Proposed charge would apply to schools recommending international students for Optional Practical Training, with an additional $30,000 fee for extensions
The administration of United States President Donald Trump has proposed a $70,000 fee for international students seeking temporary work opportunities in the country after or during their studies.
The proposed fee is part of a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule targeting the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, which allows eligible international students on F-1 visas to gain practical work experience related to their fields of study.
Under the proposal, US educational institutions would be required to pay $70,000 for each international student they recommend for initial participation in OPT. A further $30,000 fee would apply for subsequent participation or extensions, including the additional OPT period available to eligible graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.
The proposed charges would represent a dramatic increase from the current cost associated with the programme. International students currently pay an application fee of roughly $500 for employment authorisation, while universities do not currently face a $70,000 charge for recommending students for OPT.
DHS said the proposed fees are intended to combat fraud, strengthen the integrity of the immigration system and protect American workers.
The department has argued that OPT has increasingly been used in ways that go beyond its original purpose of providing international students with practical experience connected to their studies. DHS has also raised concerns about fraudulent employment arrangements and employers allegedly using the programme as a source of lower-cost foreign labour.
The OPT programme is particularly important to international students because it provides a pathway from university education into the US workforce. Students generally can receive up to 12 months of employment authorisation, while graduates in qualifying STEM fields can receive an additional 24-month extension.
The programme has also become an important route for international graduates seeking longer-term employment in the United States, including through the H-1B visa system.
Under the proposed rule, the financial burden would initially fall on educational institutions. However, DHS acknowledged that universities could potentially pass the cost on to students, employers or the wider student population.
The proposal has already raised concerns among organisations representing international education and higher education institutions.
Fanta Aw, chief executive of the Association of International Educators (NAFSA), said the proposed fee could discourage international students from studying in the United States and affect industries that depend on international graduates, particularly in STEM-related fields.
Universities could also face difficult decisions if the proposal becomes final because a $70,000 charge for each student could make participation in OPT financially unattractive.
International students have long considered the opportunity to gain US work experience after graduation when deciding where to study. A significant reduction in access to OPT could therefore influence future international enrolment at American universities.
The proposed rule could also have consequences for American employers, particularly technology, engineering and other sectors that employ graduates with specialised skills.
DHS, however, maintains that the programme’s current structure needs stronger oversight and that the proposed fee would encourage educational institutions to exercise greater scrutiny when recommending students for OPT.
The proposal is not yet law and does not immediately require international students or universities to pay the $70,000 fee.
The rule is subject to a public comment period before DHS can decide whether to finalise it. Reuters reported that the proposal would be open to public comment for 30 days, while other reports citing the Federal Register process have indicated a comment deadline of November 9. If ultimately finalised, DHS has indicated that implementation would be delayed to give schools, students and employers time to prepare.
Students who already have OPT approval before any final rule takes effect would not be subject to the proposed fee, according to higher-education reporting on the proposal.
The proposal is also likely to face legal challenges if it becomes final. Immigration and higher-education groups have questioned whether such a substantial fee can be imposed through administrative action, while critics argue that the measure could make the United States less attractive to international students and skilled graduates.
For Nigerian students and other international students considering studying in the United States, the development could become an important factor when evaluating postgraduate study options, particularly for those who intend to remain in the country temporarily for work experience after graduation.
For now, however, the $70,000 charge remains a proposal. Students planning to study in the US should not assume that the fee is already in effect and should await the outcome of the federal rule-making process.
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