US proposes a $70,000 fee for a student’s first OPT and $30,000 for each one after it: comments close on 9 November

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed that universities pay $70,000 before they can recommend an F-1 student for Optional Practical Training (OPT) for the first time, and $30,000 for every OPT after that, including the 24-month STEM OPT extension. The proposed rule, drafted by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), was published in the Federal Register on 8 October 2026 (91 FR 64566). It is a proposal, not a rule in force. Public comments close on 9 November 2026.

What the proposal says

The fee is charged to the school. A designated school official could not enter an OPT recommendation in SEVIS until the school has paid, and USCIS would not grant the work permit before payment. The fee is tied to each OPT recommendation, not to an employer, so changing jobs would not trigger it.

DHS writes that schools “may mitigate their budgetary impact by passing the financial obligation of this proposed fee onto F-1 nonimmigrant students, all students, or employers”. It adds that school officials are not required to recommend a student for OPT and can choose not to pay for a student they do not see as a strong candidate.

What it could add up to per student

• Post-completion OPT, then the STEM OPT extension: $70,000 + $30,000 = $100,000.
• Pre-completion OPT during the degree, then post-completion OPT: $70,000 + $30,000, and another $30,000 if a STEM extension follows.

Who it would cover

DHS proposes that a final rule take effect 60 days after it is published, with the fees applying to OPT recommendations dated on or after that day. Students already on OPT, already approved, or already recommended before then would not be charged. Students already in the US who have not yet been recommended would be covered, and any later OPT request made after the effective date, such as a STEM extension, would carry the $30,000 fee.

Indian students would feel this more than most. ICE’s SEVIS by the Numbers 2024 report counts 165,524 students on the STEM OPT extension in 2024, and 48.0% of them were from India.

Key dates

• 8 October 2026: proposed rule published, docket ICEB-2026-0100.
• 9 November 2026, 11:59 pm US Eastern time (10:29 am IST on 10 November): comments close on regulations.gov.
• 7 December 2026: comments close on the information-collection part of the rule.
• Final rule: no date announced. If one is issued, it would take effect 60 days after publication.

What to do now

1. If you are applying for a US master’s for 2027, ask each university in writing whether it would keep recommending OPT if the fee is finalised, and whether it would pay the fee or pass it on.
2. As of 16 October 2026 no such fee is charged. Treat any “OPT fee” demand from an agent as a red flag.
3. Anyone can comment by searching ICEB-2026-0100 on regulations.gov. Comments must be in English and should name the part of the rule they address.

Further reading: H-1B visa fee 2026: what the $100,000 payment and the proposed fees mean for Indian students planning an MS in the USA.

CareerBox News Desk, reporting on the US Department of Homeland Security (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) proposed rule “Optional Practical Training Fees”, 91 FR 64566, published 8 October 2026, and ICE’s SEVIS by the Numbers 2024 report. Official portal: federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/08/2026-20660/optional-practical-training-fees. Dates and eligibility change; confirm them on the official portal before you act.