US Proposes $70,000 OPT Fee For International Students: Major Concern For Indian Students

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is considering a $70,000 fee for the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme for international students. Under the proposal, educational institutions would be required to pay the fee when an eligible F-1 student participates in OPT for the first time. A further $30,000 fee could apply to subsequent OPT renewals, including STEM OPT extensions.

The proposed move could impact Indian students studying in the United States and planning to stay in the country after graduation to gain professional work experience. This is because OPT currently allows eligible F-1 students to work in a field related to their course of study and students usually receive up to one year of OPT, while eligible graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) can qualify for an additional 24-month extension.

What Is the $70,000 OPT Fee Proposal?

According to reports, the Trump administration is also proposing a $70,000 OPT fee for foreign students. Importantly, the proposed payment would be made by the college or university rather than directly by the international student, according to the reported proposal. The administration states the measure is meant to address alleged abuse of the student visa and OPT system and concerns about the programme being used as a route to access cheaper foreign labour.

The proposal is expected to cause concern amongst US universities, international students and employers that rely on graduates with international backgrounds. A fee of this scale would make colleges more cautious about supporting OPT participation and could influence international students in choosing the United States for higher education.

Why Indian Students Could Be Affected

The United States is one of the most popular destinations for Indian students for higher education abroad. Students completing master's degrees and other programmes in areas such as computer science, engineering, data science and technology often use OPT to gain work experience in the US after graduation.

If a university had to pay a $70,000 initial OPT fee, institutions could face a substantial additional financial burden indirectly which would impact international students through university policies, hiring decisions and the availability of OPT opportunities. The proposal could therefore be an important issue for Indian students planning US education, F-1 visas, OPT and STEM OPT.

Is the $70,000 OPT Fee Already in Effect?

No. The reported $70,000 OPT fee is a proposal and not a fee that students should be assuming is already payable. The rule would need to go through the required federal rule-making process before any new charge could be effective. Some current reports have also noted that the exact fee structure requires confirmation through the official published rule.

The development is therefore particularly important for prospective international students, as the final rule could change before implementation. Students planning to study in America should monitor official DHS, USCIS and university announcements rather than making decisions based upon social-media reports or headlines.