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BackStudy: US government plans $70,000 fee for foreign students
Study: US government plans $70,000 fee for foreign students
Developing
Handelsblatt50 minutes agoEducation1 min readGermanyView original

Study: US government plans $70,000 fee for foreign students

optoptional practical trainingDepartment of Homeland Security

Quick Look

  • Department of Homeland Security has proposed a $70,000 initial application fee for Optional Practical Training (OPT) that colleges would have to pay for international students.
  • STEM extensions will be charged $30,000 each.
  • The ministry justifies the move with abuse of the program, while Nafsa warns of damage to innovation and the economy.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows foreign students in the USA to work in a job related to their field of study during or after their studies. Up to three years in total are possible for STEM subjects.

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Washington. The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed a $70,000 fee for international students who want to work in the US. Under the proposal, universities would be required to pay the initial application fee for each student participating in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. It allows foreign students to work in a job related to their field of study during or after their studies. After graduation, a one-year work permit is generally valid.

An additional two years are possible for certain science, technology, engineering and mathematics (MINT) courses. There will be a fee of $30,000 (around 26,700 euros) for each extension.

The Department of Homeland Security justified the proposal as fraud and abuse of the visa program, which the agency described as a “conduit for cheap foreign labor.” The Nafsa association, which advocates for international education, warned that the fee would harm the innovative strength and economic growth of the USA. The OPT program also helps to compensate for the labor shortage in popular mint professions.

The public has 60 days to comment. The ministry could then adopt the regulation. University and business associations could take legal action against this.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

  • University and business associations will take legal action against the fee

    Likely · Within weeks

  • The public will comment within the 60-day period

    Very likely · Within weeks

Open Questions

  • How high would the exact financial burden be for individual universities?
  • What specific cases of abuse has the Department of Homeland Security observed?
  • How would students themselves be affected by the fee burden?

Related Topics

opt
OrganizationsUS Department of Homeland SecurityNafsa
PlacesWashingtonUSA
Topicsoptional practical trainingDepartment of Homeland Securityinternational studentsUSAfeestem
This article was originally published by Handelsblatt.

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