Top News

The Donald Trump administration is considering a steep $100,000 fee for international students who want to work in the US after completing their university studies, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The proposal, if implemented, will have a huge effect on international students, including over 360,000 Indian students studying in the US.

The proposed fee relates to the OPT programme, which enables foreign students to work in America after they complete their studies. This programme is very popular among foreign graduates, especially those involved in technology, engineering, and other STEM-related fields.

According to the WSJ report published on Thursday, the proposal is currently being considered at the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It remains unclear whether the White House has given its final backing to the plan.

Proposed $100,000 Fee could raise cost of post-study work

OPT currently allows eligible international students on F-1 student visas to work in the US after graduation. Students can generally receive up to 12 months of OPT, while those with qualifying STEM degrees may be eligible for an additional 24 months, taking the total period to as much as three years.

The proposed $100,000 charge would represent a significant additional financial burden for international graduates seeking to remain in the US for work experience after completing their studies.

The exact details of the proposal, including which students or employers would be responsible for paying the fee, are not yet clear. Furthermore, it is not entirely clear whether this payment will be applicable to all participants in the OPT programme or only to some categories of international graduates.

Potential impact on students

In 2024, around 419,000 graduates from other countries were employed in the US under the OPT programme. This initiative has turned into an essential way for international students to get a chance to obtain professional experience in the country once they have finished their studies.

The proposed initiative is especially crucial for international students from countries such as India, since more than 360,000 students from India study in the United States.

The initiative remains under consideration at the moment; thus, there is no information about the introduction of the $100,000 payment yet.