US Proposes $70,000 Fee For Non-immigrant Students Seeking Temporary Work Authorisation

NEW DELHI:  The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed new fees for F-1 non-immigrant students who intend to participate in Optional Practical Training (OPT), a temporary employment authorisation linked to a student’s field of study.

The decision was taken to reduce the flow of cheap labour into the USA and make it easier for American workers to compete in the job market, the DHS said. However, it could affect Indian students seeking to study and work in the USA after graduation.

Now, the educational institutions would have to pay $70,000 for a student’s first participation in OPT. For every subsequent renewal, institutions would be required to pay a $30,000 fee.

The move will also help combat fraud and abuse, strengthen the integrity of the immigration system, and protect US workers, the DHS said.

“Optional Practical Training was never meant to be a backdoor 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 programme that has been turned into a pipeline for cheap foreign labour,” the spokesperson said.

Under the current rules, eligible F-1 non-immigrant students can participate in OPT if the employment is directly related to their major area of study.

The F-1 non-immigrant students must receive a recommendation from their designated school official (DSO) and apply for employment authorisation with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

F-1 non-immigrant students may apply for Optional Practical Training during their academic programme (pre-completion OPT) or after completing their programme (post-completion OPT).

Eligible F-1 non-immigrant students may receive up to 12 months of OPT at each education level. Those who earn degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields may be eligible for an additional 24-month extension.

India has been the largest source of international students in the USA. In the 2024-25 academic year, over 3.63 lakh Indian students enrolled in USA institutions.

Data cited by NAFSA and research firm JB International showed a decline in international student enrolment in the USA, from an estimated 11.69 lakh in 2025-26 to 10.57 lakh this year.

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The DHS said the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) had identified alleged exploitation involving designated schools and officials, employers and F-1 students.

These included problematic worksites and “pay-to-stay” arrangements, under which students allegedly maintain their visa status without undertaking legitimate employment or training.

The proposal will be open for public opinions for 60 days before DHS takes a final call on the proposal.