Trump administration plans to charge international students $70,000 for work authorization

Washington, Oct 6 - The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a plan to charge international students attending US universities at least $70,000 for work authorization, according to a government notice disclosed on Wednesday. This is part of the Trump administration's broader initiative to tighten control over foreign visa holders.

Under the proposed rules, F-1 visa holders, who are nonimmigrant students, would be required to pay $70,000 to a certified institution for on-the-job training, also known as Optional Practical Training (OPT). Additionally, they would need to pay $30,000 for any further work-related training.

DHS claims these new regulations are intended to curb fraud, enhance the integrity of the immigration system, and safeguard US workers. The OPT program allows foreign students to engage in work training for up to 20 hours per week during the academic term, and for a limited period following graduation, with an extra allowance for students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Currently, students are expected to pay around $500 for these programs.

The department is setting the fee to ensure that employers, students, and institutions are conducting appropriate activities that align with their F-1 nonimmigrant admission status. Such training programs frequently act as a stepping stone for students seeking work under H-1B visas, which the Trump administration has also targeted with higher fees.

The H-1B program has historically enabled young engineers and scientists, primarily from India and China, to leverage their US university education into lucrative jobs and a potential route to permanent residency in the United States. Large US tech companies have heavily relied on these skilled workers for their workforce.

During his 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump had pledged to make it simpler for foreign students to remain in the country, suggesting they should automatically be granted a Green Card upon graduation. Similar DHS proposals have faced swift legal challenges; the $100,000 H-1B fee and other restrictionist policies have already been overturned by courts.

The rule change is open to public comment for 30 days before it can be finalized. DHS intends to wait 60 days after finalizing the rule before implementing it, giving schools, students, and employers sufficient time to prepare.