Optional practical training (OPT) is the route by which international students typically secure initial temporary employment in the US economy. The Department of Homeland Security has proposed that a university must pay $70,000 per student before it can recommend students for OPT for the first time, and $30,000 for each later recommendation, including the STEM extension: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/08/2026-20660/optional-practical-training-fees
The proposed payment requirement for optional practical training would substantially reduce the number of international graduates working in the US.
The proposed payment requirement for optional practical training would substantially weaken the ability of US universities to attract and retain top foreign students relative to other advanced economies.
The proposed payment requirement for optional practical training would reduce OPT hiring by small firms and start-ups substantially more than OPT hiring by large firms.
Universities are already strapped for money. They won't come up with this money for current number of students. Many students will not have the money either
I have had OPT students work with me. Both were very good. One became my RA and is now a Masters student at Stanford. She made major contributions to my research, becoming a co-author on at least two papers. I cannot attract Americans with comparable abilities.
The proposal claims that the new fees would combat fraud and strengthen the integrity of immigration. There was no fraud with the two OPTs I had. How does denying OPTs to two Chinese people affect the integrity of anything? Americans benefited from their presence.
The American system of higher education is the envy of the world, and is an invaluable asset. This policy will counter productively weaken this national advantage.
Seems to depend on whether the hiring firms could pay the fee for the university. In any case small high profit firms in finance or tech would gladly pay for top students.
What a terrible idea this is!
