Now Reading: OPT fee proposal comment period ends, schools push back
-
01
OPT fee proposal comment period ends, schools push back
The Story in Brief
The comment period for the proposed $70,000 fee on initial Optional Practical Training (OPT) applications ended on 9 November 2026. The rule, proposed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in October 2026, also includes a $30,000 fee for subsequent filings, including STEM OPT.
The American Council on Education, along with 36 other higher education groups, urged the DHS to withdraw the proposal, warning it could invite fraud and kill the OPT program. The fee would require SEVP-certified schools to pay before any student applies for OPT.
Comments on the rule itself closed on 9 November, but comments on information collection remain open until 7 December 2026.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The closure of the comment period moves the proposal one step closer to potential implementation, but the strong opposition from major education groups signals significant hurdles. The DHS must now review the thousands of comments before deciding on the next step. If enacted, the $70,000 fee could sharply reduce the number of international students seeking work experience in the US through OPT, affecting both student career pathways and university recruitment. The final rule’s fate rests on the DHS review, with no fixed deadline announced yet.
Source: m9.news
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
