The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed a new fee structure requiring universities to pay $70,000 for each international student’s initial Optional Practical Training (OPT) authorization, with an additional $30,000 for subsequent training. The proposal, intended to address fraud and protect U.S. workers, faces a 30-day public comment period starting October 8, 2026.
Universities Face New Fee Obligations
Schools must pay $70,000 to recommend a student for their initial period of Optional Practical Training (OPT). Any subsequent recommendation—including extensions for graduates with degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)—would trigger an additional $30,000 charge.
Historically, students have paid their own application costs, which currently total around $500. The regulatory text mandates that these fees must be paid before a designated school official can enter an OPT recommendation into the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Without this payment, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services could deny the temporary work authorization. The agency projects that annual fee payments could reach between $8.4 billion and $16.5 billion.
DHS Targets Program Fraud
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,
a DHS spokesperson stated. DHS officials maintain that the fee structure is necessary to ensure the integrity of the F-1 nonimmigrant visa program. The agency further stated that the goal is to require foreign students to justify their worth to employers.
Scale of International Student Participation
The total number of international students on OPT rose to 294,253, a 21% increase from the previous year. According to ICE’s 2024 SEVIS data, 194,554 students participated in OPT that year, alongside 165,524 students in STEM OPT—a figure nearly double the annual H-1B numerical limit of 85,000. Open Doors 2025 data indicates that 363,019 Indian students studied in the U.S. during the 2024/25 academic year, representing a 10% increase.
Critics Challenge New Policy
When we educate international students at our universities, and they want to work and apply their talents here after graduating, of course we should embrace them — not use an exorbitant fee as a pretext to send them packing,
said Doug Rand, director of the Talent Mobility Fund. Rand argued that the policy is legally vulnerable and unlikely to survive court scrutiny, similar to how previous attempts to impose a $100,000 fee on H-1B visas were blocked.
The American Council on Education highlighted that international enrollment is already under pressure, with some colleges reporting drops of 30% to 40% in new student arrivals. Sarah Spreitzer, a vice president at the organization, stated that the new plan would exacerbate these trends, as post-graduation work experience is a primary factor for students choosing to study in the United States. NAFSA: Association of International Educators has also warned that the fee is misguided and creates deep uncertainty for students.
Public Comment Period Opens
The proposal is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on October 8, 2026. Interested parties have 30 days to submit public comments through Regulations.gov under docket number ICEB-2026-0100. These fees would apply prospectively to new recommendations, and the agency is seeking input on how to handle students already in the pipeline. NAFSA added, This policy imposes a financial barrier that threatens the very foundation of global academic exchange.
