DHS Proposes New Fees for Student OPT Programs
The Department of Homeland Security seeks to charge universities thousands in new fees for student work authorizations.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Internships
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The Department of Homeland Security has published a proposal to implement significant fees for universities supporting foreign students in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. Universities would be required to pay $70,000 for initial OPT requests and $30,000 for STEM OPT extensions per student.
Why it matters
The agency claims these fees will curb fraud and discourage the use of the OPT program to bypass H-1B visa caps and wage standards. The policy could lead universities to restrict support services or shift these financial burdens onto students and employers.
The proposal estimates annual transfers of $12.8 billion and a 10-year total of $109.4 billion based on 2024 participation data of 194,554 standard and 95,384 STEM OPT participants.
The players
Department of Homeland Security
This is the cabinet-level executive department of the United States federal government responsible for public security, including immigration enforcement and border protection.
The details
Institutions must remit these fees to the Department of Homeland Security before recommending students for work authorization, though schools can request refunds if a student is denied a document. The agency is currently accepting public input on docket ICEB-2026-0100 through early November.
Timeline
October 8, 2026: The Department of Homeland Security published the proposal in the Federal Register.
November 9, 2026: The deadline for the public to submit comments on the proposed rule.
Market Landscape
The proposed fee structure attempts to alter how universities use OPT as a pathway to circumvent the existing H-1B visa cap. This move reflects a broader shift by regulators to increase the cost of non-immigrant work programs to align them with traditional employment standards.
University students may face higher costs or reduced access to career-building programs if institutions pass these federal fees down to applicants. Prospective OPT participants should monitor whether their universities choose to limit program support in response to these costs.
The takeaway
The DHS proposal marks a significant attempt to increase the financial oversight of student work pathways. Stakeholders should review the regulatory language closely to understand how these potential costs might impact institutional internship sponsorship.
Further reading
Find more information on how regulatory changes affect professional development programs in the United States Internships section.
More information
To submit feedback or review details regarding the regulation, visit the public comment portal for proposed rules.
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Should the U.S. government impose high fees on universities for international student work programs?
