The United States has proposed charging international students $70,000 for work authorization under the Optional Practical Training programme, in what would be a dramatic overhaul of a key pathway for foreign graduates.
The Department of Homeland Security unveiled the proposed rule on Wednesday. Under it, schools would have to pay $70,000 for each F-1 student's initial OPT participation, and $30,000 for any subsequent participation.
How it would work
Currently, eligible foreign students can work part-time while studying and full-time for a limited period after graduation in jobs related to their field of study, at a cost of around $500. Graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields can qualify for an additional 24-month extension.
Under the proposal, schools would have to pay the fee before recommending a student for OPT, and US Citizenship and Immigration Services would not grant employment authorization without payment. The rule says institutions could pass the cost on to students or employers.
Why the administration wants it
DHS said the fees are meant "to combat fraud, strengthen the integrity of the immigration system, and protect US workers." A department spokesperson said OPT had become "a pipeline for cheap foreign labor" and that the change would require foreign students to "justify their worth to employers."
The proposal is part of a wider crackdown on foreign visa holders and follows increased fees for H-1B visas. The public has 60 days to comment before the rule can be finalized, and higher-education groups are expected to mount legal challenges.
NAFSA, the association of international educators, warned that driving away international students would hurt American innovation, economic growth and global leadership, noting that OPT helps fill shortages in high-demand STEM fields.
Sources:
Reuters: Trump administration plans to charge international students $70,000 for work authorization
US Department of Homeland Security: DHS proposes fees for foreign student work program
The Department of Homeland Security unveiled the proposed rule on Wednesday. Under it, schools would have to pay $70,000 for each F-1 student's initial OPT participation, and $30,000 for any subsequent participation.
How it would work
Currently, eligible foreign students can work part-time while studying and full-time for a limited period after graduation in jobs related to their field of study, at a cost of around $500. Graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields can qualify for an additional 24-month extension.
Under the proposal, schools would have to pay the fee before recommending a student for OPT, and US Citizenship and Immigration Services would not grant employment authorization without payment. The rule says institutions could pass the cost on to students or employers.
Why the administration wants it
DHS said the fees are meant "to combat fraud, strengthen the integrity of the immigration system, and protect US workers." A department spokesperson said OPT had become "a pipeline for cheap foreign labor" and that the change would require foreign students to "justify their worth to employers."
The proposal is part of a wider crackdown on foreign visa holders and follows increased fees for H-1B visas. The public has 60 days to comment before the rule can be finalized, and higher-education groups are expected to mount legal challenges.
NAFSA, the association of international educators, warned that driving away international students would hurt American innovation, economic growth and global leadership, noting that OPT helps fill shortages in high-demand STEM fields.
Sources:
Reuters: Trump administration plans to charge international students $70,000 for work authorization
US Department of Homeland Security: DHS proposes fees for foreign student work program
