Key facts
- The U.S. administration is considering a $100,000 fee for foreign students.
- The fee would apply to those participating in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program.
- OPT allows foreign university graduates to work in the U.S. for one to three years.
- The measure could impact U.S. universities and companies that hire international graduates.
- Around 419,000 foreigners were working on OPT in 2024.
The U.S. administration is reportedly considering a significant fee of $100,000 for foreign students who wish to work in the United States after completing their studies. This potential measure, cited by The Wall Street Journal based on sources familiar with the matter, would be attached to the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. The OPT program currently allows international graduates to remain in the U.S. and work for a period of one to three years on their student visas.
If implemented, this proposed fee could have a substantial impact on both U.S. educational institutions that rely on attracting international students and on major industries like Silicon Valley and Wall Street, which frequently hire foreign college graduates for specialized technical roles. Data indicates that approximately 419,000 foreigners were engaged in OPT in 2024. This consideration by the administration follows a similar move last year when a proclamation was signed to impose a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B nonimmigrant visa applications for highly skilled foreign workers.