The Trump administration has proposed a significant change to the Optional Practical Training programme that could affect international students seeking employment experience in the United States after completing their studies.
Under the proposal announced by the US Department of Homeland Security, educational institutions would be required to pay a 70000 dollar fee when recommending an F1 international student for initial Optional Practical Training. A further 30000 dollar fee would apply to subsequent OPT recommendations, including extensions.
The proposal is particularly important for Indian students because many Indian graduates use the OPT programme to gain professional experience in the United States after completing university degrees. Indian students are also strongly represented among graduates who qualify for the STEM OPT extension, which covers science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.
However, the proposed 70000 dollar charge is not a fee that students are currently required to pay. It is part of a proposed rule, and the initial financial obligation would fall on educational institutions that recommend students for OPT. Immigration law specialists have noted that universities could potentially seek to recover these costs from students or employers if the proposal becomes final.
Optional Practical Training is a temporary employment programme available to eligible international students holding F1 visas. It allows students to obtain practical work experience in positions related to their field of study.
Under the existing system, eligible graduates can generally receive up to 12 months of OPT employment authorization. Students who complete qualifying STEM degrees may be eligible for an additional 24 month extension, allowing them to remain in OPT for up to three years in total.
The programme has become an important part of the US higher education system because it gives international students an opportunity to connect their academic education with professional experience. For many students, particularly those studying technology and engineering, OPT can also provide additional time to seek employment and potentially transition to other employment based immigration programmes.
The proposed fees would represent a dramatic increase compared with the existing cost structure. International students currently pay application related fees that are a small fraction of the proposed 70000 dollar institutional charge. The new proposal would therefore create a substantial additional financial consideration for universities and potentially for students and employers.
The Department of Homeland Security says the proposed charges are intended to address fraud and misuse within the OPT system, strengthen the integrity of the immigration system and protect US workers. The administration has argued that the programme should not be used as a route for companies to obtain lower cost foreign labour.
The proposal has nevertheless generated concern among higher education organisations and immigration specialists. Critics argue that such a large financial requirement could discourage universities from recommending international students for OPT. They also warn that the policy could make the United States less attractive to students considering overseas education.
This concern could be particularly relevant for Indian students. India has become one of the largest sources of international students in the United States, and a significant number pursue degrees in STEM fields. According to data cited by Hindustan Times, Indian students represented 48 percent of foreign students participating in the STEM OPT extension in 2024.
The proposed rule could therefore affect students who have already planned their education around the possibility of gaining US work experience after graduation. Students considering universities in the United States may also need to examine how individual institutions respond if the rule is finalized.
Universities could face difficult decisions because the proposed charges would add a substantial cost for every student they recommend. Some institutions may decide to absorb the cost, while others could consider passing some or all of the expense to students or employers. The final financial impact will depend on the wording of the final rule and how universities implement it.
The proposal also comes at a time when the Trump administration is pursuing broader changes to US immigration policy. The administration has introduced or considered several measures affecting international students, skilled foreign workers and employment based immigration.
The H1B visa system has also faced increased scrutiny. H1B visas are widely used by US employers to hire highly skilled foreign professionals, including graduates who first obtain work experience through OPT. Changes to OPT could therefore have consequences beyond the university sector because OPT is often an important stage in the career path of international graduates seeking longer term employment in the United States.
Technology companies and other industries have traditionally employed international graduates in areas where there is strong demand for skilled workers. Education organisations have warned that restricting access to international talent could affect universities as well as industries that depend on highly trained workers.
The proposed OPT fee is also likely to face legal and political scrutiny. Immigration experts have pointed to previous attempts to introduce major immigration related fees that faced court challenges. The latest proposal will therefore need to go through the federal rulemaking process before it can become enforceable.
The Department of Homeland Security is expected to accept public comments on the proposal before deciding whether to finalize it. According to reports, the proposed rule is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register, after which the public comment process will begin. The proposal would not immediately change the existing OPT system.
For Indian students planning to study in the United States, the key point is that the 70000 dollar and 30000 dollar amounts are proposed institutional fees and are not currently applicable as a mandatory student payment. The final impact will depend on whether the rule is approved, whether it is modified during the rulemaking process and how universities respond.
The proposal has nevertheless created fresh uncertainty for international students who view the United States as a destination for both higher education and professional experience. Indian students planning STEM degrees in particular may closely monitor developments because the OPT extension has traditionally provided additional time to work in the United States after graduation.
For now, students should avoid treating the proposed charges as a confirmed new payment requirement. The rule remains under consideration, and its final form could change following public comments and potential legal challenges.
