The SEVIS fee is a one-time fee that covers the costs of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Regulation requires all prospective scholars and student interns to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee before the Department of State issues you a visa.
To obtain your visa, you will need a printed receipt indicating that you have paid the SEVIS I-901 fee. This fee must be paid before you arrive for your visa interview. You should keep receipt of payment with your other immigration documents.
To pay the SEVIS I-901 fee, visit FMJfee.com
Check the Paying the I-901 SEVIS Fee page from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for more information.
Contact the nearest US Embassy or Consulate and schedule an interview appointment for a J-1 visa. Find your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Health insurance is required for all scholars, student interns and dependents in J-1 and J-2 status. All J-1 scholars and student interns will be required to show proof of insurance shortly after their arrival.
If your J-2 dependents will arrive in the U.S. with you, your proof of health insurance must confirm their enrollment as well.
If your J-2 dependents will join later in your program, you will need to upload their proof of health insurance in MyOISS portal when they arrive.
If you will be an employee of MSU, then your health insurance may be covered by your host department. If you are not sure whether your host department will provide insurance, please ask your host department.
If your health insurance is not provided by your host department, you must purchase the Blue Care Network (BCN) policy for yourself and your J-2 dependents.
Your host department will assist you in finding permanent housing. Please tell your department about your housing preferences. Or you can also search for housing on your own.
We do not recommend that you purchase plane tickets until your J-1 visa is granted. When you are shopping for tickets, please note that your flight may land in either Lansing or Detroit.
If your flight arrives in Detroit, buy a one-way ticket, in advance, to ride on the Michigan Flyer bus from the Detroit Metropolitan Airport to the East Lansing Marriott. We do not recommend taking a taxi because it is a very expensive two-hour drive from Detroit to East Lansing. Taxis will be available at the bus stop in East Lansing to take you to your temporary hotel or permanent residence.
If your flight arrives in Lansing, taxis will be available to take you to your temporary hotel or permanent residence.
You must complete your immigration check-in via MyOISS portal as soon as possible after arrival.
To complete your check-in, you will need to provide the following information and upload the following documents into the MyOISS portal:
You may not yet have a residential address or a U.S. telephone number right away. You can provide a temporary or hotel address during check-in.
When you move to a permanent residential address and get a U.S. telephone number, you must report this to OISS within 10 days of the change via MyOISS portal.
If you get an MSU email account you must report your MSU email viaMyOISS portal.
You will be required to submit proof of enrollment into an MSU insurance policy within 30 days after completing immigration check-in.
Information about J-1 orientation will be sent to you by email closer to the start date of your program at MSU.
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