The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a $70,000 fee for non-immigrant international students seeking to participate in Optional Practical Training (OPT), a temporary programme that allows eligible students to work in jobs related to their field of study while in school or after graduation.
International students are generally eligible for up to one year of employment after completing their studies, while those in certain science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields can qualify for an additional two years.
Under the proposed rule, schools would be required to pay $70,000 for each student’s initial OPT application, while renewals would attract a $30,000 fee.
DHS announced the proposal in a statement on Wednesday, saying the measure is intended to tackle fraud and abuse, strengthen the integrity of the immigration system and protect American workers.
“Optional practical training was never meant to be a back door into the American workforce, a subsidy for cheap labour, or a prize for those who game the system,” a DHS spokesperson said.
“DHS is upskilling OPT to require foreign students to justify their worth to employers. American workers should not have to compete against a program that has been turned into a pipeline for cheap foreign labour.”
Existing federal regulations permit eligible international students to participate in OPT provided their employment is directly connected to their major area of study.
Students seeking to participate must first receive a recommendation from their designated school official (DSO) before applying for employment authorisation through US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
“DHS believes the proposed fees would encourage schools to exercise greater oversight and selectivity when recommending F-1 non-immigrant students for OPT, helping reduce fraud and strengthen program integrity,” the DHS statement said.
The proposal forms part of President Donald Trump’s broader efforts to tighten immigration rules and reform aspects of the higher education system.
In the previous year, US authorities terminated the legal status of thousands of international students, with many subsequently detained and deported.
DHS said it would receive public comments on the proposed rule from October 8 to November 9.