The Trump administration proposes a $70,000 fee for international students seeking US work training under the Optional Practical Training programme.
The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed requiring international students to pay $70,000 to take part in a work training programme in the country.
Under the proposal, students with F-1 visas would pay $70,000 to a certified institution for Optional Practical Training, known as OPT.
They would also pay $30,000 for any additional work training.
DHS said the proposed fees were intended “to combat fraud, strengthen the integrity of the immigration system, and protect US workers”.
OPT allows eligible international students to gain work experience for up to 20 hours a week while school is in session and for a limited period after graduation.
Students with degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics can receive additional work authorisation.
International students currently pay about $500 to participate in the programme.
“DHS is now setting a fee to ensure employers, students, and institutions are engaging in appropriate activities consistent with admission as an F-1 nonimmigrant,” the agency said.
OPT is often used as a route for international graduates seeking employment through the H-1B visa programme, which the Trump administration has also targeted with higher fees.
For decades, the H-1B programme has allowed skilled workers, particularly engineers and scientists from countries including India and China, to transition from US university studies into jobs and, in some cases, permanent residency.
Major US technology companies rely heavily on H-1B workers to fill skilled positions.
During his 2024 presidential campaign, President Donald Trump said he wanted foreign students to have an easier path to remain in the US after graduation, including by automatically receiving Green Cards.
The proposed OPT fee is likely to face legal challenges.
Doug Rand, director of the Talent Mobility Fund, which advocates for foreign STEM professionals, said on LinkedIn that the proposal would face difficulties in court.
The proposal is subject to 30 days of public comment before it can be finalised.
DHS said it would wait 60 days after finalisation before implementing the rule to give schools, students and employers time to prepare.