US proposes USD 70,000 fee for international students to work after graduation
DHS proposal would require colleges to pay USD 70,000 for initial OPT applications and USD 30,000 for renewals, drawing concern from higher education groups
The US Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday proposed a USD 70,000 fee for international students seeking to work in the country, adding another hurdle for foreign students under the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
The proposed rule would make schools pay the fee when an international student first applies for Optional Practical Training, or OPT. The programme allows students to take up jobs linked to their field of study while they are enrolled or after completing their degrees.
Proposed fee targets OPT applications
Under current rules, most international students can work in the US for up to one year after graduation through OPT. Students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields can qualify for another two years.
If approved, colleges would have to pay USD 70,000 for each student’s initial OPT application. Renewals would carry a separate USD 30,000 fee.
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The proposal could put added pressure on US colleges that rely on overseas students for tuition revenue. It could also affect technology companies and other employers that hire international graduates for technical positions.
Colleges warn of impact on foreign graduates
The OPT programme allows international students to gain hands-on experience and fill labour shortages in high-demand STEM fields, said Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, an association that represents international education.
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“Driving away the talents, perspectives, and aspirations of international students will only hurt American innovation, economic growth, workforce development, and global leadership,” Aw said in a written statement.
In a statement, DHS described the fee as a response to fraud and abuse of the visa programme, which it called a “pipeline for cheap foreign labour”.
Public gets 60 days to comment
The public has 60 days to comment on the proposal before DHS can finalise it and put it into effect. The proposal could also face legal challenges from higher education groups or business associations, which may delay its implementation.
President Donald Trump's administration has been putting pressure on international students in several ways as part of its wider efforts to crack down on immigration and reshape higher education.
Trump administration tightens student rules
Last year, the Republican administration began suddenly terminating the legal status of thousands of international students, detaining and deporting many of them.
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This summer, the administration finalised a rule that sought to prevent international students from staying in the US for more than four years without approval from the federal government.
The move drew swift backlash from higher education leaders who said it would increase the burden on schools and noted that many programmes are longer than four years by design. A federal court prevented the rule from taking effect in September.
(With agency inputs)