Trump administration plans to charge international students $70,000 for work authorisation
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed a new rule requiring international students to pay $70,000 in fees to participate in Optional Practical Training (OPT) programs. The administration claims the measure is intended to combat fraud and protect U.S. workers, though critics argue it will face significant legal challenges.
Why it matters
This policy shift could drastically reduce the number of international students pursuing work in the U.S., potentially impacting the talent pipeline for major American tech companies that rely on foreign STEM graduates.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed that international students pay at least $70,000 in training fees if they want to work in the country, according to a government notice posted online on Wednesday (October 7, 2026), part of the Trump administration’s wider crackdown on foreign visa holders.
Under the proposal, nonimmigrant students with F-1 visas would be required to pay $70,000 to a certified institution for on-the-job training, known as Optional Practical Training (OPT), and $30,000 for any additional work training.
DHS said the new rules were meant “to combat fraud, strengthen the integrity of the immigration system, and protect US workers.”
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