DHS proposes $70,000 fee for international students’ practical training

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed requiring certified colleges and universities to pay $70,000 for each international student entering the Optional Practical Training program, which allows F-1 visa holders to work in jobs related to their studies during or after school.

Under the proposal, institutions would also pay $30,000 for each subsequent period of participation. The fees would be due before a school recommends a student for OPT and before the student applies for employment authorization. Current student application costs are about $500, according to The Hindu.

DHS said the fees are intended to combat fraud, increase schools’ oversight and protect U.S. workers. The agency described OPT as having become a “pipeline for cheap foreign labor” and cited alleged schemes involving schools, employers and students.

International-education advocates criticized the plan. Fanta Aw, chief executive of NAFSA, said restricting the program would hurt U.S. innovation, economic growth and workforce development. Doug Rand, a former U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services adviser, predicted the rule would face legal challenges.

OPT generally provides international graduates with one year of work authorization, with an additional two years available to eligible science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates. More than 140,000 Indian students participated in OPT during the 2024-25 academic year, Scroll.in reported.

The proposal must go through a public-comment period before DHS can finalize it. If adopted, implementation would begin after a preparation period for schools, students and employers.