Trump administration reportedly considering $100,000 fee for international students' work program

The Trump administration is reportedly exploring a significant new financial barrier for international students seeking to work in the United States after graduation. According to The Wall Street Journal, a proposal is under consideration to charge up to $100,000 for foreign graduates utilizing the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program.

This potential fee, if implemented, would represent a substantial increase in the cost for international students and could severely curtail the ability of many to gain work experience in the U.S. The OPT program allows F-1 visa holders to work in jobs directly related to their field of study for one year, with an extension of up to three years for those in STEM fields. In 2024, approximately 419,000 foreign nationals worked in the U.S. through OPT.

The proposal is currently being discussed within the Department of Homeland Security, and details regarding who would bear the cost, students, universities, or employers, remain unclear. This initiative aligns with broader efforts by the Trump administration to restrict various forms of legal immigration. Such a fee could significantly impact universities that rely on international students for revenue and could deter foreign talent from pursuing education and careers in the U.S., potentially benefiting other global markets.

This development follows a recent rejection by U.S. courts of a similar $100,000 fee proposed by the Trump administration for H-1B professional work visas. Tech companies, a major employer of international graduates, had previously voiced strong opposition to that plan, citing concerns about increased recruitment costs. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security stated that no policy should be considered final until officially announced and that the department continuously evaluates its tools to maintain the integrity of the legal immigration system.