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Imagine spending years earning a degree in the United States, preparing for graduation, and finally landing a job related to what you studied. Then you learn that your university could face a $70,000 fee simply for recommending you for OPT.
That is what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is now proposing for certain F-1 students.
The proposal would create a $70,000 fee for a student’s first participation in Optional Practical Training (OPT) and a $30,000 fee for a later OPT authorization, including a STEM OPT extension. The proposed payment would legally fall on the school, not directly on the student, although DHS acknowledges that schools could potentially recover the cost from students, employers, or other sources.
This is a major proposal, but there is one point to keep in mind from the beginning: the $70,000 OPT fee is not currently in effect. DHS has proposed the change, and the rule must go through the federal rulemaking process before it can become final.
So, if you’re an F-1 student studying in New York, New Jersey, elsewhere in the U.S., or you’re considering a U.S. program from abroad, what does this actually mean for you?
What is DHS proposing for international students on OPT?
Optional Practical Training, commonly called OPT, allows eligible F-1 students to work in the U.S. in employment directly related to their field of study.
You can generally receive up to 12 months of OPT at each qualifying education level. Students with qualifying STEM degrees may also be eligible for a 24-month STEM OPT extension.
That makes OPT an important bridge between education and employment. For many international students, it provides the opportunity to gain U.S. work experience after graduation while an employer considers longer-term immigration options such as H-1B sponsorship.
DHS is now proposing a very different financial structure.
Under the proposal, an SEVP-certified school would pay:
- $70,000 for a student’s first OPT authorization.
- $30,000 for a later OPT authorization, including a STEM OPT extension.
The proposal would cover both pre-completion and post-completion OPT for the first authorization.
DHS says the proposed fees are intended to address concerns about fraud, program oversight and the effect of OPT on U.S. workers. The agency has also pointed to investigations involving allegedly fraudulent employment arrangements and employers connected to OPT participants.
A DHS spokesperson described the agency’s position bluntly: “Optional Practical Training was never meant to be a back door into the American workforce.”
That statement reflects DHS’s policy position. It does not mean the government has eliminated OPT or that every student using the program is suspected of wrongdoing.
Most importantly, this remains a proposed rule. Nothing in the proposal requires you to pay $70,000 for OPT today.
Who would be affected by the new OPT fee?
If the proposal becomes final in something close to its current form, it could affect several groups.
F-1 students applying for OPT
A student applying for OPT for the first time could trigger the proposed $70,000 payment by the school.
That could include a student seeking post-completion OPT after earning a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree.
Students moving from school into employment
For many F-1 students, OPT is the first opportunity to move from the classroom into a professional job in the U.S.
The proposal could therefore affect the transition from education to employment, particularly where a school decides that the cost of supporting OPT is too high.
STEM OPT students
The proposed $30,000 subsequent fee is especially important for students who plan to use the 24-month STEM OPT extension.
That extension can provide valuable additional time to work, build experience and pursue longer-term immigration options.
Universities and colleges
The proposal puts the legal payment obligation on SEVP-certified schools.
That means universities and colleges could face a significant new financial decision every time they recommend a student for OPT.
Employers
Employers aren’t the party DHS directly requires to pay the proposed fee. However, employers could still feel the effects if schools decide to recover some or all of the cost from them.
Current OPT holders
The proposal does not mean that every person currently working on OPT suddenly owes $70,000.
The proposed fees would apply to OPT recommendations made after the rule becomes effective, if DHS ultimately finalizes the proposal. Students who already have OPT authorization should continue following the rules that currently apply to their authorization.
How would a $70,000 OPT fee affect international students?
This may be the most important part of the discussion.
The legal obligation to pay DHS would fall on the school. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the student would feel no financial impact.
A university could decide to absorb the cost. It could also explore whether the cost can be passed to a student, an employer or another source of funding. The proposal itself recognizes that schools may seek to recover the expense.
That creates an obvious question:
Would some schools simply stop recommending students for OPT?
DHS acknowledges that participation could decline because of the proposed fees.
For an international student, that could mean something much bigger than paying a government fee. It could affect whether a university supports the student’s transition into U.S. employment at all.
The impact could be particularly significant for STEM graduates. Students in fields such as engineering, computer science and other technical disciplines often rely on STEM OPT to gain additional U.S. work experience before pursuing another immigration route.
Higher education and business groups have raised concerns that large new costs could make U.S. schools less attractive to international students and make it harder for employers to access international graduates.
That concern also reaches beyond individual students.
International students contribute tuition, research, teaching and professional skills to U.S. colleges and universities. If fewer students choose American schools because they believe their post-graduation work options have become too uncertain or expensive, universities could feel that change in enrollment.
The broader question is whether a much more expensive OPT system would change the way international students view the United States as a place to study and begin their careers.
What happens to international students who want to work in the U.S. after graduation?
For many students, the path looks something like this:
F-1 student → OPT → STEM OPT, if eligible → H-1B or another immigration option
OPT doesn’t automatically lead to a green card or permanent immigration status. It is temporary work authorization.
For some students, however, those months of authorized employment can be critical. They provide time to gain experience, build an employer relationship and explore whether an employer can sponsor another immigration category.
If OPT becomes financially impractical, you may need to consider your options earlier.
Depending on your education, occupation, employer, family situation and immigration history, those options could include an H-1B petition, an employment-based green card process, or another category for which you independently qualify.
That is why I wouldn’t recommend choosing a U.S. degree program solely on the assumption that OPT will lead to a long-term work visa.
Before committing to a program, you should understand both the educational opportunity and the immigration options that may follow it.
Will the $70,000 OPT fee actually become law?
Not necessarily.
DHS has proposed the rule. It now has to go through the rulemaking process.
The proposal is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register, followed by a public comment period. DHS can review those comments and decide whether to finalize the rule, change it, or withdraw it.
Even if DHS issues a final rule, that may not end the story.
A final rule could face legal challenges over questions such as DHS’s authority to impose the fees, how the agency justified the amounts, and whether the rule complies with federal administrative law.
Congressional action isn’t currently required simply to begin this type of agency rulemaking, but Congress could still become involved through legislation or oversight.
So I would not tell an F-1 student today, “You will have to pay $70,000 for OPT.”
That isn’t the law today.
The accurate statement is this: DHS has proposed a $70,000 initial OPT fee and a $30,000 fee for later OPT authorizations, and the proposal could significantly change the cost and availability of OPT if finalized.
What does this mean for current F-1 students and future international students?
If you’re already studying in the U.S., I wouldn’t panic or abandon your plans based solely on this proposal.
But I would pay attention.
If you’re approaching graduation, talk with your designated school official early about your OPT timeline.
If you’re already on OPT, make sure you understand your current employment authorization and any deadlines that apply to you.
If you’re considering STEM OPT, look carefully at your eligibility and timing rather than assuming the extension will always operate under today’s rules.
And if you’re planning to begin a U.S. program in 2027, add immigration planning to your list when you’re comparing schools.
There is another reason I would keep watching these developments.
DHS’s earlier rule to replace the F-1 Duration of Status system with fixed admission periods was scheduled to take effect in September 2026, but a federal court issued a nationwide preliminary injunction before implementation. The existing Duration of Status framework therefore remains in place for now while litigation continues.
The two developments are different, but they point to the same practical lesson: F-1 students need to watch both their student status and their employment plans.
Could the new OPT fee change the future of international students working in America?
That is the larger policy question.
If OPT becomes substantially more expensive, some students may choose universities in other countries. Some schools may reconsider how much OPT support they can provide. Some employers may become less willing to hire international graduates if the cost is shifted to them.
Others may continue using OPT because they value access to international talent and because the program remains an important part of their workforce planning.
We don’t know yet which outcome will dominate.
What we do know is that OPT has become a significant part of the U.S. international student and employment system. In 2024, more than 418,000 F-1 students were authorized for OPT, according to data cited in the federal rulemaking record.
That makes this proposal much bigger than a $70,000 number.
It could affect how students choose where to study, how universities recruit international students, how employers approach hiring, and how graduates plan their immigration future.
For now, the proposal is just that: a proposal.
The Law Offices of Anne Z. Sedki
If you’re an F-1 student trying to understand how OPT, STEM OPT or H-1B may fit into your plans, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
At the Law Offices of Anne Z. Sedki, I help clients in New York and New Jersey, as well as individuals and families nationwide and worldwide, understand their immigration options and plan their next steps.
If this proposal has you questioning your own immigration strategy, I invite you to reach out for a consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the new OPT fee for international students?
DHS has proposed a $70,000 fee for a student’s first OPT authorization and a $30,000 fee for a later OPT authorization, including STEM OPT extensions.
Is DHS really charging $70,000 for OPT?
Not right now. The $70,000 amount is part of a proposed DHS rule. It is not a current OPT fee.
Who has to pay the $70,000 OPT fee?
Under the proposal, the SEVP-certified school would be responsible for paying DHS before recommending the student for OPT. The proposal also recognizes that schools could potentially recover costs from students, employers or other sources.
Does the OPT fee apply to STEM OPT?
If finalized as proposed, a $30,000 subsequent fee would apply to later OPT authorizations, including a qualifying STEM OPT extension.
Will current F-1 students have to pay the new fee?
Not simply because they’re already F-1 students. The proposed fees aren’t currently in effect. If the rule is finalized, its application will depend on the effective date and the student’s OPT recommendation.
Can international students still work in the U.S. after graduation?
Yes. Eligible F-1 students can currently seek post-completion OPT, subject to the existing rules. Eligible STEM graduates may qualify for the additional 24-month STEM OPT extension.
Is the $70,000 OPT fee final?
No. DHS has proposed it. The rule must go through the federal rulemaking process before it can become final.
What happens if the OPT fee proposal becomes law?
The cost of OPT could increase dramatically for schools, students and potentially employers. Some schools may reconsider OPT recommendations, while others may absorb or recover the cost. The rule could also face legal challenges.
