The SEVIS fee cannot be paid to the University or the Embassy. This fee must be paid to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). You may pay online with a credit card, Western Union, or by mail. The University will send instructions with your Form I-20. You can pay the fee, or someone else can pay the fee for you. It does not matter if the fee is paid in the United States or outside of the United States. After you pay the fee, print your receipt immediately.
Your payment of the SEVIS fee will remain on the records for 12 months and be useful if you wish to apply again.
We recommend that once you pay the fee, print your receipt immediately and take it with you to your appointment. You may want to wait at least 3 to 5 days after paying the fee for the data to reach the Department of Homeland Security system.
Check your I-20, and it will state the earliest admission date that you can arrive.
Before going to the embassy, the first thing you want to do is decide which school to attend. If you choose to attend a school other than the school whose I-20 you used for visa issuance, please contact the school whose I-20 you used to enter the United States.
International students in F-1 status who are maintaining legal student status and are enrolled for a full course of study at the University may work on-campus for no more than 20 hours per week while school is in session. During holidays and vacation periods, you may work full time.
Yes. Your spouse will have F-2 status and will be able to attend school but on a part-time basis. If your spouse wants to attend school as a full-time student, your spouse will need to apply for a change of status to F-1.
No. Your spouse on F-2 status will not be able to work in the United States, and your spouse will not be eligible for a social security number.
You must be eligible to work in the U.S. (on-campus employment). You must be registered for a full course of study; you must have a job offer letter. International students will need the following documentation to apply for a Social Security account number. You will need the following information, a letter from the hiring department, a letter from an international student advisor, & immigration documents. Please Note: F-2 dependents of F-1 students are not eligible for a social security account number. F-2 dependents are not eligible for employment in the United States. Further details can be found under the Social Security Administration.
To receive your driver’s license, you must do the following; an individual must present two documents from the drop-down menu below. Both documents must contain the individual’s name and residential address. One of the documents must verify that the individual has lived in Texas for at least 30 days. Individuals who are surrendering a valid, unexpired driver license from another state, or applying for a commercial driver license, must still present proof of residency; however, the 30-day requirement is waived. Individuals who are unable to provide two acceptable documents may be eligible to complete a Texas Residency Affidavit. If you have additional questions, you can contact an International Student Advisor at 936-261-2132 or by email at iss@pvamu.edu.