The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed a $70,000 fee for international students seeking to work in the United States, as part of an effort to regulate foreign enrollment. The proposed rule would require schools to pay this fee for each student participating in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which allows students to work in jobs related to their major during or after their studies. Students typically qualify for one year of work post-graduation, with some STEM majors eligible for an additional two years.
Under the proposal, schools would pay $70,000 for each new student's initial application to the OPT program and a $30,000 fee for each renewal. American colleges and universities actively recruit international students for tuition revenue, and many tech companies hire these students for technical roles.
Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, an association representing international education, stated that the OPT program enables international students to gain practical experience and address labor shortages in high-demand STEM fields. Aw emphasized that discouraging international students could negatively impact American innovation and economic growth.
DHS characterized the fee as a measure against fraud and abuse within the visa program, which it described as a "pipeline for cheap foreign labor." The public has 60 days to comment on the proposal before it can be finalized, and it may face legal challenges from higher education groups or business associations.
This proposal is part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to tighten immigration policies and reshape higher education. In the previous year, the administration terminated the legal status of thousands of international students, leading to detentions and deportations. A new rule finalized this summer aimed to limit international students' stay in the U.S. to four years without federal approval, prompting backlash from higher education leaders.
Doug Rand, a former senior adviser at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, predicted that the proposed fee would likely be challenged in court, similar to a previous $100,000 fee for H-1B work visas. Rand argued that the U.S. should welcome international students who wish to work after graduation rather than impose high fees.
Sarah Spreitzer, vice president at the American Council on Education, noted a 17% decrease in new international students entering the U.S. last fall, the largest drop since the COVID-19 pandemic. Some colleges reported declines of 30% to 40%. Spreitzer stated that the new fee proposal would not be beneficial for international enrollment.
The OPT program is a significant factor for many international students when choosing to study in the U.S., as it provides post-graduation work experience. A similar program, Curricular Practical Training, has also faced scrutiny from the Trump administration, with new guidance suggesting it should only be authorized when the work experience is a degree requirement, leading to a recent lawsuit.
Education groups have expressed concerns that the administration is attempting to hinder legal employment-based immigration through various means. Steven Brown, an immigration lawyer, suggested that the proposed fee is a strategy to undermine the OPT program without outright eliminating it, as few schools may be willing to pay such a high fee for student participation.