Trump Proposes $70,000 Fee for International Students Seeking to Work in US

The Trump administration has proposed a $70,000 fee for international students seeking to work in the United States through the Optional Practical Training programme.

The proposal, announced by the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday, would require US colleges and universities to pay the fee for each F-1 international student receiving initial authorisation under the programme.

OPT allows international students to gain temporary work experience related to their fields of study while completing or after completing their education in the United States.

Under the proposed rule, schools would pay $70,000 for a student’s initial OPT participation and an additional $30,000 for subsequent participation, including eligible STEM OPT extensions.

The fees would be paid by the educational institutions rather than directly by students or their employers.

DHS said the proposed charges are intended to combat fraud and abuse within the OPT system, strengthen immigration controls and protect American workers.

The department cited concerns over false employment claims, questionable worksites and so-called “pay-to-stay” schemes, in which students allegedly maintain their immigration status through arrangements that do not represent genuine employment.

The proposal could significantly affect universities that rely on international students for tuition revenue, as well as technology and other industries that employ graduates through OPT.

International students are generally eligible for up to 12 months of OPT after graduation, while graduates in qualifying science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields can receive an additional two years.

The proposed $70,000 charge represents a major increase from the existing costs associated with OPT employment authorisation.

The measure has already drawn concern from higher education and international education groups, which warn that the cost could discourage international students from studying in the United States and make it harder for American employers to recruit highly skilled graduates.

The proposal is not yet in effect. DHS will accept public comments before deciding whether to finalise the rule. If approved, it would take effect 60 days after publication of the final rule in the Federal Register.

The proposal is part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to tighten immigration and employment rules affecting foreign nationals in the United States.