The Trump administration is considering imposing a $100,000 fee on international graduates who want to stay and work in the United States under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, according to a Wall Street Journal report, in the latest step of a broader immigration crackdown.
OPT currently allows F-1 visa holders to work for one to three years in fields related to their studies. Roughly 419,000 foreign graduates were working under the program in 2024, the latest year for which data are available, and the United States hosted more than 1.1 million international students during the 2023-24 academic year, contributing billions of dollars to the economy.
A Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman said: “No policies should be considered final until formally announced. At DHS we are always having conversations about how to use all tools in our arsenal to protect the integrity of our legal immigration system.”
The proposed fee mirrors an earlier $100,000 levy on H-1B visas, the program businesses use to recruit skilled foreign workers and which Silicon Valley firms fought. A federal judge recently ruled that the H-1B fee was illegal, though the administration is challenging the decision. State Department officials are also reportedly considering a $100,000 bond on green card applicants outside the United States, redeemable only after they move to the country and become citizens.
The move aligns with other restrictions finalized this month that cap foreign students and journalists at four-year stays tied to their academic programs, replacing open-ended durations. Washington has targeted OPT before, with officials citing concerns over visa fraud and overstayed permits.
Immigration experts and university groups warn that losing the OPT pathway would force most foreign graduates to leave the country shortly after completing their degrees, taking skills acquired at American universities to competitor markets. Major employers, particularly in the technology and finance sectors, rely heavily on international graduates trained in US classrooms, and universities have warned that such fees would deter enrollment at a time when international student numbers are already under pressure.
The proposal remains under discussion and has not been formally announced. If implemented, it would be among the most expensive immigration fees ever imposed on individuals, and it is likely to face legal challenges similar to the one that struck down the H-1B levy.
Sources: Outlook India, The Indian Express, The American Bazaar