The proposal marks the latest effort by the Trump administration to tighten rules governing foreign students and immigration, following earlier moves to limit visa durations and revoke certifications for schools that fail to comply with oversight requirements. DHS said the proposal is intended to protect American workers, reduce cheap labor, curb fraud and abuse, and strengthen the integrity of the immigration system [1].
The proposed rule has not been finalized, and no implementation date has been announced, according to DHS. The public would have 60 days to submit comments before the agency decides whether to finalize the rule, according to the proposal [2].
What the Optional Practical Training Program Does
Optional Practical Training authorizes F-1 nonimmigrant students to work temporarily in the United States in jobs related to their field of study during or after their time in school.
Before applying for employment authorization with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, F-1 students must receive a recommendation from a designated school official.
Under the proposed rule, schools certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program would pay the fee for each F-1 student receiving an initial recommendation for Optional Practical Training. DHS estimates that it would collect $12.4 billion annually if the fees are finalized, according to the agency [3].
DHS Cites Fraud and Abuse in Proposed Rule
DHS announced a proposed rule that, if finalized, would implement new fees for F-1 nonimmigrant students seeking to participate in Optional Practical Training (OPT), a temporary employment authorization connected to a student's field of study, in order to reduce the flow of cheap labor into the United States [4]. The department suggested the fees would encourage colleges and universities to employ additional oversight and be more selective of students recommended for the training program.
"Optional Practical Training was never meant to be a back door into the American workforce, a subsidy for cheap labor, or a prize for those who game the system," a DHS spokesperson said in a statement.
The department also stated that without the fees proposed in the rule, it cannot operate OPT consistent with its focus on preventing fraud and may shut down the program entirely, according to the proposal [5]. The proposal follows a series of enforcement actions, including the identification of more than 10,000 foreign students who allegedly work for dubious employers, which DHS described as only the tip of the iceberg [6].
Higher Education Group Opposes Fee Structure
Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, said in a statement that the program provides foreign students with the opportunity to have hands-on experience.
"Imposing this new fee structure on Optional Practical Training is the latest in a series of developments that creates deep uncertainty for international students," Aw said.
The proposed fee represents a significant increase over the current cost. Students now pay about $500 for OPT authorization, and the move could block many from working in the United States, according to The Straits Times [7]. Academic institutions would be expected to pay the fee for each student they recommend for the work authorization program, though they may pass the costs onto students or employers [8].
Legal Challenges to Related F-1 Visa Rules
A federal judge blocked another Trump administration rule on Sept. 14 that would have limited students on F-1 visas to four years in the United States before requiring approval from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to stay longer. Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV of the U.S. District Court issued the ruling, according to court records.
In May 2025, the Trump administration attempted to revoke Harvard University's certification to enroll foreign students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.
In August 2026, a coalition of unions and advocacy groups sued the federal government seeking to block a rule that would limit how long foreign students and journalists can remain in the United States without applying for extensions. The rule creates fixed time periods for F visas for international students, J visas for cultural exchange visitors, and I visas for members of the media [9]. The proposed $70,000 fee rule has not been finalized, and no implementation date has been announced.
References
- DHS proposes massive $70K fee for foreign students .... https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dhs-proposes-massive-70k-fee-foreign-students-seeking-work-authorization
- DHS $70K OPT Fee Proposal: What International Students Must Know. https://www.collegehelpguide.com/blog/opt-70k-fee-proposal-dhs-2026/
- DHS proposes fee to participate in Optional Practical Training | STAT. https://www.statnews.com/2026/10/07/trump-administration-proposes-fee-targeting-interational-students-optional-practical-training/
- DHS Proposes Fees for Foreign Student Work Program to Protect American .... https://www.dhs.gov/news/2026/10/07/dhs-proposes-fees-foreign-student-work-program-protect-american-jobs
- DHS proposes massive new fees for foreign students who want to.... https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/oct/7/dhs-proposes-massive-new-fees-foreign-students-who-want-work/
- DHS identifies 10,000+ foreign students working for 'highly suspect' employers. https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/dhs-identifies-10000-foreign-students-working-highly-suspect-employers?utm_source=justthenews.com&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=external-news-aggregators
- US proposes US$70,000 fee for student work... | The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/trump-administration-plans-to-charge-international-students-70000-for-work-authorization
- DHS Proposes $70K Fee for International Students' U.S. Work | iHeart. https://www.iheart.com/content/2026-10-08-dhs-proposes-70k-fee-for-international-students-us-work/
- Advocacy Groups Sue Federal Government Over Visa Rule for Foreign Students. https://theepochtimes.com/us/advocacy-groups-sue-federal-government-over-visa-rule-for-foreign-students-6076911
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