International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) has been authorized to implement a Post Enrollment Maintenance Fee to support the significant services provided to F-1 and J-1 students who participate in post-completion practical training after graduation.
Justification and Purpose
Each year, ISSS provides advising, document processing, and SEVIS monitoring support to approximately 2,000 F-1 and J-1 students who are no longer enrolled at Texas A&M University and therefore no longer subject to ISSS fees on their tuition and fee bill. The implementation of this new Post Enrollment Maintenance Fee will greatly support the ISSS office’s efforts to improve services and resources for all international students. The goal is that the funds generated from this fee will be used to increase staffing levels and reduce processing times. Many U.S. colleges and universities charge similar fees for their international student post enrollment services.
Scope
The ISSS Post Enrollment Maintenance Fee will be required of F-1 students who are applying for Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) and the 24-month STEM Extension of OPT (STEM OPT) as well as J-1 students who are applying for Academic Training that will occur post-completion of studies. Within the applicable ISSS Portal requests, the student will be required to upload evidence that they have paid the required fee. This fee will only apply to new or extended authorization requests for Post-Completion OPT, STEM OPT, and Post-Completion Academic Training.
The fee will NOT be:
- applicable to any other groups of international students
- required for employment reporting*
*Requests for an H-1B Cap Gap Extension I-20 will be considered part of OPT reporting and will not be subject to the Post Enrollment Maintenance Fee at this time.
Cost and Payment
Students will be able to pay the ISSS Post Enrollment Maintenance Fee online through the TAMU Marketplace, with payments managed by Flywire. Instructions for how to pay the fee are now included within each of the ISSS Portal requests that require the fee payment. The amount required will be determined by the length of time requested for the post-completion practical training. The fee will be required for each subsequent request for post-completion practical training. If you experience any issues paying the fee online, please email marketplace@tamu.edu for assistance.
- $200 fee for requests up to 12 months
- Applicable to all F-1 students applying for 12 months or less of Post-Completion OPT.
- Applicable to all J-1 students applying for 12 months or less of Post-Completion Academic Training.
- The $200 fee can be paid at https://tamu.estore.flywire.com/products/post-enrollment-maintenance-fee-0-12-months-34561.
- $400 fee for requests over 12 months and up to 24 months
- Applicable to all F-1 students applying for the 24-month STEM Extension of OPT.
- Applicable to all J-1 students applying for over 12 months and up to 24 months of Post-Completion Academic Training.
- The $400 fee can be paid at https://tamu.estore.flywire.com/products/post-enrollment-maintenance-fee-12-24-months-34573.
- $600 fee for requests over 24 months and up to 36 months
- Applicable to all J-1 students applying for over 24 months of Post-Completion Academic Training.
- The $600 fee can be paid at https://tamu.estore.flywire.com/products/post-enrollment-maintenance-fee-24-36-months-34577.
Limited, Temporary Fee Waivers
Students who are legitimately unable to pay the fee may request a temporary waiver through the ISSS Portal. There are separate fee waiver requests for Post-Completion Academic Training, Post-Completion OPT, and STEM OPT. Within each of the fee waiver requests, the student will have to provide the specific, extenuating circumstance(s) that makes them unable to pay the fee at this time.
Temporary fee waivers will be approved on a very limited basis and only if the student presents sufficient clarification about why they are unable to pay the fee. If a student’s temporary fee waiver is approved, they will receive an email confirmation from ISSS. The student will be asked to upload a copy of this email when they apply for OPT, STEM OPT, or Academic Training.
If a student's temporary fee waiver is approved by ISSS, the student will be required to take one of the following actions within 120 days: either pay the fee or report to ISSS that they no longer plan to use their practical training authorization. If a student no longer plans to use their practical training authorization, they will be required to submit the appropriate request in the ISSS Portal so their F-1 or J-1 SEVIS record can be ended or updated accordingly. After approving a temporary fee waiver, ISSS will not process additional requests if a student has yet to complete one of these follow-up requirements.