Now Reading: Trump proposes $70,000 fee for foreign students’ OPT programme
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Trump proposes $70,000 fee for foreign students’ OPT programme
The Trump administration has proposed a $70,000 (about Rs 67.72 lakh) fee for international students to participate in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, which allows them to work in the US after graduation. The fee would be charged to the student's college or university, not the student directly, for initial applications. Renewal or extension of the programme would cost $30,000.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the fee is intended to combat fraud and misuse of the visa programme, which it described as a channel for cheap foreign labour. The proposal has been opposed by NAFSA, an organisation representing the international education sector. NAFSA CEO Fanta Aw said deterring international students could harm US innovation, economic growth, employment and global leadership.
The proposal is not final. The public has 60 days to submit comments and objections. DHS may then finalise and implement it. Higher education institutions and business groups are expected to challenge the proposal in court, which could delay its implementation.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The proposal targets a programme that thousands of Indian students in the US rely on for post-graduation work experience. If implemented, the $70,000 fee per student would be a heavy cost for US universities, which may pass it on or reduce foreign enrolment. The 60-day comment period gives opponents a window to mobilise, but legal challenges are the more likely route to block or delay the rule, as seen with an earlier Trump-era student visa restriction that a federal court halted in September 2026.
Source: aajtak.in
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
