Step 4: Complete your Pre-Arrival Steps | International Student and Scholar Services

Paying the SEVIS I-901 Fee

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) I-901 fee is a paid to the U.S government to support the Department of Homeland Security’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program which manages SEVIS. The SEVIS I-901 fee must be paid at least 3 business days prior to applying for a visa stamp at a U.S. consulate of embassy. Those exempt from the visa requirements (Citizens of Canada and Bermuda) must pay the SEVIS fee at least 3 business days prior to applying for admission at a U.S. port of entry.

ISSS recommends applicants apply and pay the fee online by credit or debit card; however, applicants can use alternative payment options such as Western Union. More information can be found on the SEVIS I-901 fee processing website. If you apply and pay online, print the confirmation receipt to present first at your visa appointment, and later at the U.S. port of entry.

NOTE: If paying by Western Union, please complete Form I-901 and receive a coupon before going to Western Union. Students will need the coupon to pay the fee at the Western Union office.

NOTE for students from Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and The Gambia: Please be aware that the system is currently unable to accept SEVIS I-901 fee payments by credit card on behalf of students from the above listed countries. Citizens of these countries who attempt to make a credit card payment will receive an error message. Students and Scholars from these countries will be required to use alternative payment options.

Complete the I-901 form and pay the fee*:

F-1 Students: $350.00
J-1 Students: $220.00 (fee may be less for a student whose J-1 program is sponsored by the U.S. government)

*Fees may be subject to change.

Once you have paid the SEVIS I-901 fee, log in to the ISSS Portal to upload a copy of your fee payment receipt. Navigate to the Admitted/New Student Checklist and complete the Upload a Copy of your SEVIS Fee Receipt form under Complete your Pre-Arrival Steps.

Obtaining the F-1 or J-1 Visa

All students requesting admission to the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status are required to have a visa stamp in their passport, except for Canadian and Bermudian citizens who are exempt from this requirement. Applicants for F and J visas may require an appointment at a U.S. embassy or consulate. The visa cannot be issued more than 120 days prior to the program start date as listed on the Form I-20 or DS-2019. Note: Some students may be eligible for a waiver of the in-person interview requirement, which is up to the discretion of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Check the U.S. Department of State website for a list of U.S. Embassies. Visit the website of the embassy or consulate where you plan to apply for your visa (or contact them directly via phone or email) if you have questions about current procedures, required documents, how to make an appointment, and operating hours. Based on conditions at each U.S. consular post, some embassies/consulates may have limited non-immigrant visa services, or could at times be closed.

Visa wait times for an appointment interview may be several weeks. Security clearances may be necessary for some applicants and those procedures have recently been adding 6-8 weeks to normal processing times. Please plan to apply early. For tips on applying for a U.S. visa, see the information on the NAFSA webpae.

Please review to ensure the accuracy and completeness of your documents before presenting them to a consular officer. Thorough scrutiny of documentation can be expected, including social media accounts which should be made public for review.

Visa Approval

Once your F-1 or J-1 visa has been approved and you have received your visa in your passport, log in to the ISSS Portal to upload a copy of this document. Students should complete the Upload a copy of your Visa Stamp e-form in the Admitted/New Student Checklist

Visa Denials

If denied a visa, students should receive the reason for denial in writing from the consular officer and should provide this documentation to ISSS.

Entering the U.S.

Once a student has obtained an F-1 or J-1 visa stamp in the passport, he or she may apply for admission to the U.S. at a port of entry up to 30 days prior to the Program Start Date on the Form I-20 or Form DS-2019. For students with a Form I-20, the “Earliest Admission Date” located in the “Program of Study” box indicates the first day you may enter the U.S. in F-1 status. Students should not try to enter the U.S. after the program start date.

When traveling to the U.S., students should have the following documents available and with them in their carry-on luggage:

Printed and signed Form I-20 (for F-1 students) or Form DS-2019 (for J-1 students). Dependents (spouse and/or children) require separate forms I-20 or DS-2019 for entry in F-2 or J-2 dependent status.
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Passport valid at least 6 months beyond date of entry to the U.S.
Other Supporting Documentation:
- letter of admission to UNC-CH
- financial documents including departmental award letter, scholarship notification, bank statements and letters of financial support
- school transcripts
- marriage certificate and birth certificates (for children) if applicable

Please review to ensure the accuracy and completeness of your documents before presenting them to an immigration inspector. Thorough scrutiny of documentation can be expected.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may require additional information before admitting non-immigrants to the U.S. Typically, additional questioning happens in “secondary inspections.” Once the officer is satisfied that the applicant meets the requirements for entry into the U.S. in the requested immigration status, the individual may be admitted to the U.S. Please allow sufficient time for clearing customs when arranging connecting flights to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) from the U.S. port of entry. If sufficient documentation is not provided, a student may be denied entry and have to travel back home, or may be granted temporary entry and given 30 days to supply required additional documentation. In those cases Form I-515A “Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor” will be issued by CBP upon entry. Students issued Form I-515A should contact ISSS immediately for assistance.

Form I-94

At the port of entry, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will enter the student’s information into a database to electronically record his or her arrival to the U.S. This entry will create the student’s Form I-94 (arrival record). Individuals who arrive by air or sea will need to access their Form I-94 online on the CBP website and print the I-94 to keep with their other important immigration documents. Those who arrive through land ports may receive a paper Form I-94A, which may be stapled into the passport. The I-94 (or I-94A) includes biographical information, date and class of admission, and the expiration date of the authorized stay in the U.S. The I-94 is an essential document used in the verification of employment authorization, application for a social security number, and application for a North Carolina driver’s license, in addition to other purposes. The Form I-94 will be required to complete ISSS Student Check-In.