Trump administration proposes huge OPT fee hike from $500 to $70,000 for F-1 visa students seeking jobs in US

What fee is the Department of Homeland Security proposing for F-1 students who use Optional Practical Training?

The Department of Homeland Security wants F-1 students to pay $70,000 to a certified institution for on-the-job training through OPT. The fee would fund stronger oversight and help DHS combat fraud, enforce immigration rules, and protect US workers.

Under the proposal, the $70,000 would cover OPT training. Any additional work training would carry a separate $30,000 fee. That is a dramatic change from the roughly $500 students currently pay to participate.

The proposal is not final. DHS plans to accept public comments for 30 days before deciding whether to issue a final rule. If approved, the department says it would wait another 60 days before implementation, giving schools, students, and employers time to prepare.

What is Optional Practical Training, and how does it allow F-1 international students to work in the United States?

Optional Practical Training is a work-training program connected to an F-1 student’s US education. It allows eligible international students to gain practical experience related to their studies while remaining in the student immigration system. That makes OPT important for turning classroom learning into workplace experience.

While school is in session, F-1 students can undertake work training for up to 20 hours a week under the current system. After graduation, students may receive a limited period of work authorization. Graduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields can qualify for additional OPT authorization.

OPT is therefore more than a short-term job opportunity. It can help graduates build experience and move toward skilled employment, including possible transition into the H-1B visa program. The proposed fees could make that pathway much harder to use.

How large is the proposed increase—from about $500 to $70,000—and what would the additional $30,000 training fee mean?

The proposed basic fee is about $69,500 higher than the current roughly $500 cost. Put differently, $70,000 is approximately 140 times the existing fee. That scale of increase could turn OPT from a routine administrative expense into a major financial barrier.

The proposal also lists a $30,000 charge for any additional work training. For example, a student paying the basic $70,000 fee could face another $30,000 if further training were required or pursued. The notice describes these fees as tools for oversight and compliance.

DHS has not finalized the rule. It will first allow 30 days for public comments, then wait 60 more days after finalization before implementation. Universities, employers, students, and immigration groups are likely to examine whether the costs are workable.

What could happen to international students, universities, and employers if the proposed fee makes OPT unaffordable?

If students cannot afford OPT, they may be unable to obtain the US work experience that often follows a degree. The article says the proposal could create a substantial financial hurdle as graduates try to move from education into employment. That could reduce the practical value of studying in the United States for some applicants.

Universities could face pressure because international students may reconsider enrolling when post-graduation work becomes financially unrealistic. Employers could also have fewer recent graduates available through OPT, especially in fields that depend on international talent. These effects are possible consequences, not outcomes confirmed by the article.

The proposal is already likely to face scrutiny from universities, employers, immigration groups, and foreign students. Public comments may influence the final rule. If DHS proceeds, schools and companies would receive a 60-day preparation period before the requirements begin.

Why is OPT an important bridge between graduating from a US university and applying for an H-1B skilled-worker visa?

OPT matters because it links education with the US skilled-worker system. After completing a degree, an international graduate can use authorized practical training to gain experience, demonstrate workplace skills, and connect with an employer. The article describes OPT as an important bridge toward employment, including the H-1B program.

For example, a technology graduate might use post-graduation OPT to work for a US company. That employer could then seek an H-1B visa for the worker. H-1B is widely used by technology companies and other employers to hire highly skilled foreign workers, including engineers and scientists from India and China. OPT does not guarantee H-1B approval.

The proposed fee could weaken this bridge by making the first work experience unaffordable. Graduates might lose time to build credentials, while employers could lose a familiar pathway for evaluating and hiring international talent.

What other work or immigration pathways might international graduates use if they cannot participate in OPT?

If OPT becomes unavailable, international graduates would need another lawful basis to work or remain in the United States. The article does not identify specific alternatives. In general, graduates may explore direct employer sponsorship for an H-1B visa, other employment-based classifications, family-based immigration, or permanent-residence options.

A direct H-1B route can be possible when an employer sponsors a qualifying job, but it has its own eligibility requirements and, in many cases, annual numerical limits. Other employment visas may depend on the worker’s occupation, nationality, qualifications, or employer. Family-based routes require a qualifying family relationship and do not simply replace OPT.

Some graduates may instead return home after finishing their studies or seek work elsewhere. These are general possibilities, not guarantees described in the article. Immigration advice depends on personal circumstances, so students would need guidance from qualified professionals before choosing a path.

How does the US immigration system distinguish temporary nonimmigrant visas such as F-1 and H-1B from permanent residence through a Green Card?

The US system separates temporary nonimmigrant status from permanent residence. An F-1 visa lets a foreign student pursue education in the United States. An H-1B visa lets a qualifying employer employ a foreign worker in a specialty occupation. Both are temporary categories, although their holders may sometimes pursue permanent residence separately.

A Green Card, formally permanent resident status, allows a person to live and work permanently in the United States, subject to immigration law. It is not automatically granted by graduating from a US university or holding an F-1 or H-1B visa. The article notes that Donald Trump once suggested automatic Green Cards for graduates, but that is not the current OPT proposal.

OPT fits between these categories as temporary work authorization linked to F-1 status. It can provide experience before a graduate seeks another temporary status, such as H-1B, or a separate permanent-residence route.

Key Facts:

📌 DHS proposes a $70,000 OPT training fee for F-1 students.

📌 Additional work training could carry another $30,000 fee.

📌 The proposal is not yet final.

📌 OPT connects F-1 study with practical US work experience.

📌 Students may work up to 20 hours weekly during school.

📌 STEM graduates can qualify for additional OPT authorization.

📌 The proposed fee is roughly 140 times the current cost.