Trump Moves to Put $70,000 Price Tag on International Students’ U.S. Work Training

The Trump administration has proposed a dramatic new fee on the U.S. programme that allows international students to gain work experience after studying in America, requiring educational institutions to pay $70,000 for an initial Optional Practical Training recommendation and another $30,000 for a subsequent recommendation.

The proposal, issued by the Department of Homeland Security, targets Optional Practical Training (OPT), a programme available to eligible F-1 international students whose employment is directly related to their field of study. Under current rules, most eligible students can receive up to 12 months of practical training, while qualifying graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics can obtain an additional 24-month STEM extension.

The proposed charges represent a huge increase from the current system. International students presently face an application fee of roughly $500 for OPT, while their schools do not pay a comparable charge for recommending them. Under the new proposal, a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program would have to pay the $70,000 fee before its designated school official could recommend a student for OPT. A later OPT recommendation would trigger another $30,000 charge.

Despite the way the proposal is being described in some headlines, the initial $70,000 payment would not formally be billed directly to the student. The proposed rule places the obligation on the educational institution. However, the Department of Homeland Security acknowledges that schools could potentially recover the cost from students, employers or other sources, meaning the financial burden could ultimately reach international students.

DHS says the measure is intended to address what it considers widespread abuse of the OPT system. The department has accused some employers and intermediaries of using OPT as a route for cheap foreign labour and cited cases involving fraudulent employment arrangements and questionable companies. Officials argue that making institutions pay a substantial fee would discourage fraudulent applications while protecting American workers and strengthening the immigration system.

The department's proposal comes as the Trump administration continues a broader campaign to tighten rules surrounding foreign students and skilled workers. The administration has already taken steps affecting student visas and other employment-based immigration programmes, while arguing that U.S. workers should receive greater protection from foreign labour competition.

For universities, however, the timing is particularly sensitive. International enrolment in the United States has already shown signs of weakening. Data from the Institute of International Education found that new international-student enrolment fell 17% in fall 2025 among institutions participating in its survey, while graduate enrolment declined 12%. At the same time, OPT participation increased 14%, underlining how important post-study work opportunities have become to the international education system.

Education organizations argue that OPT is not simply an immigration pathway but an important part of the value proposition for students considering where to study. NAFSA, the Association of International Educators, said the proposed fees would create uncertainty and could discourage talented international students from choosing American universities. The organization argued that international graduates contribute to U.S. innovation, workforce development and economic activity rather than simply competing with American workers.

The American Council on Education has also warned that international students are economically important to U.S. institutions. NAFSA estimates that the decline in new international enrolment in fall 2025 was already associated with about $1.1 billion in lost economic activity and nearly 23,000 fewer jobs. A much more expensive OPT system could add another obstacle for universities competing with countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia for international students.

The proposed fee could be particularly consequential for STEM students. International graduates in fields such as engineering, computer science and technology frequently use OPT to gain U.S. work experience before seeking longer-term employment through programmes such as the H-1B visa. Reuters reported that students from India and China account for a significant share of the technology-focused international student population using this route.

The proposal is not yet law, and international students applying for OPT today remain subject to the existing rules. The University of Southern California, for example, has advised students that the proposed fees have not taken effect and that current OPT eligibility requirements and filing procedures remain unchanged.

The public has until November 9, 2026, to submit comments on the proposal. If DHS ultimately adopts the rule, it would still face potential legal challenges. The administration has previously encountered court resistance over immigration measures involving international students and foreign workers, meaning the final shape and timing of the OPT policy remain uncertain.

For students planning to study in the United States, the proposal introduces another layer of uncertainty into an already changing immigration environment. The immediate question is not whether students will suddenly have to hand over $70,000 to the government, the proposed rule does not work that way, but whether universities will absorb the cost or pass it on, and whether the prospect of such a financial barrier will influence where future international students choose to study.

The broader significance extends beyond immigration. American universities have long benefited from attracting global students, while U.S. companies have relied on international graduates as part of their skilled-worker pipeline. If the proposed OPT fee survives the regulatory and legal process, it could make that pipeline substantially more expensive and potentially accelerate a shift of international talent toward competing education markets. For Washington, the policy is about protecting American workers and tightening immigration controls; for universities and international students, it could become a major test of whether the United States can continue to attract global talent while pursuing a more restrictive immigration agenda.