Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-07**Lead**
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a staggering fee of approximately $70,000 for foreign students seeking work authorization in the United States through the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, according to a regulatory filing published in the Federal Register. The proposal, part of a broader overhaul of immigration fees and regulations, would represent a nearly 150-fold increase from the current $470 application fee, potentially reshaping the landscape for hundreds of thousands of international students who rely on OPT as a bridge to U.S. employment.
**Context**
The OPT program allows foreign nationals who graduate from U.S. colleges and universities—primarily those on F-1 student visas—to work in the United States for up to 12 months (or 36 months for STEM graduates) in fields related to their degree. The program has grown exponentially over the past two decades, with over 200,000 participants in recent fiscal years, according to data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). India and China account for the largest shares of OPT participants, with many graduates entering fields like technology, engineering, and finance.
The proposed fee increase was published on October 1, 2026, as part of a DHS notice titled "Fee Schedule Changes and Related Provisions." The agency argues that the current fee structure fails to cover the true costs of adjudicating OPT applications, including background checks, fraud detection, and data processing. The proposed $70,000 figure is calculated based on the assumption that a substantial portion of OPT participants will eventually transition to H-1B visas or green cards, requiring DHS to absorb long-term enforcement and monitoring costs.
Critics, however, point out that the proposal lacks a transparent cost breakdown. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), which represents university career services and recruiters, noted in a comment letter that “the agency has not provided a credible justification for a fee increase of this magnitude.” The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) also raised concerns, stating that the fee could effectively bar middle-class and lower-income international students from participating in the U.S. job market.
**Analise**
If enacted, the $70,000 fee would likely reduce OPT participation significantly. Many international students fund their education and living expenses through loans, family savings, or part-time work. A fee equivalent to more than a year’s tuition at many public universities would make OPT inaccessible for all but the wealthiest applicants. This could, in turn, diminish the attractiveness of U.S. higher education for top global talent. Universities that rely heavily on full-paying international students—particularly public institutions in states like California, New York, and Texas—may see enrollment declines, as prospective students factor in the reduced likelihood of obtaining affordable work authorization after graduation.
The proposal also comes at a time when U.S. employers—especially in technology and healthcare—are struggling with labor shortages. According to a 2025 report from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), U.S. companies face a shortfall of over 500,000 skilled tech workers. International graduates currently fill a notable portion of these roles through OPT and H-1B programs. A drastic fee increase could exacerbate these shortages, push employers to offshore jobs, or prompt students to seek work authorization in competing economies such as Canada, the United Kingdom, or Australia, which have more welcoming post-graduate work policies.
Supporters of the fee argue that U.S. taxpayers should not subsidize the cost of processing applications for individuals who will eventually compete for a limited number of H-1B visas. The DHS filing notes that the new fee would be applied only to employers or sponsoring entities, not to students directly—though in practice, employers may pass this cost back to workers through lower wages or reduced hiring. The proposal has already drawn sharp criticism from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers, both of which warned that the cost could disrupt the pipeline of skilled workers into the U.S. economy.
The public comment period on the proposal runs until December 15, 2026. Final regulations could take effect as early as mid-2027, though they are likely to face legal challenges. Several immigration advocacy groups have signaled they will file lawsuits if the rule is finalized, arguing that it exceeds DHS’s statutory authority and violates the Administrative Procedure Act.
**Fontes**
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), "Fee Schedule Changes and Related Provisions," Federal Register, October 1, 2026. - National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), Public Comment on DHS Fee Rule, submitted October 30, 2026. - American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Letter to DHS Re: Proposed OPT Fee, November 2026. - Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), "The U.S. Tech Talent Shortage: 2025 Update." - U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Statement on Proposed Fee for Foreign Graduates, October 2026. - National Association of Manufacturers, Letter to DHS, November 2026.