The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed a $70,000 fee for the initial Optional Practical Training (OPT) authorisation for international students, a move that could significantly increase the cost of employing foreign graduates in the country.
The proposal, announced on October 7, 2026, would affect eligible F-1 students seeking to remain in the United States for practical work experience after completing their studies.
Under the proposed rules, the $70,000 charge would apply the first time an F-1 student is recommended for OPT after the rule takes effect. The proposal does not, however, specify that the student would personally be responsible for paying the fee.
Proposed OPT Fees
The proposed fee structure would introduce substantially higher costs for employers, universities or other parties involved in supporting international graduates.
- Initial OPT authorisation: $70,000
- Subsequent OPT authorisations: $30,000
- STEM OPT extensions: $30,000
The $30,000 charge would apply to subsequent OPT recommendations and authorisations, including extensions under the STEM OPT programme. OPT currently allows eligible F-1 graduates to gain temporary practical work experience in the US after completing an academic programme.
If implemented, the proposed charges could make international graduates significantly more expensive to hire and potentially influence decisions by employers and universities to sponsor or support them.
Current OPT Application Fees
The proposed charges would represent a dramatic increase from the standard government fees currently associated with OPT applications. According to the USCIS fee schedule cited in the report, the Form I-765 filing fee is $470 when filed online and $520 when filed by paper.
Eligible applicants can also request premium processing by filing Form I-907.
From March 1, 2026, the premium processing fee for eligible OPT and STEM OPT Form I-765 applications is $1,780, payable in addition to the standard I-765 filing fee.
The proposed $70,000 initial charge would therefore be far higher than the existing application and premium-processing fees combined.
Potential Impact on International Graduates
The proposal could have major implications for international students who depend on OPT as a pathway from US education into employment. Employers may become more reluctant to hire international graduates if they are required to absorb tens of thousands of dollars in additional costs.
The change could also affect the attractiveness of US universities to international students, particularly those considering programmes in science, technology, engineering and mathematics where graduates commonly use STEM OPT extensions to gain additional work experience.
