All F-1 and J-1 students must pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee before the Department of State issues the visa. You can find additional information on the Study in the States website.

Pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee online at FMJfee.com.

• You must pay this fee before your visa interview and travel.
• Keep the receipt with your important immigration documents.

• Use the official portal  - Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) website - to access the DS‑160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application.
• Review official DS-160 Instructions & FAQs.
• Save your Application ID and security questions. You will need them to retrieve your application.

• Complete the DS-160 yourself. Consular officers evaluate your credibility. Errors made by agents or third parties can cause delays or refusals.
• Use your legal name. Enter your name exactly as it appears in your passport and on your I-20/DS-2019.
• Be accurate and consistent. Ensure all dates, addresses, biographical details, and employment (or school history) match your records.
• Save your work frequently. The CEAC system will time out after 20 minutes of inactivity.
• Use the UB contact information below if you do not have a U.S. address yet:
  • Name: Kathryn Tudini
  • Email: iss@buffalo.edu
  • Phone: +1-716-645-2258
• Save your Application ID and security questions. You will need them to retrieve your application.
• Bring or save a copy of your responses before submitting.
• Electronically sign the form yourself, even if someone else helped you prepare it.

• Upload your photo that follows official U.S. visa photo requirements.

• List every social media platform you have used in the past 5 years, even if inactive. 
• Include all user names, handles, and URLs if requested.
• Ensure your online information (e.g., LinkedIn dates) matches your DS‑160 and interview answers.

• You must schedule your visa interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country of nationality or residence.
  • Read the Department of State announcement for additional details.
• Review the Department of State’s Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country page for details on the maximum visa validity periods and number of permitted entries, as well as whether additional fees may be required after visa approval.
• Use the official country site (USTravelDocs or AIS) to pay the MRV fee and schedule your visa appointment.
• Schedule your interview at least 1 month before the intended date of entry to the U.S.
  • Review the Department of State’s information on Visa Appointment Wait Times and Global Visa Wait Times.
  • If slots are not available, schedule the earliest date you can, then request an expedited interview appointment.

• Expect your interview to be in English. Be prepared to answer questions clearly and confidently in English. This helps the officer assess your readiness to study in the United States.
• Interviews are usually short (1–3 minutes). Practice giving concise answers.
• Expect only a few focused questions. Most questions relate to your academic plans, finances, and future goals. During the interview, the officer is verifying that:
  1. You are a genuine student with a clear academic purpose.
  2. You have sufficient funding for tuition and living expenses.
  3. You have strong ties to your home country and intend to return after completing your program.
• Effective April 28, 2026, consular officers are now required to ask all nonimmigrant visa applicants, including F and J visa applicants, whether they have experienced harm in their home country and whether they fear returning. Applicants who answer "yes" to either question, or who decline to answer, will be denied a nonimmigrant visa. If you have concerns about how these questions may apply to your personal situation, we strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified immigration attorney before your interview.
• You may not be asked for every document. The officers generally make their decision primarily based on your verbal responses and application materials.

• Be honest and answer consistently with the information in your documents.
• Avoid memorized scripts; speak calmly, confidently, and naturally.
• Avoid vague responses; prepare genuine answers that reflect your personal motivation, such as why you chose to study in the U.S., at UB, or in your specific program. 
• Prepare to explain your post-graduation plans and how your U.S. degree will benefit you in your home country.

• Arrive early.
• Dress neatly and professionally.
• Keep documents easily accessible.
• Turn off your phone.
• Follow all security instructions.

You can check your status on the U.S. Department of State Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) website.

• Your passport will be kept by the embassy/consulate so the visa can be printed.
• Visa processing time typically takes a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the location.

• Verify that the information on the visa is accurate.
• Plan your travel to Buffalo. 
  • New students, start by visiting our Check-in & Arrival page. 

You will follow the same process as above. In addition to the documents listed above, we recommend you also bring:

• your UB transcripts.
• your Enrollment Verification Certificate, for additional proof of your full-time student status.

If you have been out of the U.S. for more than 5 months, you may need to pay the SEVIS fee again. Review the links below to determine whether or not you must pay the SEVIS fee.

If you have a valid F-1 visa stamp in your passport, you may be able to use that stamp to re-enter the United States. You are encouraged to contact the closest U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country to inquire as to whether or not you may use a visa stamp associated with your previous SEVIS record with a new document to enter the United States. Please note that Customs and Border Protection makes the final decision on your eligibility to enter the U.S. and can deny entry.

Dealing with a visa problem is stressful, especially when your educational plans are affected. While ISS cannot influence decisions made by U.S. embassies and consulates, we want to help you understand what these decisions mean for your plans to study at UB and guide you as you take your next steps.

The information contained in this website is provided as a service to the international students, faculty, staff, employees and administrators of the University at Buffalo, and does not constitute legal advice on any immigration, tax or other matter. We try to provide useful information, but we make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to this website or any associated site.

As legal advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case, and laws are constantly changing, nothing provided herein should be used as a substitute for the advice of competent counsel. Neither the University at Buffalo nor the Office of International Student Services is responsible for any errors or omissions contained in this website, or for the results obtained from the use of this information.