The United States is currently weighing up changing the fees for international students hoping to get jobs in the OPT program, which will be very important for students going to study and work once after that.
Under the proposed legislation, educational institutions would have to pay a USD 70,000 fee when a student gets involved in OPT for the first time and a USD 30,000 for each renewal.
The proposal from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is to combat fraud and abuse in the OPT system. If implemented, the proposed charges could significantly alter the cost of recruiting international graduates and may be important to students, universities, and employers.
The OPT programme currently allows international students on F-1 visas to have actual work experience in areas related to their studies after completion of their education. OPT eligibility is limited to up to one year for students with STEM qualifications, while graduates of STEM fields can receive an extension that allows them to work for up to three years in total.
USD 70,000 Fee Proposed For First-Time OPT
According to the proposal presented in the report, universities and other educational institutions would be responsible for paying a USD 70,000 fee for a student's first participation in OPT. A separate USD 30,000 charge would apply for further renewals.
The proposed structure could make OPT participation considerably more expensive for institutions and employers associated with international graduates. The financial implications could also influence decisions about hiring foreign graduates, particularly if employers or educational institutions ultimately pass some of the additional costs on to other parties.
DHS has justified the proposed fee through alleged misuse of the OPT system. It has said that the program has been used in ways that allowed some employers to get foreign workers at lower costs and has raised concerns about bad worksites and so-called “pay-to-stay” visa schemes.
The department also said that the proposal is intended to increase oversight of the programme and to ensure that international students participating in OPT provide value to employers and the US workforce.
Why the Proposal Matters to Indian Students
The proposed changes could attract particular interest in India as there are so many Indian students studying in the United States. India is still one of the biggest countries where international students are enrolled, with hundreds of thousands of Indian students at US universities and colleges.
For Indian students, the ability to work after graduation is often in the driver’s seat of pursuing a US education. OPT can offer graduates the opportunity to gain professional experience, pay off education-related costs, and, in time, explore longer-term employment and immigration options.
A fee on the part of institutions for OPT participation might also affect the employment environment for international graduates. Universities and employers may have to consider whether OPT does add additional financial strain to international graduates in some cases.
But the effect of the policy would depend on the final structure of the policy, who would ultimately pay for it, and how employers and educational institutions would react to it.
DHS Raises Concerns Over OPT Abuse
The proposed fee comes as international students are being watched closely in the US. DHS has pointed out cases in which schools, school officials, employers, and F-1 students were alleged to take advantage of existing rules through arrangements that had unclear employment and visa compliance.
The department has said the changes are being undertaken in order to avoid abuse and that the OPT programme should be used in a manner that is in line with its intended purpose.
More generally, the proposal has also brought international graduates to the US labour market in a greater sense. Stronger oversight could be justified by those who say more robust controls are needed to prevent fraudulent arrangements and protect domestic workers.
Universities, employers, and international education groups, however, may also raise concerns about whether high fees would make the US less accessible to international talent.
International Student Numbers Under Focus
The debate comes at a time when international student enrolment in the US is changing. Data cited in the report shows India accounted for more than 3.63 lakh international students during the 2024-25 academic year.
International students also make a major contribution to the US economy in terms of tuition payments, accommodation, transportation, retail spending, and other expenses. Based on the data cited in the report, international students contributed tens of billions of dollars to local economies.
At the same time, enrolment figures have declined, adding another dimension to the discussion around US policies on overseas students. Any policy that makes studying and working more expensive in the country will be of great interest to prospective students when it comes to comparing the US with other study abroad destinations.
60-Day Period for Public Feedback
The OPT fee structure is not a final rule yet. Feedback has been given 60 days to engage with the public before the Department of Homeland Security is ready to implement the proposal.
The proposal could also be challenged in court by higher education organisations, business groups, or other stakeholders. The final requirements might not be the same as the current proposal given comments from public groups, legal proceedings, and decisions made by the US administration.
As Indian students considering US universities, the development points to the necessity of keeping track of changes to OPT and F-1 visa regulations before planning for long-term education plans. Students should differentiate between policy and implementation, as the financial and employment implications will be different before any final policy has taken effect.
If implemented in its proposed form, the USD 70,000 first-time fee and USD 30,000 renewal charge would be a major change in the economics of OPT. For international students, especially those who depend on post-study employment opportunities, the outcome of the public consultation and any follow-up legal or administrative action will be closely watched.
