On Oct. 7, 2026, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed a rule that would drastically heighten the fees for F-1 nonimmigrant students seeking to participate in Optional Practical Training (OPT). The proposed rule intends to reduce the flow of cheap labor into the U.S. and lower the competition for American citizens in the job market.
Presently, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires a $520 paper filing fee or $470 online filing fee for the I-765 form, an application for employment authorization, from F-1 nonimmigrant students. Under the proposed rule, universities would have to pay a $70,000 fee before Designated School Officials (DSO) can recommend an F-1 nonimmigrant student for OPT and $30,000 for any subsequent OPT.
Dr. Rose Honegger, director of global engagement at the University’s Office of International Affairs and primary DSOs, said that there are questions and uncertainties with regards to how schools will come up with the large amount of money, expressing her concern as to whether or not the fee is feasible.
She said, “The immediate concern all of us have is, ‘Who is going to be able to afford to apply for OPT?’ So the immediate thought is, it might be impossible for anyone to apply for this benefit.”
“I don’t know which university can afford to pay that amount, and I think there are questions international education professionals [are] inquiring as to how this would happen.”
This proposal came as a response to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) identifying fraud and abuse of work authorization in the immigration system. A DHS press release stated, “As more F-1 nonimmigrant students have participated in OPT, SEVP has encountered schools, DSOs, employers and F-1 nonimmigrant students engaged in schemes to exploit current regulations, including problematic worksites and ‘pay-to-stay’ visa schemes.”
The proposed fees intend to “encourage schools to exercise greater oversight and selectivity when recommending F-1 nonimmigrant students for OPT, helping reduce fraud and strengthen program integrity.”
Besides reducing fraud, this proposed rule intends to reduce the flow of cheap labor into the U.S. from nonimmigrant students, and by doing so, simultaneously lower the competition for American citizens in the job market.
In the press release, a DHS spokesperson was quoted, saying, “DHS is upskilling OPT to require foreign students to justify their worth to employers. American workers should not have to compete against a program that has been turned into a pipeline for cheap foreign labor.”
OPT is a temporary work employment directly related to a student’s field of study. Eligible students can receive up to 12 months of OPT work authorization before and after completion of their academic studies. Students who have earned a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields are eligible for a 24-month extension to their post-completion OPT.
According to Honegger, there are currently about 185 enrolled F-1 nonimmigrant students at UL Lafayette who are at varying stages of the OPT application process, with most approved, and some who are pending or have just been requested.
Honegger said that there has been a good success rate for OPT and STEM OPT applications at the University, with a lot of “great return on investment for students.” She said, “Our students are getting really great jobs after graduation.”
OPT has long been a driving force for employment of foreign students in the U.S. The beginnings of OPT go back to 1947, when federal regulations stated, “In cases where employment for practical training is required or recommended by the school, the district director may permit the student to engage in such employment for a six-month period subject to extension for not over two additional six-month periods.”
According to a Congress publication, OPT participation has more than doubled since 2007.
This is attributed to the implementation of the STEM OPT extension from 12 to 24 months in 2008 by the George W. Bush administration and further extension to 36 months by the Barack Obama administration in 2016. The publication wrote, “Both Administrations cited the economic, cultural and academic contributions of foreign students.”
Honegger said, “OPT has been really beneficial, not just for our students, but also for our U.S. economy because these are talented students that have graduated… and [are] now contributing to the U.S. workforce.”
According to NAFSA: Association of International Educators, international students studying at U.S. colleges and universities contributed $42.9 billion and supported 355,736 jobs to the U.S. economy during the 2024-25 academic year.
However, debate has also arisen through the years over the program having a lack of safeguards in place for protecting U.S. students and workers. This new proposed rule of heightening OPT fees align with this longstanding debate and other recent presidential directives emphasizing the protection of U.S. workers.
This proposed rule is open to public comments from Oct. 8 through Nov. 9. After the public comment period closes, DHS will “review all properly submitted comments and materials and may revise the rule based on public feedback.”
Members of the public should refer to the Federal Register notice at federalregister.gov for instructions on how to submit comments for DHS consideration.