9/10/2008

The DHS is making a final rule to adjust the fees for SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) school certification petition fee and the application fee for nonimmigrants seeking to become academic (F visa) or vocational (M visa) students, or exchange visitors (J visa). 

This proposed rule would; adjust the fees for schools seeking to admit F or M students; adjust the fees paid by individual F, M, or J nonimmigrants; implement mandatory review of fees collected by SEVP as follows:

• School certification petition: $1700, plus $655 for each site

• Each F or M student: $200

• Most J exchange visitors: $180

• Exchange visitors seeking admission as au pairs, camp counselors, and summer work/travel program participants: $35.

DHS is targeting to make this rule effective at the beginning of fiscal year 2009, on October 1, 2008. The rule also establishes oversight and recertification of schools for attendance by F or M students and procedures for schools to submit their recertification petitions, add a provision allowing a school to voluntarily withdraw from its certification, and clarify procedures for school operation with regard to F or M students during recertification and following a denial of recertification or a withdrawal of certification. 

Further, the rule will remove obsolete provisions used prior to implementation of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), a Web-enabled database that provides current information on F, M, and J nonimmigrants in the United States. Please stay tuned to this website for development of this rule-making process. This final rule is under review by OMB since August 19, 2008.