US Student Visa Cost: Application, SEVIS, and Integrity Fees

A U.S. student visa costs most F-1 applicants at least $535 in mandatory government fees: a $185 visa application fee paid to the Department of State and a $350 SEVIS fee paid to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. The total student visa USA cost can climb higher depending on your nationality, your visa category, and school requirements like health insurance. A new $250 visa integrity fee is also on the books, though its collection mechanism was still pending as of mid-2026.

The $185 Visa Application Fee

Every F-1 or M-1 applicant pays a $185 nonimmigrant visa application processing fee to the U.S. Department of State.¹ It is sometimes called the MRV (machine-readable visa) fee, and it is non-refundable even if the visa is denied.² If you are denied and decide to reapply, you pay the full $185 again.

How you pay depends on the embassy or consulate where you interview. The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, for example, accepts bank deposits in local currency or card payments in U.S. dollars through an online scheduling portal.³ Check the website of your specific consulate for its procedure.

The $350 SEVIS Fee

On top of the application fee, prospective F-1 and M-1 students pay a $350 I-901 fee to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, the arm of Immigration and Customs Enforcement that runs the SEVIS database tracking international students.⁴ The amount has been $350 since June 24, 2019.⁵

How and When To Pay

All SEVIS payments go through the government portal at FMJfee.com. You will need your SEVIS ID number and school code from Form I-20. Most applicants can pay by credit card, but students from Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Gambia must use a money order, Western Union Quick Pay, or a certified check drawn on a U.S. bank.⁶ Schools and other third parties can pay on your behalf under the same rules.

Pay before your visa interview, and allow at least three business days for the payment to be verified.⁵ SEVP no longer mails paper receipts; you print the confirmation from FMJfee.com and bring it to the interview.⁴

Who Is Exempt

There are no waivers for the SEVIS fee, but several categories are exempt entirely:⁵

Spouses and minor children applying for F-2 or M-2 dependent visas (they still pay the $185 application fee and need their own Form I-20).
F-1 students in lawful status transferring between U.S. schools.⁷
Government-sponsored J-1 exchange visitors with a program code beginning G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-7.
Applicants reapplying for the same visa type within 12 months of the original SEVIS fee payment after a denial.

Country-Specific Issuance (Reciprocity) Fee

After a visa is approved at the interview, some applicants owe an additional issuance fee tied to their country of citizenship. The charge is reciprocal: when a foreign government charges U.S. citizens for a similar visa, the United States imposes a matching fee on that country’s nationals.⁸ For many countries the fee is zero; for others it can add several hundred dollars.

To look up your amount, go to the State Department’s Visa Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country page, select your country, click “Visa Classifications,” and choose F-1 or M-1 from the drop-down.⁹

The New $250 Visa Integrity Fee

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), passed by Congress in July 2025, created a new $250 visa integrity fee for nonimmigrant visa applicants, including F-1 and J-1 applicants and their dependents.¹⁰ The fee is subject to annual adjustments. As of mid-2026, the specific collection mechanism had not been published in the Federal Register, so monitor the State Department and your school’s international student office for updates on when and how it will be charged.

Costs for F-2 Dependents

Spouses and minor children of an F-1 student apply for F-2 visas. Each dependent pays the $185 application fee and needs a separate Form I-20 from the school, but they are exempt from the $350 SEVIS fee.¹¹ If a dependent later changes status to F-1 to enroll in their own program, the full SEVIS fee becomes due at that point.

How M-1 and J-1 Costs Compare

M-1 vocational student visa fees are identical to F-1 fees for both the application and the SEVIS charge.¹² J-1 exchange visitors pay the same $185 application fee but a lower $220 SEVIS fee, and participants in summer work/travel, au pair, or camp counselor programs pay just $35.⁵

Health Insurance

Health insurance is not a federal requirement for F-1 visa holders, but nearly all U.S. universities require international students to carry coverage before enrolling in classes. Some schools mandate enrollment in their own plan with no option to substitute outside insurance. Monthly premiums range roughly from $30 to over $400 depending on the institution, location, age, and coverage level.¹³ J-1 holders face a different rule: federal regulations require them to maintain insurance meeting minimum thresholds, including at least $100,000 in medical benefits per accident or illness.

Total F-1 Cost at a Glance

DS-160 visa application fee: $185, paid to the State Department, non-refundable.¹
I-901 SEVIS fee: $350, paid to SEVP through FMJfee.com.⁴
Visa issuance (reciprocity) fee: $0 to several hundred dollars, depending on nationality.
Visa integrity fee: $250, enacted but with collection pending as of mid-2026.¹⁰
Health insurance: school-set, commonly $30 to $400 per month.¹³

Budget the $535 baseline as certain, then layer in any reciprocity charge for your country, the integrity fee once it becomes collectible, and whatever insurance premium your school requires.

1
U.S. Department of State. Fees for Visa Services
2
U.S. Department of State. Visa Denials
3
U.S. Embassy in Nigeria. Important Visa Information
4
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. I-901 SEVIS Fee
5
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. I-901 SEVIS Fee FAQ
6
Study in the States. Paying the I-901 SEVIS Fee
7
Indiana University Office of International Services. SEVIS Fee
8
U.S. Embassy in Thailand. Nonimmigrant Visa Issuance Reciprocity Fees
9
U.S. Department of State. Visa Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country
10
Dartmouth College Office of Visa and Immigration Services. Federal Immigration Law and Policy Changes
11
U.S. Immigration and Computer Enforcement. I-901 SEVIS Fee FAQ
12
U.S. Department of State. Student Visa
13
Shorelight. All About International College Student Health Insurance