Overview
- The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that the Department of Homeland Security is discussing a proposal to charge $100,000 for access to Optional Practical Training, the post‑study work route for F‑1 students.
- OPT lets most international graduates work in the US for 12 months with STEM students eligible for up to two extra years, and about 418,000–419,000 people used OPT in 2024.
- DHS has said no policy is final and the plan remains under internal review after a federal appeals court in Boston recently blocked a similar $100,000 H‑1B levy.
- Officials have not decided who would pay the fee—students, employers, or universities—creating uncertainty that could deter applicants, cut university tuition revenue, and shrink hiring pipelines for tech and finance firms.
- The proposal comes as DHS finalizes a rule to limit many student stays to four years and signals broader changes to OPT that could be formalized later this year, with outsized impact expected for large cohorts from India.