The Trump administration is considering a $100,000 fee that international students would need to pay to work in the United States after graduating from American universities, according to people familiar with the matter.
The proposed charge would apply to the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which currently allows foreign graduates to remain in the country for one to three years on their student visas while taking jobs related to their field of study. Roughly 419,000 international graduates were working under OPT in 2024, the most recent year for which full data is available.
If implemented, the fee would make post-graduation employment in the United States far less accessible for many foreign students and could deter them from enrolling at U.S. colleges and universities in the first place. Universities depend heavily on tuition from international students, while technology firms in Silicon Valley and financial institutions on Wall Street frequently recruit these graduates for specialized roles.
A White House official said there was no imminent policy change but did not deny that the proposal was under discussion. Officials at the Department of Homeland Security are examining the idea, though it remains unclear whether students, universities or employers would ultimately be responsible for paying the fee.
The move forms part of a broader effort by the administration to tighten legal immigration pathways. It follows an earlier attempt to impose a similar $100,000 fee on H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers, a measure that was blocked in court. Administration officials have previously criticized the OPT program, arguing it can facilitate visa overstays and fraud.
The proposal is still in the discussion stage and has not been finalized. Any formal rule would require further review and public notice.
