LeapScholar

How much is the SEVIS fee I need to pay if I am on a J-1 exchange visa?

24 Sept 2026 · Answered by Swastika Ghosh · 1 min read
Quick Answer verified

If you are a J-1 exchange visitor, your SEVIS fee currently comes to USD 220, lower than the USD 350 that F and M students pay. This fee is fixed only in US dollars, so treat any rupee figure you see online as an estimate, not the official cost.

Swastika Ghosh
Swastika Ghosh Verified
Leap Scholar's Counsellor
View Profile →

If you are on a J-1 exchange visitor program, your SEVIS fee is currently USD 220, which is lower than what F and M students pay. This amount is fixed only in dollars, so you should not rely on any rupee conversion you see quoted elsewhere.

SEVIS Fee By Visa Category

Visa CategorySEVIS Fee
F and M studentsUSD 350
J-1 exchange visitorsUSD 220

Why Rupee Figures Online Can Mislead You

You will often see rupee amounts attached to these dollar fees, but those are unofficial, exchange-rate-based estimates rather than numbers the government has actually fixed. Your real cost depends on the conversion rate applied on the day you pay.

My Advice

Always pay your SEVIS fee in USD through the official portal and check the live conversion rate your card or bank applies, rather than trusting a rupee figure you saw on a webpage weeks earlier. This avoids any surprise shortfall on payment day.

Not sure which documents your US visa needs?

Interview prep, funds proof and timelines. Get a checklist for your case.

4.7/5 Google 🎓 25K+ admits
Get My Visa Checklist

More Student visa questions

More USA questions

🎓 Not sure what your US visa needs? Get My Checklist