Indian students' American dream hits a $ 70,000 toll
The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed a new fee structure that could charge universities up to $70,000 for student work authorizations. This policy, if enacted, could significantly impact international students, particularly those from India who make up a large portion of the US student population.
Why it matters
This proposal threatens to create a major financial barrier for international students seeking work experience in the US, potentially altering global education and labor trends.
The TOI correspondent from Washington: Not too long ago, MAGA boss Donald Trump said foreign graduates should leave American universities with a green card “as part of your diploma.” Forget the green card; on Wednesday, his administration, under pressure from the nativist MAGA base, proposed a $70,000 fee to let those graduates work in America.Under a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposal scheduled for publication Thursday, US universities and colleges would have to pay $70,000 for an F-1 student’s first participation in Optional Practical Training (OPT) and another $30,000 for a subsequent authorization, including the 24-month extension STEM graduates are eligible for. The maximum charge over the standard 36-month STEM OPT period would therefore be $100,000.
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