President Donald Trump’s administration is moving to make it more expensive for foreign students to enter the U.S. workforce, proposing major new fees for a federal program that allows international graduates to temporarily work in jobs related to their degrees.
The Department of Homeland Security is proposing a $70,000 fee for international students participating in Optional Practical Training, commonly known as OPT, with colleges and universities responsible for paying the charge before recommending a student for employment authorization.
Schools would face another $30,000 fee for subsequent authorization, including extensions available to international graduates with qualifying degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The proposal would represent a dramatic departure from the current system, under which international students generally pay application fees of roughly $500 while colleges face no comparable five-figure charge for participating in the program.
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Although the proposed fees would technically fall on educational institutions, universities could potentially attempt to offset the additional expense through higher costs for students or arrangements involving prospective employers.
OPT allows foreign nationals studying in the United States on F-1 student visas to temporarily work in positions directly related to their academic field, typically after completing their degrees.
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Most eligible graduates can receive up to 12 months of employment authorization, while students who earn qualifying STEM degrees can apply for an additional 24-month extension.
The program has become a significant pipeline of foreign workers for technology, engineering and other industries seeking employees with specialized skills, while also giving international graduates a pathway to gain U.S. work experience before potentially pursuing other employment-based immigration options.
Under the administration’s proposal, universities would have to pay the $70,000 charge before recommending a student for initial OPT authorization, followed by the additional $30,000 fee for later participation such as a STEM extension.
DHS argues that major changes are needed to combat fraud, strengthen immigration enforcement and ensure that programs created for foreign students do not disadvantage American workers seeking jobs.
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Administration officials have raised concerns that OPT can provide employers with access to comparatively inexpensive foreign labor and create incentives for companies to hire international graduates rather than American citizens or permanent residents.
The proposed fees would substantially increase the cost of using the program and could force universities and employers to become considerably more selective about which international graduates receive employment opportunities.
The move fits into Trump’s broader immigration agenda, which has sought to tighten employment programs the administration argues have been abused by businesses seeking foreign workers rather than recruiting Americans.
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If OPT becomes prohibitively expensive, critics contend, prospective students could increasingly choose universities in Canada, Europe, Australia or other countries offering more accessible post-graduation employment opportunities.
International enrollment is already facing pressure, with the number of new foreign students entering the United States reportedly falling 17 percent last fall, the steepest decline since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some universities have reported even larger declines this year, although complete national enrollment figures are not yet available.
The financial consequences could extend beyond foreign students because international students frequently pay full tuition rates, making them an important revenue source for colleges and universities that use those funds to support academic programs, faculty and research.
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Supporters of tighter restrictions counter that the primary consideration should be whether employment programs protect opportunities and wages for American workers rather than whether universities benefit financially from enrolling foreign students.
The OPT proposal follows other Trump administration efforts to tighten rules governing student visas and foreign-worker programs, including changes affecting employment authorization and increased costs associated with other employment-based immigration programs.
The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on October 8 and is undergoing a public comment period scheduled to remain open through November 9.
DHS will review those comments before deciding whether to modify or finalize the rule, meaning the proposed $70,000 and $30,000 charges have not yet taken effect.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
