US proposes $70,000 fee for students' OPT work permits; comments open till Nov 9

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed new fees of $70,000 for an international student's initial Optional Practical Training (OPT) and $30,000 for each later OPT period. The proposed rule, titled "Optional Practical Training Fees", was published in the Federal Register on Thursday, October 8, 2026, under docket number ICEB-2026-0100. The fee would apply to each F-1 student who takes up OPT through a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). According to legal summaries of the rule, the school would pay the fee, though DHS expects the cost to be passed on. The rule is only a proposal, and the public can comment until November 9, 2026, according to the Federal Register listing.

OPT lets international students on F-1 visas work in the US in their field of study after, or sometimes during, their degree. For many students, it is the bridge between a US degree and a US job, and often the first step towards a longer-term work visa. Some students go on to a further period of OPT, which is why the separate fee for later OPT periods matters.

A fee of $70,000 is a very large sum by the standards of most student budgets. If it is passed on to students through higher charges, or if schools limit how many students they recommend for OPT, the economics of studying in the US would change sharply. Families who borrow to pay for a US master's degree often count on OPT earnings to repay loans. A large new cost at the end of the degree could make that plan much harder.

For Indian students, the stakes are high. Many Indian students in the US plan their studies around OPT and the US work experience it offers. Students who are applying now for the next intake, and those already enrolled, will want to watch this rule closely. It comes amid other tightening of US student rules, including a final rule published in July 2026 that moves F-1 students from open-ended "duration of status" to a fixed admission period of generally up to four years.

It is important not to panic. A proposed rule can change after public comments, may be challenged in court, and often takes months to become final. Students should follow updates from their university's international student office and avoid decisions based on rumours.

Short-term: Universities, students and employers are likely to file comments, and prospective students may hesitate over US applications for 2027 until the rule's fate is clear.

Long-term: If the fee becomes final, fewer international students may choose the US, or more may turn to other countries, and US universities could lose students and income.

Who is affected: International F-1 students in the US, including many from India; US universities and colleges; US employers who hire graduates through OPT; and families planning to fund US study.

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