

The hike in fee was speculated by Immigration Attorneys and educators in the US last year. They had also anticipated a host of sub-regulatory and regulatory changes to the H-1B Visa for skilled workers. It was also inclusive of practical training programs for non-immigrant students on M and F Visas.

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