The Trump administration has been tightening rules for international students as part of its broader efforts to restrict immigration and reshape higher education.
The U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on October 7, 2026 , proposed a USD $70,000 fee for international students seeking to work in the country, in the latest move by the Trump administration to tighten rules around foreign enrolment.
Under the proposed rule, schools would have to pay the fee for every student participating in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, which allows international students to work in jobs related to their field of study during or after their education.
Students are generally eligible to work for one year after graduation, while those with certain science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degrees can qualify for an additional two years.
Schools would have to pay USD $70,000 for each student’s initial OPT application and USD $30,000 for every renewal.
The proposed fee could affect American colleges and universities that rely heavily on international students for tuition revenue, as well as technology companies and other industries that hire large numbers of international students for technical positions.
The OPT programme allows international students to gain
practical experience and help address labour shortages in high-demand STEM fields, said Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, an association representing international education.
“Driving away the talents, perspectives, and aspirations of international students will only hurt American innovation, economic growth, workforce development, and global leadership,” Aw said in a written statement.
DHS described the proposed fee as a response to fraud and abuse of the visa programme, which it called a “pipeline for cheap foreign labour”.
The public will have 60 days to submit comments on the proposal before DHS can finalise and implement it. The proposal could also face legal challenges from higher education groups or business associations, potentially delaying its implementation.
The Trump administration has been tightening rules for international students as part of its broader efforts to restrict immigration and reshape higher education.
Last year, the administration began terminating the legal status of thousands of international students, with many being detained and deported.
This summer, the administration finalised a rule aimed at preventing international students from staying in the US for more than four years without federal government approval.
The move faced strong opposition from higher education leaders, who argued that it would increase the burden on universities and noted that many academic programmes are designed to last longer than four years.
A federal court blocked the rule from taking effect in September 2026. Ref: Money control with agency reports.
