SEVP Recertification Payment

SEVP certification is a process where the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) adjudicates whether your school meets Federal regulations that govern school certification and nonimmigrant students. Once your school is certified, it will be eligible to issue Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, to international students. SEVP certification is a complex process requiring a great deal of time, energy, and documentation. To be re-certified, your school must submit a complete recertification package to SEVP by the CED listed on your SEVIS record. If you do not submit a complete recertification package by the CED, your school will be withdrawn from SEVIS. You should submit a complete package within 180 days of your CED to avoid this.

If you have submitted a complete recertification package, you will receive a notice of confirmation from SEVP that your school’s submission was received. Then, you will be assigned a case analyst and begin the review process. During this time, you should continue to follow the instructions provided by your case analyst and review any RFEs you receive from SEVP. If you have any questions about the recertification process, you can contact your case analyst by email.

How Much is the Site Visit Fee for SEVP?

• Petition fee: $3,000
• The SEVP recertification filing fee: $1,250
• Site visit fee (per campus): $655

In order for an institution to be authorized by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enroll F and M nonimmigrant students, it must go through the SEVP certification process. In addition to the basic filing fee of $1,250, a site visit fee of $655 must be paid to conduct the inspection (The filing fee to apply for SEVP certification is $3,000). The inspection ensures that the school complies with federal regulations regarding enrolling students and that the designated school official (DSO) has the proper training to do so.

After the site visit is complete, the DSO/PDSO will receive an email with the results of the inspection. If the petition is approved, the DSO/PDSO will be given a new DS-260 form and can start enrolling students. If the petition is denied, the DSO/PDSO will be notified of why and provided with instructions on how to appeal the decision. Once the DS-260 is received by SEVP, it will be reviewed by the School Certification Branch (SCB). If any issues are found, the DSO/PDSO will be provided with an RFE and given a certain time frame to submit the necessary documentation. Failure to do so may result in a denial of the petition for “lack of prosecution” or abandonment.