The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a $70,000 fee for international students seeking to participate in the country’s Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, a major pathway that allows foreign graduates to gain work experience in the United States.
The proposal from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would require a $70,000 payment for an initial OPT authorization and an additional $30,000 for a subsequent authorization, including extensions available to eligible STEM graduates.
The proposed fees would be paid by SEVP-certified colleges and universities, rather than directly by students, according to the proposal.
What is OPT?
OPT allows international students on F-1 visas to work in the United States in positions related to their field of study.
Students can generally receive up to 12 months of OPT, while eligible graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics can qualify for an additional two-year STEM extension.
The programme has become an important bridge between American universities and the U.S. workforce, with many international graduates using OPT as a route to gain professional experience before seeking longer-term employment through programmes such as H-1B.
More than 418,000 students participated in OPT in 2024, according to figures cited by the DHS proposal.
Why is the administration proposing the fee?
The Trump administration says the proposal is aimed at addressing fraud and misuse within the OPT programme.
DHS has argued that the programme has been exploited through fraudulent employment arrangements and "pay-to-stay" schemes, while also describing OPT as a potential source of lower-cost foreign labour.
The administration says the proposed changes would strengthen oversight and help ensure that the programme serves its intended educational purpose rather than functioning primarily as a pathway into the U.S. labour market.
The proposal follows a broader push by the Trump administration to tighten rules governing foreign workers and international graduates.
Universities and businesses raise concerns
The proposed fee has triggered concern among universities, businesses and higher-education groups.
Critics argue that a $70,000 charge could make American universities significantly less attractive to international students and could discourage schools from supporting graduates seeking practical work experience.
Business and education groups have also warned that the policy could reduce access to international talent, particularly in STEM industries that rely heavily on graduates with specialised technical skills.
The concerns come as international student enrollment in the United States has already weakened. AP reported that the number of new international students fell by 17% last fall, raising concerns that additional costs could accelerate the decline.
Students may not directly pay the $70,000
Despite the headline figure, the proposal does not currently require an individual international student to personally hand over $70,000 to the U.S. government.
Instead, the proposed fee would be imposed on the educational institution participating in the OPT process.
However, universities could potentially face difficult decisions about whether to absorb the cost or pass some of the financial burden on through institutional policies, employment arrangements or other charges.
The practical effect on students would therefore depend on how universities respond if the rule is eventually implemented.
Part of a wider immigration crackdown
The OPT proposal comes alongside other immigration measures introduced by the Trump administration.
In September, Trump extended restrictions requiring a $100,000 payment for certain new H-1B workers entering the United States from abroad, subject to specified exceptions.
The administration has argued that the H-1B system has been abused by some employers to obtain cheaper foreign labour and displace American workers.
Trump's September 2026 executive order also directed federal agencies to strengthen oversight of the H-1B programme and investigate potential violations by sponsoring employers.
The proposed OPT fee therefore represents another step in the administration's effort to reshape how foreign students and skilled workers enter the American labour market.
Proposal is not yet final
The $70,000 OPT charge is a proposed rule, not a final requirement.
The proposal will go through a public-comment process before the government can finalize it. Reuters reported that the rule would be open for public comment for 30 days and would take effect 60 days after finalization.
The proposal could also face legal challenges, particularly over the government's authority to impose such a substantial charge on the programme.
For international students currently studying in the United States or considering American universities, the proposal therefore does not immediately mean they must pay $70,000 to work after graduation.
Its ultimate impact will depend on whether DHS finalizes the rule, whether the fee remains at the proposed level and whether courts or Congress intervene.
