WASHINGTON — In a move that could drastically alter the landscape for international students in the United States, the Trump administration is considering imposing a steep $100,000 fee on foreign graduates wishing to work in the country after completing their degrees at American universities, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The proposal under consideration targets the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program—an extension of the F-1 student visa system that allows international graduates to work in the U.S. for one to three years in fields directly tied to their academic majors.
The report indicates that officials at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are exploring the heavy fee as part of broader efforts to reshape temporary work pathways. The move comes after a federal court recently invalidated a separate administration proposal to levy a $100,000 fee on H-1B skilled worker visas.
Protecting System Integrity or Deterring Global Talent?
Addressing the report, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security emphasized that no final regulatory decisions have been formally enacted.
"No policies should be considered final until formally announced," the DHS spokesperson said in a statement. "At DHS, we are always having conversations about how to use all tools in our arsenal to protect the integrity of our legal immigration system."
The OPT scheme remains one of the primary incentives for international students choosing American higher education over institutions in countries like Canada, the UK, or Australia. According to official data, approximately 419,000 foreign professionals were employed across the U.S. under the OPT program in 2024.
Industry observers and higher education advocates warn that adding a six-figure financial barrier would effectively gut the program. Without the post-graduation work runway provided by OPT, a vast majority of foreign graduates would be forced to exit the U.S. immediately after completing their studies, redirecting their skills to competing foreign markets. Major technology corporations, which hire heavily from top U.S. university campuses via OPT and H-1B pipelines, have previously voiced strong opposition to high employment-based visa surcharges.
Additional Restrictions Under Review
The prospective $100,000 OPT surcharge is not the only high-cost hurdle being discussed within executive agencies. Officials at the U.S. Department of State are reportedly weighing a proposal to require a $100,000 bond from abroad-based green card applicants. Under that proposal, the bond would only be refundable after the applicant successfully relocates to the United States and eventually obtains U.S. citizenship.
As discussions continue within federal departments, stakeholders in higher education and the global technology sector are closely monitoring Washington for formal policy notices or regulatory filings.
