Paying SEVIS Fees After the Visa Interview – Would Visa be Approved or Denied?
If you are attending F1, M or J visa interview, you should pay the SEVIS Fee before attending the Interview. But, you forgot and you want to know if you can pay SEVIS Fee after the Visa Interview?
For the most part, if you did not pay the SEVIS Fee before the interview, one of the following things could happen:
- Visa is Approved, but 221(g) is issued to pay the SEVIS fee and submit the 221(g) form and Fee Receipt
- Visa is Denied and for not paying the SEVIS before the interview
- Visa is Denied and for a host of other reasons unrelated to the SEVIS Fee
- Visa is Approved, but later denied after paying the SEVIS fee
Let’s look at an F1 Visa Interview shared by a student who did not pay the SEVIS Fee before the interview.
My case was I have attended F-1 Visa interview at the US Consulate in Chennai, India. The Visa Officer Said my F1 Visa was approved. And she kept passport with and asked me to submit my SEVIS Fee payment confirmation.
Before that, she asked me whether I had maid my SEVIS payment and I asked for the payment receipt. But, I didn’t take it with me for the interview. So, she said to submit it along with the 221(g) form.
Unfortunately, I received my passport without the F1 Visa stamp and attached with the passport was reason for rejeciton form – 214(b).
I think the F1 Visa was denied because I made the SEVIS fee payment after I came back from the Interview. It’s possible that the Visa Officer would have thought I gave a false statement that I already paid the SEVIS Fee.
But, honestly I paid my SEVIS fee in 2016 and I did not know that the SEVIS fee payment expires in 1 year. So, After reading the clear instruction again when retrieving my old SEVIS ID, I paid the SEVIS fee again. Then submitted the payment receipt along with the 221(g) form.
Now, are you wondering what will happen to your F, M or J Visa, if you forgot the pay the SEVIS Fee before the student Visa Interview?
Here is one more question related to SEVIS Fee payment.
I attended F1 visa interview on the 3rd week of July and cleared it. I’m stupid and ignorant enough to not have paid the SEVIS fee yet. I just read moments ago that one needs to pay the $200 SEVIS fees, and US homeland security’s website says that a student on F1 status has to pay it BEFORE attending the visa interview.
I’m flying in one week and I will pay the SEVIS fee today. However, I’m wondering, if I will encounter any problems at the port of entry since the payment receipt will bear a date which falls after the date of my visa interview.
This is just a couple of possible scenario related to SEVIS Fee payment. There could be more. Please check the discussion section below as well.
Pay SEVIS Fee After the Interview
Visa officers would run into applicants who did not pay the SEVIS fee time and time again. Perhaps, the applicant paid the fees and ended up transferring to the university or the SEVIS ID changed and did not transfer the SEVIS fee to the new SEVIS ID.
The Bottomline?
Pay the Fees before the visa interview.
Why do you want to give the Consular Officer a chance to deny your visa by not paying the SEVIS Fee before the visa interview?
As you can see from the examples cited above, one applicant’s F1 Visa was denied and for that, we would have to blame the student.
I would have definitely sent a cover letter while submitting the SEVIS Payment receipt explaining the reasons for paying the SEVIS fee after the interview.
And the second applicant got the Visa approval and Consular office did not notice the nonpayment of SEVIS Fee during the interview.
Resources:
- Pay the SEVIS Fee at FMJFee.com (FMJ stands for F, M and J Visa)
- Frequently Asked Questions About the SEVIS Fee
It’s hard to predict what will happen to your specific situation. If your record is squeaky clean and if the consular office says that visa is approved, and you are more likely to the passport back with the visa stamp. If you have a different experience, please do share them in the comments below.
I got my Visa approved and my Passport was collected. But returned the next 2 days because they could not see my SEVIS payment confirmation. When I went for the interview the lady checking documents said she couldn’t find my SEVIS fee confirmation but I could go ahead with my interview with the Consular Officer. I got approved the F1 visa and I submitted my passport. It came back showing 221g I have been denied under this section because I need additional document to make a final decision. They highlighted submit SEVIS confirmation back with passport. I realized that I did not transfer my SEVIS fee from my other university to the new SEVIS ID number on my Form i-20 . I just transferred the fees from the old SEVIS ID number to the new ID number of the new school and they said they would get back to me in 2 business days. I don’t know what to do or feel ? Would I get the Visa
The same condition with me.
Did you get your visa?
Hi I had my visa appointment yesterday (at the US embassy in London). I didn’t realise I hadn’t paid the SEVIS fee until the man at the 1st counter told me I hadn’t. He gave me a piece of paper with instructions on how to do it and before I got to the second counter I had already paid it. I explained to the second guy what had happened and showed him the proof on my phone but explained that since I only just paid it I don’t have printed confirmation. He said it was fine carried on asking me questions and then at the end said my visa had to go through an extra check before it would be approved. He then handed my a letter and told me I don’t need to do anything now just to wait. When I read the letter I saw that my application was REFUSED under 221g which meant extra administrative processing. I am now really stressed because the document he gave me said they do not need any more information and I have already received an email saying my passport is ready to pick up and it has only been one day. I am nervous that this means it has been rejected and don’t know what will happen until I go and pick it up which will not be until later. Has anyone else ever had this situation happen to them?
Yeah same here, did you pick up your passport?
Did you still get your visa
My visa interview is on Dec 28th.
To pay my sevis fee the Fmjfee website is on outage from dec 21 and it is already dec 24th today. All government institutions wont work on dec 25th on the eve of christmas
When should i pay my sevis fee as the website is on extented outage. Please help
What happened with the interview?
Hey, I just saw your reply to my question. So I thought to answer it anyway as it doesn’t matter now and its already too late . so the website is down to pay sevis fee comes up on dec 28, the same day I have my interview scheduled. I was in Delhi where my interview was and not carrying any money to pay the sevis fee. I can call my family to pay but they don’t know how and where to pay it online. it was 15000 rupees back then [$205]. so I asked my aunt who already stays in USA to pay my sevis fee and send me the copy of it. I attended my interview and I got the visa. Now I completed my studies and am working as an Electrical Engineer in APPLE INC. Can’t believe what a tender situation I was in . It would have been everything different if I didn’t pay my sevis fee back then on time. Maybe that’s why family is to help you in all means no matter what situation u end up in.
I forgot to pay the sevis fee but the vo gave me 214 b form what does it mean
214b means F1 Visa Rejection.
I attended visa interview today and forgot to pay my sevis. The officer gave the 221g blue form and told me to pay it at the door box. I did it right after interview. Will I get the visa? Please reply
Have u got ur visa??
I am in the same situation
Hi, I didn’t know about what sevis fee is. After the visa interview the Vo asked me to pay the sevis fee and handed over the 221 g form I attended the visa interview at Chennai consulate on may 11th. I immediately paid the sevis fee and submitted my documents to the drop box. It’s been two weeks my status still shows administrative processing. Please help what should I do. My university starts on June 4th. Is there any way I can expedite the case.?
Please contact the consulate via traveldocs support center. That’s the only way.
Have you sent it via mail ? If not send a mail if it is still on hold.
HAVE YOU GOT IT?
Please can I pay my SEVIS fee 1 day to my interview that is 24 hours.will it reflect???
Did it reflect? My interview is tomorrow. Is it okay if I pay sevis today?
I did the same thing, the visa officer told me to pay it at the application centre. Did you get the visa?
I did the same mistake. Forgot to pay the sevis fee. Realized that when my documents were verified at the counter prior to the interview with the visa officer. The lady at the counter told me that i could still go ahead n the visa officer would tell me what to do. The visa officer asked me few questions about my work etc. and then said the sevis fee wasnt reflecting. I told him i was informed about this at the docs verification counter and asked him if there was something i could about it. He went in and came back after a min or so and gave me a 221g and asked me to submit the receipt at the ofc and that he was giving me back my passport. Did that immediately after the interview n now m waiting. Fingers crossed. Any inputs would help a lot. Thnx.
I don’t think its that big a issue. I paid my sevis after the interview and things went well. I was not questioned during the interview. So i immediately paid the sevis fee after the interview. Our case files could differ, may be thats the only reason he brought it up during your interview. Things should be fine. Submit the docs listend on your case status report against your case id. If you are asked to send a travel itinerary with your passport, please attach proof that your travel plans are still valid and necessary.
I was in same situation, where i forgot to pay my SEVIS fee and went to visa interview. VO told me to pay the sevis fee. luckily VO took my passport and gave 221 g to submit SEVIS receipt by email. After two days my visa got approved.
Hey, I had a similar situation today and glad to know you got it so soon. Which consulate?
How did you know that your visa got approved?
Hey man, i made the same mistake but paid my sevis fee two hours after succesfully getting through with the interview. Did you get your visa? Or faced any problem?
even i forgot to pay SEVIS fees …..but i payed 12hrs before my VI ……i was dumb to forget important payment to US home land security….. But i can’t say the consequences of paying sevis fees after VI. Actually when u go to VI guy at the 1st counter check ur SEVIS statuts, how can he forget about checking SEVIS fee status??????
Howz it possible?? they ask for SEVIS receipt along with passport, i20 etc in VI during document submission only..