The Trump administration has proposed a $70,000 fee for initial Optional Practical Training (OPT) and a $30,000 fee for subsequent OPT participation by eligible F-1 international students. The proposal, issued by the Department of Homeland Security, is intended to combat fraud, strengthen immigration-system integrity and protect US workers. If adopted, the fees could significantly increase the financial burden on international graduates seeking practical work experience in the United States. The measure remains a proposal, not an implemented rule.

Trump Administration Proposes $70,000 Fee for International Student Work Authorisation

The new U.S. immigration rule being proposed will require F-1 students to pay $70,000 for Optional Practical Training, and another $30,000 fee for additional work training.

A proposed U.S. immigration rule that might charge F-1 visa students $70,000 for Optional Practical Training has been focused on international student work authorisation.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security posted the proposal online on October 7, 2026, as part of a broader Trump administration crackdown on foreigners who hold U.S. visas.

The proposal would require nonimmigrant students on F-1 visas to pay a certified institution $70,000 for on-the-job training under Optional Practical Training, or OPT.

Any additional training work would also attract a $30,000 fee, perhaps transforming a program currently associated with reasonably modest costs into a major financial commitment.

The agency said in its notice that the proposed fees are designed to fight fraud, improve the integrity of the immigration system and safeguard U.S. workers.

How the proposed OPT fee would change current costs

Right now, the OPT system allows foreign students to engage in work training for up to 20 hours a week while school is in session and for a limited period following graduation.

Students who have completed qualifying degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics may be eligible for an additional period of OPT under current immigration regulations after they have completed their qualifying studies.

The $70,000 fee being proposed would be a huge increase from the current cost for eligible students, who are currently expected to pay about $500 if they sign up for OPT.

The new fee would help ensure that employers, students and institutions are involved in activities consistent with admission under F-1 nonimmigrant status and related training requirements, DHS said.

OPT has also become an important route for foreign graduates to find jobs through H-1B visas, a program that the Trump administration has been targeting with higher fees.

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H-1B pathway faces wider immigration policy changes

For decades, H-1B visas have been a way for engineers and scientists, particularly from India and China, to translate their U.S. university study into skilled jobs and possible permanent residency.

Large U.S. technology companies have also relied on H-1B workers to fill specialised positions, so changes that affect foreign graduates will matter for the broader technology labour market.

President Donald Trump had promised to make it easier for foreign students to stay in the United States after graduation during his 2024 presidential campaign.

Trump had said that foreign students could automatically be given a Green Card when they finished their studies, a position that contrasts with the restrictions now proposed by DHS.

The DHS has previously put forward similar immigration proposals that have faced challenges from affected groups and policy advocates, so the proposal is likely to be challenged in court.

The proposal wouldn’t pass legal muster, Doug Rand, director of the Talent Mobility Fund, said on LinkedIn on October 7.

Rand contended the measure could face the same legal problems as the $100,000 H-1B fee and other restrictionist policies he said had been struck down.

The proposal is now open for a 30-day public comment period, during which time universities, students, employers and other interested parties may submit views for DHS to consider before finalising it.

If finalised by DHS, the rule would not go into effect for 60 days, giving schools, students and employers time to get ready for the changes, the department said.

The financial implications could be substantial for Indian and Chinese students, who have historically been a critical component of the U.S. international education and skilled-worker pipeline.

The potential OPT fees could also affect decisions to study in the US, particularly for students who rely on post-graduation work to pay back the cost of their education.

Sprouts News will continue to follow the public-comment process, legal challenges, and any final decision as the administration considers changes to international student work authorisation.