Trump Administration Considers $100,000 Fee for International Graduates

The Trump administration is considering a proposal to impose a $100,000 fee on international students who wish to work in the United States after graduating from American universities. The levy would specifically target the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which allows foreign graduates—particularly those in STEM fields—to remain in the U.S. for one to three years before transitioning to an H-1B visa. In 2024, approximately 419,000 foreign graduates worked under this program.

This proposal, currently under discussion at the Department of Homeland Security, follows a legal defeat in which a federal appeals court in Boston blocked a similar $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications. Officials have not yet determined if the cost would be borne by the students, their universities, or their employers. The agency is also preparing a broader rewrite of OPT regulations.

Indian students are expected to be the most affected group, as India provided over 363,000 international students for the 2024-25 academic year. Education consultants warn that such a fee could drive prospective talent toward competitors like Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia. The measure could also hinder the ability of U.S. technology and financial firms to recruit skilled global talent.