The Department of Homeland Security has proposed charging U.S. colleges and universities substantial fees before they can recommend F-1 international students for Optional Practical Training, a work-authorization program tied to a student's field of study.
Under the proposed rule published October 8, a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program would pay $70,000 before a student's first OPT recommendation. Any later recommendation for that student, including a STEM extension, would cost another $30,000. The payment would have to be made before the school's designated official enters the recommendation and before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services grants employment authorization.
How the $100,000 total works
The proposal does not impose one flat $100,000 charge on every student. Standard OPT can provide up to 12 months of work authorization connected to a student's field of study. Eligible science, technology, engineering and math graduates may then seek a 24-month extension. A school paying both the initial and subsequent fees for that path would spend $100,000 in total.
That is a major shift from the current setup. Science reports that students now bear application costs of up to $2,250 for an initial OPT request. The proposed fees would instead be owed by universities, though it is unclear whether schools would try to pass some of the cost to students.
DHS says the fees would combat fraud, strengthen the immigration system and protect U.S. workers by pushing schools to scrutinize OPT recommendations more closely. Critics argue the cost could deter universities from supporting international graduates. Michael Clemens, an economist at Johns Hopkins University, told Nature that the change “will obliterate the pipeline,” according to Science.
It is not in effect
The measure is a proposal, not current policy. Public comments are due November 9. If DHS issues a final rule, it would take effect 60 days after publication and apply to recommendations dated on or after that point. Students whose OPT was approved, or whose school issued a recommendation, before the effective date would not face the new fee for that authorization.
Whether the proposal becomes final remains uncertain. For now, universities and international students are looking at a possible cost structure, not a bill that is already due.
