DHS Proposes New Fees for International Students Seeking US Employment

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a new fee structure for international students participating in Optional Practical Training (OPT), a program allowing them to work in the US after graduation. Under the proposal, F-1 visa holders would be required to pay $70,000 for initial OPT authorization and $30,000 for any extensions. DHS stated the fees are intended to combat fraud, protect US workers, and prevent the program from being exploited as a source of cheap labor. Currently, OPT participation costs around $500.

The proposed rule comes in response to identified instances of fraud and abuse within the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), including non-compliant worksites and “pay-to-stay” visa schemes. DHS aims to increase oversight by educational institutions and ensure students are working in fields related to their studies. STEM graduates may qualify for a 24-month extension.

Legal challenges are anticipated. Doug Rand, director of the Talent Mobility Fund, stated on LinkedIn that the rule is unlikely to withstand legal scrutiny, citing previous successful challenges to similar fees for H-1B visas. The proposal will be subject to a 30-day public comment period, followed by a 60-day implementation delay to allow schools, students, and employers to prepare. The Trump administration had previously vowed to make it easier for foreign students to remain in the US, suggesting automatic Green Cards after graduation, a position seemingly reversed by this proposal. The rule change is expected to force educational institutions to exercise “greater oversight and selectivity” before recommending students for the program.

Where they differ

• The Hindu highlighted the proposal's impact on STEM professionals from India and China who rely on H-1B visas, a connection Fox News did not emphasize.
• Fox News framed the proposal as addressing a pipeline of 'cheap foreign labor,' a phrase absent from The Hindu’s reporting.
• The Hindu noted Trump's prior promise of automatic Green Cards for foreign students, while Fox News focused on the Trump administration’s crackdown on fraud.

What is not yet known

• The extent to which the proposed fees will deter international students from pursuing OPT.
• Whether DHS will address concerns about the program's impact on US innovation and competitiveness.

Background

• The Optional Practical Training (OPT) program allows F-1 visa holders to work in the US after graduation [background knowledge].
• The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has identified instances of fraud and abuse within the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) [Fact Refinery, 2026-10-07].
• Current OPT participation costs around $500 [Fact Refinery, 2026-10-07].
• The Trump administration previously suggested automatic Green Cards for foreign students after graduation [Fact Refinery, 2026-10-07].

Our reading

Our reading is that DHS is significantly increasing the financial burden on international students seeking to work in the US post-graduation, ostensibly to address program abuse. The proposed fees represent a substantial increase over current costs and are likely to be contentious, given anticipated legal challenges and differing interpretations of the rule’s motivations, some outlets emphasize fraud prevention while others highlight potential impacts on STEM professionals and prior promises. The contrasting framing in reporting suggests a politically charged issue with multiple layers of interpretation.

What to watch

• The outcome of the 30-day public comment period and the subsequent 60-day implementation delay [DHS proposal].
• Whether legal challenges to the new fee structure are filed, and the arguments presented [court filings].
• Enrollment numbers for OPT in the next academic year, to assess the impact of the fees on international student participation [SEVP data].

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