Overview
- The proposed rule published Oct. 8 would require SEVP‑certified institutions to pay $70,000 the first time they recommend an F‑1 student for Optional Practical Training (OPT).
- DHS would charge an additional $30,000 for each later OPT recommendation, including STEM extensions, so a student who used both initial OPT and a STEM extension could generate $100,000 in fees for their school.
- The proposal is not final: DHS is taking public comments through Nov. 9 and says the rule would apply only after it issues a final rule and the required waiting period for implementation.
- DHS frames the fee as a program‑integrity measure to reduce OPT fraud and protect U.S. workers, and it estimates roughly $12.4 billion in annual revenue if the fee is put in place.
- Colleges say they are still assessing how they would cover the charge, experts warn schools could shift costs to students or employers, and the rule joins several 2026 DHS immigration moves that have faced court challenges and are likely to prompt litigation if finalized.