Trump Administration Proposes $70,000 Fee for International Students Seeking U.S. Work Authorization
The Trump administration has proposed a dramatic new fee for international students seeking permission to work in the United States, potentially requiring universities to pay $70,000 for each student entering the country’s Optional Practical Training program.
The proposal was announced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on October 7, 2026, as part of a broader effort by the administration to tighten rules surrounding foreign students and employment-based immigration.
The proposed $70,000 charge would apply when a U.S. university recommends an F-1 international student for Optional Practical Training, commonly known as OPT. A further $30,000 fee would apply for subsequent OPT participation, including qualifying STEM extensions.
Importantly, the proposal formally places the payment obligation on the student’s university or other qualifying educational institution rather than directly on the student. However, universities could potentially pass some or all of the cost to students or employers.
That distinction means the headline figure does not necessarily represent a bill that every international student would personally receive. The practical financial impact would depend on how universities and employers respond if the proposal becomes final.
The proposed fees would represent an enormous increase from the current cost of participating in OPT. International students currently pay a few hundred dollars in government application fees, while universities generally do not face a comparable charge for recommending a student for OPT.
OPT allows eligible F-1 students to obtain practical work experience directly related to their academic field. Most eligible students can receive up to 12 months of OPT, while graduates in qualifying science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields can receive an additional 24-month STEM extension.
The program is particularly important to international graduates who want to gain U.S. professional experience after completing their degrees. For many students, OPT also provides an opportunity to work for an employer before potentially seeking sponsorship through the H-1B visa system.
DHS says the proposed fee is intended to combat fraud and misuse of the OPT system and to protect American workers. The department has argued that some employers and institutions have used the program in ways that turn it into a source of lower-cost foreign labor.
The administration has also pointed to alleged fraud and abuse involving some participants, employers and educational institutions. Officials say the financial barrier would encourage universities to conduct greater scrutiny before recommending students for OPT.
Universities and higher-education organizations, however, are warning that the proposal could make the United States substantially less attractive to international students.
The potential consequences could be particularly significant for STEM programs, where international graduates represent an important part of the talent pipeline for technology, engineering, scientific research and other highly skilled industries.
More than 294,000 international students participated in OPT during the 2024-25 academic year, according to data cited in recent reporting. That means the proposed fee could affect a very large number of students and institutions if it ultimately takes effect.
The proposal comes at a time when international enrollment in U.S. higher education is already facing pressure. Universities are concerned that the prospect of extremely expensive work authorization could influence prospective students to choose Canada, Britain, Australia or other destinations instead.
For Indian students, the proposed change could be especially significant. Indian nationals make up one of the largest groups of international students in the United States, and many rely on OPT as a bridge between university education and longer-term professional employment.
The administration’s proposal is not yet a final rule. A public-comment period will allow universities, students, businesses and other interested parties to submit their views before DHS decides whether and how to finalize the measure.
If finalized, the rule would also be expected to face legal challenges. Immigration attorneys and higher-education advocates have already questioned whether DHS has sufficient legal authority to impose such a substantial new charge through the regulatory process.
For international students currently studying in the United States, the proposal therefore does not immediately mean that a $70,000 OPT payment is required. The existing system remains in place unless and until the proposed rule goes through the required federal rulemaking process and becomes effective.
The debate is likely to extend beyond immigration policy. At its center is a broader question over how the United States balances protection of domestic workers with its longstanding dependence on international students and highly skilled graduates.
If implemented, the proposed fee could fundamentally change the economics of the OPT program and potentially reshape decisions made by universities, international students and employers across the U.S. higher-education and technology sectors.
