US Proposes Rs 67 Lakh Fee for Foreign Students Applying for Temporary Work

October 8, 2026

Washington: The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed new fees related to Optional Practical Training (OPT) for foreign students with F-1 visas. OPT allows students to work temporarily in a field related to their studies.

According to DHS, this proposal aims to reduce the flow of cheap foreign labor into the US and improve job market competition for American workers.

$70,000 fee for initial OPT

The proposed rule proposes a fee of $70,000 (approximately ₹6.7 million) for F-1 students’ initial OPT. Subsequent OPTs are proposed to be charged at $30,000 (approximately ₹2.9 million) per student.

DHS states that these fees are intended to prevent fraud and abuse in the OPT process, strengthen the credibility of the U.S. immigration system, and protect the interests of American workers.

A DHS spokesperson stated that Optional Practical Training was never designed to be an easy path to entry into the U.S. workforce, a subsidy for cheap labor, or a reward for those who exploit the system.

According to the spokesperson, DHS wants to strengthen the OPT system so that foreign students must prove their worth to employers. They stated that American workers should not have to compete with a program that has been turned into a conduit for cheap foreign labor.

What is OPT?

Under current rules, eligible F-1 students can apply for OPT, but their employment must be directly related to their major area of ​​study.

To obtain OPT, students must obtain a recommendation from their Designated School Official (DSO). They then need to apply for employment authorization with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

OPT is available both during and after their studies

F-1 students can apply for Pre-completion OPT during their studies or Post-completion OPT after completing their studies.

Eligible students can receive a maximum of 12 months of OPT at each level of study. Students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields may be eligible for an additional 24-month OPT extension.