International students in the United States woke up this week to a number that few of them saw coming. The Department of Homeland Security has put forward a proposal that would attach a $70,000 price tag to Optional Practical Training, the programme that lets graduates work in their field of study after finishing school. The idea was announced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, and it has already set off alarm across campuses, immigration law firms and employer groups.
The DHS OPT programme fee proposal is a draft rule, not a law. Nobody is being charged anything today. But the size of the figure, and the fact that it comes with a formal comment window already open, means students and universities are treating it as a serious threat.
What the DHS OPT program fee proposal says
Under the draft, a school would owe $70,000 the first time it recommends an F-1 student for any kind of OPT. That covers work done while a student is still enrolled (pre-completion OPT) as well as work after graduation (post-completion OPT). Every later recommendation for the same student would cost the school $30,000. That includes the 24-month STEM extension available to eligible science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates.
The arithmetic adds up fast. A student whose school recommends pre-completion OPT and then post-completion OPT would trigger $100,000 in fees across the two steps. Add a STEM extension and the total climbs further.
The charge would fall on schools certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), not on students or employers directly. It also would not be tied to any employer or triggered by a job change. In practice, a designated school official would be unable to enter an OPT recommendation into the SEVIS system until the fee is paid. Students would then receive an updated Form I-20 showing the payment before applying to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for their work permit, and USCIS would be barred from approving the application if the fee had not been paid.
For comparison, OPT has never carried a school-side fee. The main cost students face today is the federal filing fee on their application, which runs from roughly $470 to $520 according to law firm Fragomen.
Why DHS says it wants the fee
DHS frames the proposal as an anti-fraud measure. The department points to questionable worksites, so-called pay-to-stay schemes, where people enrol mainly to keep working, and weak oversight by some schools, employers and school officials. It argues that a steep charge would push schools to be far more selective and careful about who they recommend.
The language around the announcement has been blunter in places. Coverage of the rule describes the agency as treating OPT as a pipeline for cheap foreign labour into the US workforce, and DHS has said students should have to justify their worth to employers.
There is also a revenue angle. DHS estimates the fees could bring in between $8.4 billion and $16.5 billion a year, with a central estimate of $12.4 billion. That money would go to the US Treasury rather than staying with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to fund the programme.
Who ends up paying
On paper, schools pay. In reality, the draft does not say how they must cover the bill. Nothing in the proposed text restricts schools from asking students, employers or outside sponsors to contribute. Analysts expect universities to weigh cost-sharing arrangements, and employers that rely on OPT and STEM OPT hires may be asked to chip in.
DHS itself admits the rule could shrink participation. Its own assessment acknowledges that students could lose work experience and the earnings that come with it, employers could struggle to replace qualified student workers, and some schools could see international enrolment fall.
The scale matters here. DHS estimates that about 194,000 people took part in OPT in 2024, along with roughly 95,000 in the STEM extension. Students can generally receive up to 12 months of OPT at each education level, and eligible STEM graduates can add 24 months.
A heavier version is also on the table
The main proposal treats the $70,000 as a one-time charge per student. DHS is also asking for public comment on a tougher alternative: charging the $70,000 initial fee again each time a student moves up a level, for example from a bachelor’s degree to a master’s degree. A student who completed both would then generate two initial fees instead of one.
Reaction so far
Opposition has been swift. Fanta Aw, chief executive of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, criticised the plan and warned that pushing international students away would hurt American innovation, as reported by the Associated Press. NAFSA’s position is that students gain practical experience through OPT while employers fill labour gaps, particularly in STEM fields.
Legal challenges look likely. Doug Rand of the Talent Mobility Fund, which advocates for attracting foreign STEM talent, told followers on LinkedIn that DHS lacks the authority to impose a $70,000 fee and urged people not to panic. One point critics may press is that OPT exists in regulation rather than statute, which gives the government wide room to reshape it through rulemaking, but also raises sharp questions about whether such a large fee fits within the agency’s fee-setting powers.
The proposal also lands in a crowded policy picture. It follows a separate DHS proposal to charge $103,265 on cap-subject H-1B petitions. Many international graduates use OPT as the bridge to an H-1B, so higher costs at both ends of that path compound the uncertainty for people planning their careers in the US.
Key dates and how to comment
The notice was set for publication in the Federal Register on Thursday, October 8, 2026. The general public comment period runs from October 8 to November 9, 2026, and the paperwork-related provisions carry a separate 60-day comment window. Comments can be submitted through Regulations.gov under docket ICEB-2026-0100. Anyone planning to file should confirm the final deadlines in the published notice.
After the comment period closes, DHS must review the submissions and may revise the plan before issuing a final rule. If it does go ahead, the department says the fee would take effect 60 days after the final rule is published, and any OPT recommendation issued on or after that date would require payment.
What international students should do now
Nothing changes immediately. Students currently on OPT, or applying for it, are not subject to the new fees. Still, those planning to start university in the US in 2027, including students from Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa, would be wise to follow the rulemaking closely, ask prospective schools how they plan to handle the cost, and keep a record of any guidance universities issue. Immigration lawyers recommend that students and employers who depend on OPT consider submitting comments describing the real-world impact, because DHS has said it will review properly submitted material.
FAQ
Is the $70,000 OPT fee in effect now?
No. It is a proposed rule. DHS must consider public comments and issue a final rule first.
Who would pay the fee?
SEVP-certified schools would pay, though the draft does not stop them from seeking money from students or employers.
Does the fee apply to the STEM OPT extension?
Yes. It would be covered by the $30,000 charge for subsequent OPT recommendations.
When would it start?
DHS says 60 days after a final rule is published.
Can the public comment?
Yes, from October 8 to November 9, 2026, through Regulations.gov.
