Canadian students who will study in U.S. need to pay fee before crossing border
Sent in tuition and fees. Check. Bought dorm and school supplies. Check. Have transportation planned to go to U.S. university next week. Check. Paid Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee… WHAT?!
There’s a lot of planning and execution when Canadian students enroll at a university in the United States – let alone everything that it takes to get there. Each U.S. university that accepts Canadian students should have a representative that will guide and direct foreign students in what they need to do to start classes there. Unfortunately, some representatives may not know everything you need to know to get your F-1 student visa.
We recently received a call from a father of a Canadian student who is going to a university in the New York City area. He said he’s getting conflicting information from the school and other sources on whether his son needs to get a visa at a U.S. Embassy in Canada or if he can simply cross the border by showing his enrollment papers.
It’s not that hard or that easy, but it’s pretty simple.
First, Canadians attending university in the U.S. do not need a visa from a U.S. Embassy, but they do need an I-94 card, which is only issued at the border or airport upon entry. Students must present a valid I-20, evidence of ability to pay for school and living expenses, and evidence of paying the $200 SEVIS fee. The fee can be paid by mail, courier or online.
We s uggest you complete the form and pay online because you will be able to print out a receipt immediately. Do not exit the receipt page until you have successfully printed the receipt.
The above is not an exhaustive list of what is required for those entering on the F-1, so it’s best to review the following links for information that is pertinent to your specific situation.
For more information, visit:
www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm
