The Trump administration is considering a proposal that could significantly increase the cost of working in the United States after graduation for international students. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the administration is weighing a $100,000 fee for students seeking work authorisation under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme.
The proposal has not been approved or implemented, and several details including who would pay the fee and when it could come into effect remain unclear. Even so, it has raised concerns among international students, particularly Indians, for whom OPT has long been one of the biggest advantages of studying in the US.
What is OPT?
Optional Practical Training, or OPT, is a temporary work authorisation available to international students studying in the United States on an F-1 student visa.
OPT is not a visa. It is a work authorisation that allows eligible F-1 students to work in jobs directly related to their field of study after completing their degree. For many international students, it serves as the first step from university to professional employment in the US.
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Under the current rules, graduates can generally work for up to 12 months after completing a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree. Students graduating from eligible STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programmes can apply for a 24-month extension, allowing them to work in the US for a total of 36 months. In every case, the employment must be directly related to the student's academic programme.
OPT has become an important part of the US higher education system because it gives graduates an opportunity to gain industry experience before applying for longer-term work visas such as the H-1B.
Why is OPT so important?
For many international students, the chance to work in the US after graduation is a major factor in choosing an American university.
OPT allows graduates to gain practical work experience, earn a US salary and recover part of the high cost of studying abroad. It also helps them build professional networks and improve their chances of securing employer sponsorship for an H-1B visa or another long-term employment route.
Many companies in technology, engineering, finance and research hire international graduates through OPT before deciding whether to sponsor them for a longer-term work visa.
Who will be affected if the proposal goes ahead?
If the proposed fee is implemented, it would mainly affect international students graduating from US universities on F-1 visas who plan to apply for OPT after completing their studies.
The impact is likely to be greatest on students pursuing STEM degrees because they are eligible for the longer 36-month OPT period, making post-study work a key part of their education and career plans.
Indian students are expected to be among the most affected. India is now the largest source of international students in the US, and a large share of Indian students enrol in STEM programmes. For many of them, the opportunity to work in the US after graduation helps justify the significant investment required to study abroad.
A substantial increase in the cost of obtaining OPT could therefore make studying in the US less attractive for prospective students and influence future enrolment decisions.
Why is the proposed fee causing concern?
According to the Wall Street Journal report, the Trump administration is considering imposing a $100,000 fee for graduates seeking work authorisation through OPT as part of a broader overhaul of student visa rules.
However, the proposal remains at an early stage and many important questions have not yet been answered. It is still unclear whether the fee would be paid by students, employers or universities, whether any exemptions would apply, and when the proposal could take effect if it is approved.
Because of this uncertainty, universities, employers and international students are closely watching for further announcements.
Talking about if the fee has been introduced, the answer is no. The proposed $100,000 OPT fee has not been officially announced or implemented.
At present, it simply remains a proposal under consideration, and the existing OPT programme continues to operate under the current rules. Until the US government releases an official policy, eligible international students can continue applying for OPT as before.
