The Optional Practical Training (OPT) program lets F-1 visa holders stay in the United States for up to 12 months after graduation to work in jobs directly linked to their field of study. Students with qualifying STEM degrees may request a 24-month extension, effectively turning OPT into a bridge to long-term employment. In, roughly 420,000 participants took advantage of the scheme, according to the Congressional Research Service, underscoring its importance for both the U.S. economy and the international talent pipeline.
On October 8, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a proposed rule that would flip this arrangement on its head. The agency suggests that each U.S. university pay a $70,000 fee for every initial OPT recommendation and an additional $30,000 for any subsequent authorizations, such as the STEM extension. Together, the two charges would total $100,000 per student, a cost that currently does not exist. DHS argues the fees aim to curb fraudulent applications, tighten university oversight, and protect American workers, estimating the measure could generate around $12.4 billion annually.
Details of the DHS fee proposal
The draft rule places the financial burden squarely on higher-education institutions, not on the students themselves. Universities would be required to remit the fees to DHS each time they submit an OPT recommendation for an international student. The proposal does not spell out how schools would collect the money, leaving open the possibility that students or their employers might be asked to shoulder part of the cost. If implemented, a typical university with a sizable international enrollment could see its annual expenses skyrocket into the tens of millions.
Reaction from academia and the health sector
Opposition surfaced quickly. Kana Liu, a Chinese-Canadian professional living in the United States on a work visa, posted a comment on the federal portal on October 12, stating, “I firmly oppose the proposed $70,000 initial OPT fee and $30,000 subsequent fee. They create undue barriers.” The University of Chicago’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) issued a statement acknowledging the proposal and promising to monitor developments, though it has not disclosed how it would absorb such charges. The American Hospital Association (AHA) also warned that the fees could disrupt the pipeline of foreign-trained nurses, physicians, and pharmacists who often rely on OPT as a stepping stone into the U.S. healthcare workforce.
Public comment process and potential impact
DHS opened a 28-day comment period that runs until Nov 9. Individuals, advocacy groups, and institutions can submit feedback through the agency’s online portal. The agency’s own press release frames the rule as a safeguard for U.S. workers, but critics note that similar attempts under the previous administration—such as a blocked $100,000 H-1B fee increase—were repeatedly struck down by federal judges. If the final rule adopts the proposed fees, universities would need to decide whether to charge students, seek external funding, or limit the number of OPT participants they support, potentially reshaping the landscape of international education in the United States.
