Trump Administration Proposes $70,000 OPT Fee for Foreign Students

Trump Administration Proposes $70,000 OPT Fee for Foreign Students

The Donald Trump administration has proposed a $70,000 fee for US institutions recommending international students for the first stage of Optional Practical Training (OPT).

The proposed rule by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would also impose a $30,000 fee for subsequent OPT recommendations.

The proposal could affect Nigerian students and thousands of other international students who depend on OPT to gain work experience in the United States after completing their studies.

However, the proposed fees would initially be paid by Student and Exchange Visitor Program-certified institutions rather than directly by students.

DHS said the proposed charges are aimed at combating fraud, strengthening the immigration system and protecting American workers.

OPT allows eligible F-1 international students to work in positions related to their fields of study during or after their academic programmes.

Students can generally receive up to 12 months of OPT at each education level, while graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields may qualify for an additional 24-month extension.

Under the proposed rule, schools would pay $70,000 when initially recommending an F-1 student for OPT and $30,000 for any subsequent recommendation.

If implemented, the proposal could significantly increase the financial burden surrounding international students seeking professional experience in the United States.

The policy could also affect American universities that rely heavily on international students for tuition revenue, as well as employers that recruit foreign graduates for specialised positions.

Technology companies and other industries have particularly relied on international graduates to fill technical and STEM-related roles.

Fanta Aw, chief executive officer of NAFSA, an association representing international education, warned that the proposal could hurt American universities and businesses.

She said driving away international students could negatively affect American innovation, economic growth, workforce development and global competitiveness.

DHS, however, said the proposed fees would encourage schools to conduct stronger checks before recommending students for OPT.

The department said it had identified cases involving fraud and abuse of the programme, including schemes involving schools, employers and international students.

The Trump administration has made tighter immigration controls and changes to foreign student programmes a major part of its broader immigration policy.

The latest OPT proposal is open to public comments before DHS decides whether to issue a final rule.

The proposal is therefore not yet an effective fee that international students or universities are currently required to pay.