DHS proposes new fees for international students seeking Optional Practical Training
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The Facts
- DHS proposed new fees for F-1 students’ Optional Practical Training participation.
- The proposal sets a $70,000 fee for a student’s initial OPT participation.
- The proposal sets a $30,000 fee for subsequent OPT participation, including STEM extensions.
- SEVP-certified educational institutions would pay the proposed OPT fees.
- OPT authorizes eligible F-1 students for temporary work related to their field of study.
- DHS says the proposed fees would combat fraud, protect U.S. workers and strengthen immigration-system integrity.
- The rule is proposed and will undergo a public-comment process before it can be finalized.
Context
What is Optional Practical Training?
Optional Practical Training, or OPT, is temporary U.S. work authorization for eligible F-1 students in jobs related to their fields of study. Indian Express Business Insider POLITICO
Who would pay the proposed fees?
The proposed fees would be charged to Student and Exchange Visitor Program-certified educational institutions when they recommend students for OPT, rather than directly to students. Hindustan Times India Today Financial Express
What happens next?
The proposal is subject to public comment before it can be finalized. Times of India Hindustan Times India Today
Where Left and Right agree, and where they split
- Where Left and Right agree
- Both frame the $70,000 initial fee and $30,000 subsequent fee as a real cost landing on certified schools, and both treat worker protection as a legitimate goal DHS is invoking.
- Where Left and Right split
- The left and right split on whether OPT fees price out students or push costs onto schools.
- Why they won’t converge
- This is a values divide over who should absorb the cost of a labor-market risk DHS itself defines, not a factual disagreement about the fee amounts or mechanics.
- Watch for
- The proposal will be open for public comment for 60 days before it can be finalized, per India Today.India Today
How left and right read it
Left says
Protecting workers means enforceable standards on employers who exploit them — not a $70,000 toll that schools must pay before a graduate can take a temporary job in their field. A price tag that steep, with $30,000 more for later participation including STEM extensions, does not police fraud; it prices out students, which is the point. Not a paywall on who gets to study and work here.
“It marks the Trump Administration's latest attempt to curb foreign enrollment.” — TIME
Right says
A pathway that costs its sponsors nothing gets used as if it were free — which is how temporary work authorization for foreign students became what Homeland Security now calls a threat to American workers in technical fields. Charging the certified schools that recommend it $70,000 up front, and $30,000 later including STEM extensions, puts the price where the incentive sits. So: who should bear that cost?
“OPT has exploded in popularity after changes made by the Obama administration, to the point that Homeland Security says it has become a threat to U.S. workers, particularly in science, technology and engineering jobs.” — Washington Times
The $70,000 fee lands on schools, making OPT's real fight about who should absorb that cost: institutions or the students they sponsor.
The receipts — 100 sources
Wire services (7)
Independent coverage (93)
TIMETrump Administration Proposes $70K Fee for International Stu...
Current FinalTrump administration proposes $70,000 fee for international ...
College NewsWhat U.S. Universities Don't Tell International Students (Bu...
New York PostDHS proposes massive $70K fee for foreign students seeking w...
The Financial ExpressUS announces new OPT fees; F-1 students may soon face up to ...
Daily MirrorTrump administration proposes $70,000 fee for US internation...
mintTrump admin proposes ₹67 lakh fee for students to work in US...
WIONTrump administration proposes $70,000 fee for international ...
NewsBytesUS proposes $70,000 fee for foreign students seeking tempora...
Mondaq Business BriefingDHS Proposes $70,000 And $30,000 Fees For F-1 Optional Pract...
Business StandardUS plans $70,000 fee for students seeking jobs after graduat...
NigerianeyeTrump Proposes $70,000 Fee for Foreign Students Seeking U.S....
The Times of IndiaUS proposes $70,000 OPT fee for F-1 students seeking work au...
China Daily AsiaUS authorities plan to charge foreign students $70,000 for w...
Daily TimesUS proposes $70,000 fee for international student work train...
Daily News and Analysis (DNA) IndiaRs 67 lakh fee for training in US? After Rs 95 lakh H-1 B vi...
Deccan HeraldUS may impose $70,000 OPT fee for F-1 visa holders: How Indi...
NairametricsU.S. proposes $70,000 fee for international student work pro...
AolUS colleges could face a $70,000 fee for international stude...
Business InsiderUS colleges could face a $70,000 fee for international stude...
Daily Post NigeriaTrump proposes $70,000 fee, $30,000 renewal for Nigerian, ot...
gistmania.comPres. Trump To Impose $70,000 OPT Levy For Nigerians, Other ...
The Indian ExpressUS proposes $70,000 fee for first-time OPT participation by ...
The Korea HeraldTrump administration proposes $70,000 fee for international ...
https://www.outlookindia.com/US Proposes $70,000 OPT Fee For International Students, Indi...
AsiaOneAsiaOne
NDTVUS Proposes $70,000 Fee For Foreign Students Seeking Tempora...
India TodayUS proposes $70,000 fee for initial OPT applications, $30,00...
FirstpostWhy Trump's $70,000 fee for graduates to work in US is a con...
NTDDHS Proposes $70,000 Fee per Foreign Student Seeking Work Tr...
Fox WilmingtonDHS proposes massive $70K fee for foreign students seeking w...
Hindustan TimesTrump admin plans $70,000 fee on post-study work programme, ...
The Siasat DailyUS proposes USD 70,000 fee for student work programme
Hindustan TimesTrump administration proposes $70,000 OPT fee for internatio...
TimesNowUS Proposes USD 70,000 Fee For International Students Seekin...
National Daily NGUS proposes $70,000 fee for international students seeking p...
Free Malaysia TodayUS plans to charge international students US$70,000 for work...
Cuba Headlines Digital EditionUnited States Suggests $70,000 Fee for Foreign Graduates See...
Fox NewsDHS proposes massive $70K fee for foreign students seeking w...
The HinduTrump administration plans to charge international students ...
WND'This is a great win': $70,000 participation fee planned for...
matzav.com$70,000 TO WORK: Trump Administration Proposes Massive New F...
TimesNowIndian Students Face Trump's $70,000 Barrier to Working in U...
TownhallDHS Proposes New Rule to Provide Opportunities for American ...
조선일보U.S. Proposes $70,000 Fee for Foreign Student Work Program
Boston HeraldTicker: Fed minutes: Another rate hike likely
Legit.ng - Nigeria news.Nigerian students, others face proposed $70,000 US fee to wo...
Australian Financial ReviewTrump administration proposes $100k fee for foreign students...
News18$70K For Work Authorisation? Trump Admin Proposes Hefty Fee ...
Washington PostUniversities may face up to $100K in fees for foreign studen...
mintTrump's $70,000 OPT fee proposal for international students ...
newKerala.comUS Proposes $70,000 Fee for Student Work Programme OPT
The ColumbianU.S. cracks down on foreign enrollment
News India TimesDHS proposes $70,000 fee for foreign students seeking OPT wo...
Telangana TodayUS proposes $70,000 fee for international students seeking O...
VanguardTrump administration proposes $70,000 fee for Nigerian, othe...
Daily MaverickTrump administration plans to charge international students ...
Punch NewspapersTrump proposes $70,000 fee for international students seekin...
ThePrintTrump administration plans to charge international students ...
Republic WorldTrump Administration Plans to Charge International Students ...
mintTrump administration proposes $70,000 OPT fee for F-1 studen...
ThePrintUS proposes USD 70,000 fee for international students seekin...
The Straits TimesUS proposes US$70,000 fee for student work permits
cnbctv18.comUS proposes $70,000 OPT fee for international students - CNB...
@businesslineUS proposes $70,000 OPT fee for international students, $30,...
News18US proposes USD 70,000 fee for international students seekin...
Honolulu Star AdvertiserTrump administration proposes $70,000 fee for international ...
India TodayUS proposes USD 70,000 OPT fee, raising worries for Indian s...
Raw StoryExperts gasp at new Trump move expected to 'decimate' scienc...
POLITICODHS proposes $70K fee for international student work program
The American Bazaar$70,000 for OPT? DHS proposes massive new fee for F-1 intern...
The Siasat DailyTrump proposes USD 70k fee for foreign students seeking to w...
Erie News Now - Your News TeamThe Latest: GOP fears grow that even $1 billion may not buy ...
100 Percent Fed UpTrump Administration Moves to Crush Foreign-Student Cheap-La...
South China Morning PostUS proposes US$70,000 fee for foreign students to work after...
The Financial ExpressDHS proposes up to $100,000 OPT fee: What changes for foreig...
Los Angeles TimesTrump administration proposes a $70,000 fee for internationa...
FirstpostTrump administration proposes $70,000 fee for international ...
The Times of IndiaIndian students' American dream hits a $ 70,000 toll
TRT WorldUS colleges could face $70,000 fee per foreign student seeki...
India TodayUS proposes USD 70,000 OPT fee for international students' w...
Economic TimesTrump administration proposes a $70,000 fee for internationa...
India TV NewsTrump admin proposes $70,000 fee for foreign students seekin...
MoneyControlTrump administration proposes $70,000 fee for foreign studen...
The Korea TimesTrump administration proposes $70,000 fee for int'l students...
NewsdayTrump administration proposes a $70,000 fee for internationa...
Washington TimesDHS proposes massive new fees for foreign students who want ...
Kashmir ObserverUS Proposes $70,000 Fee for Foreign Student Workers - Kashmi...
The Times of IndiaNew OPT fee proposed: $70,000 for first-time F-1 students, $...
News 4 JaxThe Latest: GOP fears grow that even $1 billion may not buy ...
www.theepochtimes.comDHS Proposes $70,000 Fee for Foreign Students to Work in the...
FOX 13 Tampa BayTrump administration proposes $70K fee to allow internationa...
Higher Ed DiveDHS proposes $70K fee for initial OPT participation and $30K...
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