Trump Mulls $100,000 OPT Fee For International Graduates

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – The Trump administration is considering a proposal to impose a $100,000 fee linked to the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, a move that could substantially raise the cost of working in the United States for international graduates after they complete their studies.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the proposal is under discussion at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Officials have not decided whether the fee would be paid by students, employers or universities. DHS told the newspaper that no proposal should be considered final until it is formally announced.

OPT allows eligible international students to work in the U.S. for one to three years after earning their degrees. Around 419,000 international graduates were employed under the program in 2024.

The administration is also preparing broader changes to OPT regulations that could be introduced as early as this fall. Earlier this month, it announced that international students would have to apply for visa extensions to participate in OPT, replacing the long-standing “duration of status” system.

The proposal comes as U.S. universities are already facing challenges in attracting international students amid visa delays, increased scrutiny and broader immigration policy changes.

For many international students, post-graduation work opportunities are a major reason for choosing American universities, they could now look at other nations which are wooing them.

The proposal could also affect employers, particularly in the technology, engineering and finance sectors, where companies have long hired international graduates through OPT before sponsoring them for H-1B visas.