According to the schedule, the new fee takes effect on September 1. It applies to nonimmigrant visas of types F, J, and M. However, participants in some J-1 exchange programs will pay a reduced fee of $35 or be exempted from it altogether.
The purpose of the fee is to offset the costs of further operation of SEVP, including administration and maintenance of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). The fee can be paid by credit card over the Internet, by check sent by mail, or through a third party – an educational institution or a sponsor.
SEVIS allows the Department of Homeland Security to collect and process information on foreign students and exchange visitors coming to the United States, maintaining up-to-date data that can be accessed electronically. Currently, more than 730,000 students and exchange visitors are registered in SEVIS, at more than 8,700 approved educational institutions and programs throughout the country.