Federal RegisterOct 8, 2026
Optional Practical Training Fees
DHS proposed new OPT fees of $70,000 for initial Optional Practical Training and $30,000 for each subsequent OPT period for F-1 students using SEVP-certified institutions.
DHS (ICE) published a proposed rule on Oct 8, 2026 that would charge SEVP-certified schools, not students directly, a one-time $70,000 fee the first time a student is recommended for any OPT (pre- or post-completion), and $30,000 before each later OPT recommendation, including STEM OPT. The school must pay before the DSO enters the recommendation in SEVIS, and USCIS would not issue the EAD until it is paid. Refunds are case-by-case, and only before the EAD is issued. The fee would start for recommendations dated 60 days after a final rule is published. Nothing is in effect yet. Comments close Nov 9, 2026 (information-collection comments Dec 7). The earlier $100,000 reports match the rule's combined $70,000 + $30,000 for a student who uses initial OPT and then STEM OPT.
中文2026 年 10 月 8 日，DHS（ICE）在 Federal Register 公布拟议规则：向 SEVP 认证学校（而非学生本人）收费。学生首次被推荐任何类型的 OPT（毕业前或毕业后）时一次性收 7 万美元，之后每次再被推荐 OPT（包括 STEM OPT）收 3 万美元。学校必须在 DSO 于 SEVIS 中录入推荐之前缴费，缴费前 USCIS 不会发放 EAD；退款仅限 EAD 发放前、逐案决定。费用从最终规则公布 60 天后签发的推荐开始适用。目前尚未生效。公众评论截止 2026 年 11 月 9 日（信息收集部分 12 月 7 日）。此前媒体报道的 10 万美元，对应的是先用初始 OPT 再用 STEM OPT 的合计 7 万 + 3 万。
DHS proposed new OPT fees of $70,000 for initial Optional Practical Training and $30,000 for each subsequent OPT period for F-1 students using SEVP-certified institutions.
DHS published a proposed rule imposing new fees on Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization for F-1 students, reported as up to $70,000 for initial OPT and additional fees for renewals.
DHS proposed a rule that would charge F-1 students a $70,000 fee for initial OPT participation and $30,000 for OPT extensions, Higher Ed Dive reports.
The Trump administration plans to charge international students $70,000 for OPT work authorization under a new DHS proposed rule, Reuters reports.
DHS published a proposed rule imposing new fees on Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization for F-1 students, reported as up to $70,000 for initial OPT and additional fees for renewals.
DHS is proposing a new $70,000 fee for an international student's initial period of Optional Practical Training and a $30,000 fee for subsequent OPT periods, American Bazaar reports. The proposal would affect F-1 students seeking to work in the US after graduation under OPT.
DHS proposed a new fee, reported as $100,000, on the foreign-graduate work program (OPT), which would affect F-1 international students seeking post-completion work authorization, Bloomberg reports.
DHS proposed a $70,000 fee for Optional Practical Training work authorization for international students, Boundless reports.