US Weighs $100,000 Fee for Foreign Graduates Seeking Work

The Donald Trump administration is reportedly contemplating a significant financial barrier for foreign graduates wishing to work in the United States. A plan under consideration could require international university alumni to pay a $100,000 fee to secure employment through the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program.

The reported proposal, which has surfaced in a Wall Street Journal report, has ignited strong backlash. Critics have decried the idea as "stupid" and expressed grave concerns about its potential repercussions on the U.S.'s ability to attract and retain global talent. The OPT program currently allows eligible foreign students to work in the U.S. for up to three years after completing their degrees, depending on their field of study.

While the executive branch has not officially confirmed the plan, sources cited by the publication suggest the fee is tied to the OPT scheme. In 2024, approximately 419,000 international graduates were reportedly utilizing the OPT pathway. This program is a vital pipeline for U.S. companies, particularly in the technology and finance sectors, to recruit skilled workers from American academic institutions before they can secure H-1B visas.

The potential financial burden could also affect U.S. higher education institutions, as international students contribute substantially to tuition revenues. This reported deliberation follows recent legal challenges faced by the Trump administration regarding its immigration policies, including a previously blocked attempt to impose a $100,000 levy on certain H-1B visa applicants.