U.S. Proposes $70,000 OPT Fee for International Students

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Wednesday proposed a rule that would require schools to pay a $70,000 fee for each international student's initial Optional Practical Training (OPT) application, with an additional $30,000 fee for each renewal. The proposal, announced October 7, 2026, is the latest measure by the Trump administration to tighten rules around foreign students and immigration.

OPT allows F-1 student visa holders to work in jobs directly related to their field of study during or after their education. International students are generally eligible for up to one year of employment after graduation, while those in certain science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields can qualify for an additional two years. The program is a common pathway for international students to transition to H-1B work visas.

DHS said the fees are intended to combat fraud and abuse and to strengthen the integrity of the immigration system, describing OPT as a "pipeline for cheap foreign labor." The department stated the program should not serve as a backdoor into the U.S. labor market. The public has 60 days to comment on the proposal before DHS can finalize and implement the rule.

Education groups criticized the proposal. NAFSA, the Association of International Educators, warned that driving away international students would harm American innovation, economic growth, workforce development, and global leadership. Fanta Aw, NAFSA's executive director and CEO, said OPT enables international students to gain practical work experience while helping address labor shortages in high-demand STEM fields. Doug Rand, a former senior adviser at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during the Biden administration, predicted the fee would face legal challenges, comparing it to a $100,000 fee imposed on H-1B work visas. He argued that high fees were not the solution and that the U.S. should embrace international students who want to work after graduating.

The proposal could significantly affect American colleges and universities that rely on international students for tuition revenue, as well as technology companies and other industries that employ international graduates in technical and STEM-related roles. The rule may also face legal challenges from higher education groups or business associations, which could delay its implementation. It is part of a broader pattern of Trump administration actions targeting international students, including the termination of legal status for thousands of students last year, a finalized rule this summer limiting international students to four years in the U.S., and a September 2025 proclamation raising the H-1B sponsorship fee to $100,000, which was subsequently blocked by two federal judges.