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Immigration Fees

Updated March 3, 2022

Visa processing for international scholars and employees will typically incur the following types of fees:

  1. International Center processing fees to support the International Center's immigration services and advising for international employees and scholars
  2. US Department of Homeland Security filing fees, if Tufts is required to file a petition to sponsor an employee
  3. SEVIS and visa application fees paid by the individual scholar or employee prior to applying for a visa at US consulate and/or entering the US in a non-immigrant status

These fees do NOT include incidental costs such as express mail charges, passport photo or application fees, photocopying or document reproduction fees, fees for translation of foreign language documents, or fees for dependent family members accompanying the individual employee or scholar. In most cases the department is responsible for any administrative costs incurred out of business necessity, while the individual employee is responsible for other costs relating to their personal immigration and educational records and personal and family travel.

For information about the costs of sponsoring employees for US permanent residents, refer to the section on Sponsoring Permanent Residents.

Fee Payment Methods

International Center fees: Departments will be assessed International Center fees through IDRs once the International Center has issued visa documents for international scholars and employees.

  • Self-funded J-1 scholars who are paying the International Center J-1 processing fee directly should do so using Flywire. The International Center has partnered with Flywire to streamline visa request fee payments for self-funded scholars. Flywire offers multiple payment options and excellent foreign exchange rates. Scholars who are already in the US may pay by a US bank check made payable to "The Trustees of Tufts College."

US government filing fees: Departments will receive instructions from the International Center for payment of required US Department of Homeland Security or other filing fees for individual sponsorship cases. In most cases, Homeland Security fees must be paid by check made payable to the "US Department of Homeland Security"; where multiple fees are required, each fee must be paid by a separate check issued for the correct fee amount.

Refund Policy

International Center processing fees are final and non-refundable once the International Center issues a Form DS-2019 (for J-1 scholars) or Labor Condition Application (for H-1B temporary workers and E-3 Australian specialty occupation workers). Prior to the issuance of these documents, the sponsoring department may ask that a J-1 or H-1B request be withdrawn with no charge to the department or individual self-funded J-1 scholars.

Fee Schedule by Visa Category

International Center Fees

International Center fees must be paid by the department unless the J-1 scholar is invited to Tufts on a self-funded, courtesy basis. For self-funded scholars, the department may elect to pay the fee or require the scholar to pay the fee directly to the International Center.

  • $650 for initial request for J-1 Scholar
  • $350 for extension request*
  • $250 for late processing for any requests received less than 45 days prior to the start of the Exchange Visitor's program Tufts

*Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Center is temporarily waiving J-1 extension fees for short-term extensions of one month or less. This fee waiver will be granted only once per J-1 scholar. All other extension conditions remain in place.

Other Fees

Other J-1 fees are paid directly by the individual J-1 scholar prior to applying for a J-1 visa at a US consulate and/or entering the US. Currently these fees include:

  • $220 I-901 SEVIS fee (one-time fee per stay as a J-1 scholar, paid prior to initial visa appointment and/or entry to US)
    • J-2 family members accompanying the J-1 scholar are not required to pay the SEVIS fee
  • $160 DS-160 visa application fee (paid when scheduling visa appointment at US consulate; Canadian citizens are not required to apply for visas prior to entering the US)

International Center Fees

International Center fees for H-1B workers must be paid by the department or hiring unit and cannot be passed on to the employee.

  • $1,500 for initial request for H-1B Temporary Worker
  • $1,500 for extension request
  • $500 for late processing for any requests received less than 90 days prior to the start of the Exchange Visitor's program Tufts

US Homeland Security Filing Fees

US Homeland Security filing fees must be paid by the department, with the exception of the I-907 Premium Processing fee, which may be paid by the employee if premium processing is needed for personal or family travel instead of business necessity.

  • $460 USCIS Form I-129 filing fee for initial or extension petition
  • $500 Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee (required for initial petition only, not required for extensions)
  • $2,500 USCIS Form I-907 Premium Processing fee (optional, unless needed to ensure employment authorization and continued ability to perform required job duties; the employee may request premium processing for personal convenience or travel)*
    • *The I-907 Premium Processing fee increased from $1,440 to $2,500 effective October 19, 2020 

Other Fees

  • $160 DS-160 visa application fee (paid by the individual employee when scheduling visa appointment at US consulate; Canadian citizens are not required to apply for visas prior to entering the US)

For information about International Center fees and US government filing fees for other visa categories, please contact the International Center directly.