Trump administration proposes $70,000 OPT fee to curb foreign student employment

The Department of Homeland Security announced on Oct. 9 that the Trump administration is proposing a $70,000 fee for universities to recommend a foreign student for Optional Practical Training (OPT), with a $30,000 charge for any subsequent extensions.

The steep cost increase targets a program that currently charges roughly $500 per application, potentially reshaping the landscape for international students who rely on OPT to gain U.S. work experience after graduation.

“Optional Practical Training was never meant to be a back door into the American workforce, a subsidy for cheap labor, or a prize for those who game the system,” a DHS spokesperson said.

Proponents argue that the higher fees will force universities to scrutinize OPT requests more closely and discourage fraudulent arrangements that exploit the student visa system. The administration frames the measure as part of a broader effort to protect American workers and curb what officials describe as a pipeline for inexpensive foreign labor.

Critics point to the substantial economic contribution of international students. Approximately 1.18 million foreign students enrolled in U.S. colleges last year generated an estimated $42.9 billion in economic activity, according to NAFSA. Six percent of science and engineering bachelor’s degrees and a majority of graduate degrees in those fields are awarded to foreign students, many of whom stay in the United States after graduation, especially at the doctoral level.

The proposed fee represents a dramatic shift from the existing $500 OPT application cost and echoes a previous Trump‑era policy that imposed a $100,000 fee on H‑1B visa petitions. Legal scholars and immigration advocates, including Doug Rand of the Talent Mobility Fund, say the rule will likely be challenged in federal court, citing concerns about the department’s authority to levy such fees.

The rule is not yet final; it must undergo a public comment period before it can be implemented. Stakeholders, from university administrators to student advocacy groups, are expected to submit feedback in the coming weeks, shaping the next steps of this contentious immigration reform effort.