The United States (U.S.) government requires a fee of $180.00 (U.S.) to cover the administration and maintenance costs of SEVIS. Since information on the SEVIS fee may not be listed on Embassy/Consulate web sites, it is important for you to visit the following links: SEVIS fee 
and SEVIS fee payment options . Please pay the SEVIS fee after you receive the DS-2019 from us and before going to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate for your visa interview.
What Is SEVIS?
SEVIS is a web-based system for maintaining information on international students and exchange visitors in the U.S. SEVIS is administered by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
SEVIS allows J Visa Program sponsors like Van Andel Institute (VAI) and other divisions of the government, such as the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), to exchange data on the visa status of international students and exchange visitors. Accurate and current information is transmitted electronically throughout a student or exchange visitor’s time in the U.S, and U.S. Embassies and Consulates also have access to SEVIS. The J visa paperwork that you received from VAI was generated from the SEVIS system.
