SEVIS I-901 Fee Payment from Nepal: $350 Step-by-Step Guide

To pay the SEVIS I-901 fee from Nepal, go to fmjfee.com, fill in Form I-901 with the details on your I-20, and pay $350 (about Rs 53,284 at the NRB selling rate, 17 Oct 2026) by Visa, MasterCard or American Express card, or by Western Union Quick Pay. Pay at least three business days before your visa interview, then print the payment confirmation from fmjfee.com. If your visa is refused and you reapply for F-1 within 12 months, you do not pay again.

Last checked: 17 October 2026.

SEVIS I-901 fee: key facts

What the SEVIS fee is, and why you pay it

SEVIS is the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, the US government database that tracks F-1 students. It is run by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) at US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). When a US university accepts you, it creates your SEVIS record and issues Form I-20 with your SEVIS ID, a number starting with “N”.

The I-901 fee is separate from the $185 visa application fee you pay for your DS-160 interview. You pay both. ICE says students must pay the I-901 fee before applying for a visa, before entering the US at a port of entry, or before filing a change of status.

How to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee from Nepal: step by step

1. Get your I-20 first. You cannot pay without your SEVIS ID and school code, both printed on the I-20.
2. Go to the official site. Type fmjfee.com yourself. ICE names this as the only online payment site. Ignore search ads and “SEVIS payment service” websites.
3. Choose Form I-901 for F and M students.
4. Enter your details exactly as on your I-20: name, date of birth, SEVIS ID, school code, and your address. ICE says your SEVIS ID, last name and date of birth must match the I-20.
5. Pick the visa type F-1 and confirm the amount shows $350.
6. Pay. Choose card payment (enter the card details), or choose Western Union and print the coupon to take to a Western Union Quick Pay location.
7. Print or save the payment confirmation. You can reprint it any time under “Check I-901 Status / Print Payment Confirmation” using your SEVIS ID, last name and date of birth. ICE does not email or post receipts.
8. Wait at least three business days before your interview so the payment shows in the system.

You can book your visa interview before paying, but ICE recommends allowing three business days between payment and the interview.

Paying from Nepal: card limits and other practical issues

The fee must be paid in US dollars. From Nepal, families usually choose one of three routes:

• Your own international card. Many Nepali bank cards work only inside Nepal or have low limits for online foreign payments. Before you start, ask your bank in writing whether your card (often a USD-denominated or “dollar” card) is enabled for international e-commerce, what the per-transaction limit is, and whether the bank needs your I-20 or other documents to load USD for a SEVIS payment. Rules and limits differ by bank, so get the answer from your own bank.
• A relative’s card abroad. ICE allows a third party, such as a parent, relative, sponsor or school, to pay. The form still carries your details. ICE says you should confirm with your DSO that the payment went through, and refunds for card payments go back to whoever paid.
• Western Union Quick Pay. ICE lists this as a payment method. You first complete the form online to get a coupon number, then pay through Western Union. Ask the Western Union agent to confirm Quick Pay for “I-901” is available at that branch.

Card payments can fail for simple reasons: an OTP not reaching your phone, a daily limit, or the bank blocking an unknown foreign merchant. If a payment fails, check your bank statement before trying again. ICE rejects overpayments, and a refund for a duplicate payment has to be requested within 90 days.

Be careful who pays for you. ICE warns about fraudulent I-901 payments and chargebacks. If a payment is reversed because the card was not used legitimately, students who receive an ICE “Notice to Students and Exchange Visitors” must pay within 30 days, or risk termination of their SEVIS record and a fraud flag at the port of entry. Never let an agent pay with a card you do not know, even at a “discount”. Check any agent with our consultancy red flag test.

Refunds, reuse after refusal, and transfers

The ICE I-901 FAQ is clear on three situations every Nepali student should know:

• Visa refused (for example under 214(b)). No refund. But if you reapply for the same visa type within 12 months of your first payment, you do not pay again. Bring the old receipt.
• New I-20 with a new SEVIS ID (for example, you switch universities after a refusal). You can ask for a fee transfer to the new SEVIS ID, as long as you have not been issued a visa and the fee is the same amount. Only the student can request it, at fmjfee.com or by email to fmjfee.sevis@ice.dhs.gov with “Fee Transfer” in the subject.
• Paid twice or by mistake. A refund is possible only for duplicate or erroneous payments, and you must request it within 90 days of the payment.

ICE says no refund is given if you decide not to come to the US, your visa is denied, or you are refused entry. If more than 12 months pass after a refusal, plan to pay $350 again.

Timing: SEVIS fee vs DS-160 and interview

A simple order that avoids problems:

1. Receive your I-20 and check every detail on it.
2. Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee and save the confirmation.
3. Complete the DS-160 and pay the $185 visa application fee (about Rs 28,164).
4. Book your interview at the US Embassy Kathmandu, at least three business days after the SEVIS payment.
5. Bring the SEVIS confirmation, I-20, DS-160 confirmation and passport to the interview. Use our F-1 interview documents checklist.

Together, the SEVIS fee and visa fee come to $535, about Rs 81,448 at the NRB selling rate on 17 Oct 2026. Both are on top of the money you show for tuition and living costs. Plan the full amount with our student visa money calculator.

Common SEVIS fee mistakes

• Paying on a lookalike website that charges an extra “service fee”. Use fmjfee.com.
• Typing the SEVIS ID wrongly, or using an old I-20’s ID after the school issued a new one.
• Name order mix-ups (surname and given name swapped). Copy the I-20 exactly.
• Paying the day before the interview, leaving no time for verification.
• Paying twice after a card error, without checking the statement first.
• Paying again after a refusal when the 12-month rule means you did not need to.
• Letting someone else pay with an unknown card, which can trigger a fraud notice later.

What to do next

• Keep printed and digital copies of your I-901 confirmation. You will also need it at US entry and for later applications.
• Prepare your money proof with our F-1 financial documents guide.
• Read the full process in our F-1 student visa from Nepal guide.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the SEVIS fee for F-1 students in 2026?
$350, according to ICE. That is about Rs 53,284 at the NRB selling rate on 17 Oct 2026.

Can I pay the SEVIS fee with a Nepali debit card?
ICE accepts Visa and MasterCard debit cards and Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit cards on fmjfee.com. Whether your Nepali card works for international online payments, and up to what limit, depends on your bank, so ask them first.

Can my relative in the US pay my SEVIS fee?
Yes. ICE allows a third party to pay. The form must still carry your own SEVIS ID, name and date of birth.

Do I pay the SEVIS fee again after a visa refusal?
No, if you reapply for the same visa type within 12 months of the original payment. If you get a new I-20 with a new SEVIS ID, request a fee transfer.

Is the SEVIS fee refundable if my visa is denied?
No. Refunds are only for duplicate or mistaken payments, requested within 90 days.

How many days before the interview should I pay the SEVIS fee?
ICE recommends at least three business days before the interview.

Related guides

• DS-160 Form Guide for F-1 Students from Nepal (2026)
• 221(g) Administrative Processing for F-1: What Nepali Students Do
• F-1 Visa 214(b) Refusal: What It Means and How to Reapply

Sources

• I-901 SEVIS Fee – ICE (fee amounts)
• I-901 SEVIS Fee frequently asked questions – ICE
• Official I-901 payment website – fmjfee.com
• Student visa – travel.state.gov
• Fees for visa services – travel.state.gov

Last checked: 17 October 2026. This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Check fmjfee.com before you pay.