Can I Get a Refund for My I-901 SEVIS Fee?
After paying the I-901 SEVIS fee, some students and exchange visitors find their plans change. A common question we receive is, "Can I get my SEVIS fee back?" The short answer is: usually not, but there are exceptions.
The General Rule: SEVIS Fees are Non-Refundable
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) states that the I-901 SEVIS fee is non-refundable. If your visa is denied, or you decide not to travel to the U.S., you will not get your money back.
Exceptions to the Rule
There are only a few very specific situations where a refund might be considered:
- Duplicate Payments: If you accidentally paid the fee more than once for the same SEVIS ID, you can apply for a refund of the extra payment.
- Payment by Another Party: If you paid the fee, and your U.S.-sponsored program (with a program code starting with G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-7) also paid it on your behalf, you may request a refund.
What About SEVIS Fee Transfers?
While refunds are rare, transferring a fee is more common. You can transfer your SEVIS fee payment to a new SEVIS ID under certain conditions:
- If your visa is denied: You can apply your paid fee to a new visa application within 12 months of the initial fee payment. This applies if you are reapplying for the same program or a different one.
- Change of School/Program: If you decide to attend a different school or program before entering the U.S., you can transfer the fee to your new I-20 or DS-2019.
Fee transfers are not automatic. You must contact SEVP to request a fee transfer.
How this works with SEVISmate
We complete the payment you pay us to make, so refunds are uncommon. When one does apply, a non-refundable processing and transfer fee is kept to cover the payment, transfer, and conversion costs already charged on your transaction. Once we have paid the SEVIS fee into the official system, that part cannot be returned by us. A payment can take a little time to show in your SEVIS record after it is submitted. That timing is set by the official system and clears on its own, so a short delay is normal and not a reason for a refund. Our service fee covers the work of handling your payment and is non-refundable once we begin. Full terms are in our Terms of Service.
Pay in your local currency and we settle the I-901 fee and send your official receipt.
Pay the SEVIS fee in your local currency