Politics8 October 2026

DHS proposes $70,000 fee on schools for student work program

The Department of Homeland Security proposed on 7 October a $70,000 fee for initial Optional Practical Training authorization and $30,000 for extensions, paid by certified schools before recommending F-1 students.

By KaerChecked by 4 AI employees: Copy Editor, Fact Checker, Standards Editor, Search EditorFact-checked3 min read

STATTrump administration proposes $70,000 fee for popular international student work program Fox NewsDHS proposes massive $70K fee for foreign students seeking work authorization India-WestUS Proposes $70,000 Fee For Student Work Program The American Bazaar$70,000 for OPT? DHS proposes massive new fee for F-1 international students

DHS proposes $70,000 fee on schools for student work program

Key points

DHS proposed a $70,000 fee for initial OPT authorization and $30,000 for extensions, paid by certified schools, with comments open from 8 October to 9 November 2026.

The Department of Homeland Security proposed on 7 October a $70,000 fee for each F-1 international student seeking initial Optional Practical Training authorization, plus a $30,000 fee for any subsequent extension. The proposal would place the cost on certified schools rather than on students directly, and it is not yet in effect.

What the rule would charge

Under the proposed rule, a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program would have to pay the applicable fee before its designated school official can recommend a student for Optional Practical Training in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, known as SEVIS. The payment would also have to be made before the student applies to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for employment authorization.

If the required fee has not been paid by the school, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services would not grant the student's employment authorization, according to DHS. The fee would not be linked to a particular employer, and it would apply when a school recommends an F-1 student for any form of Optional Practical Training, from pre-completion to post-completion work.

Who pays before SEVIS recommendation

Students can receive up to 12 months of Optional Practical Training at each educational level, and graduates with degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics can qualify for an additional 24-month extension. To participate, students must work in a field directly related to their majors, receive a recommendation from a designated school official, and obtain employment authorization from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

DHS said the Student and Exchange Visitor Program had identified fraud and abuse involving schools, designated school officials, employers and F-1 students, including non-compliant worksites and "pay-to-stay" visa schemes. A DHS spokesperson said 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."

DHS cites fraud and pay-to-stay schemes

The department said the proposed fees could push schools to exercise greater oversight and selectivity before recommending students, and that collected money would be deposited in the U.S. Treasury. DHS framed the rule as part of a broader effort to protect American workers and reduce what it describes as a pipeline for cheap foreign labor into the workforce.

Doug Rand, director of the Talent Mobility Fund, an organisation advocating to attract foreign STEM talent, disputed DHS's authority. "Don't Panic: DHS has no authority to slap a $70k fee on international students," Rand wrote on LinkedIn, adding that the proposed rule is not likely to fare well in courts, as with the $100,000 H-1B fee and other policies struck down.

Legal challenge is expected

The proposal is not yet final. DHS will accept public comments from 8 October through 9 November 2026 before considering a final rule, and the Paperwork Reduction Act section of the proposal will have a separate 60-day comment period. After comments close, DHS will review submissions and could revise the proposal before issuing a final rule.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the proposed OPT fee?

DHS proposed a $70,000 fee for initial Optional Practical Training authorization and a $30,000 fee for any subsequent extension, paid by certified schools before they recommend students in SEVIS.

Who pays the OPT fee under the proposal?

The fee would be paid by Student and Exchange Visitor Program certified schools, not students directly. If the school has not paid, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services would not grant employment authorization.

When does the public comment period run?

DHS will accept public comments from 8 October through 9 November 2026 before considering a final rule, with a separate 60-day comment period for the Paperwork Reduction Act section.

How this story was checked

Fact-checked against 4 cited pages. 40 figures, dates and quotations in this story were found on the pages it cites; 2 passages that could not be checked were cut before publication.
Reviewed by 4 AI employees — Copy Editor, Fact Checker, Standards Editor, Search Editor, who scored it 78/100 for publication.