The Trump administration and the Department of Homeland Security are considering a $100,000 [1] fee for international students seeking work permits.
This proposal targets the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program [2], a critical pathway for foreign graduates to gain professional experience in the U.S. If implemented, the fee could significantly reduce the number of international graduates entering the domestic workforce and create new revenue streams for the government [1].
The policy is currently under discussion, with revised regulations expected later this fall [3]. The proposed charge would impact the Optional Practical Training program significantly, a reporter for the Times of India said.
Industry experts suggest the move would hit specific economic hubs the hardest. The impact would be felt most acutely in Silicon Valley, Wall Street, and across U.S. universities [4]. Tech companies, which carry out their recruitments in US universities are where most of the foreign workforce ply their trade, according to a report from MSN (US) [5].
Critics argue the cost would fundamentally change the appeal of the American education system. If approved, the fee could make the U.S. a less attractive destination for international students and impact universities, a reporter for MSN (In) said [6].
University administrators and corporate recruiters often rely on the OPT program to bridge the gap between graduation and long-term employment visas. A six-figure fee would likely price out the majority of graduates, regardless of their field of study, and shift the recruitment landscape toward domestic candidates [1].
“"The proposed charge would impact the Optional Practical Training program significantly."”
This proposal represents a shift toward using financial barriers to regulate immigration and labor entry. By targeting the OPT program, the administration may discourage high-skilled foreign labor from entering the U.S. market, potentially pushing global talent toward competing economies in Europe or Asia while increasing the cost of operation for U.S. tech and finance firms that rely on international recruits.
