The Trump administration’s proposal to make US universities pay a $70,000 fee for recommending foreign graduates for post-study work authorisation has triggered serious concern among international students, particularly Indians. The proposal is not yet in force and remains subject to public consultation and final approval. If implemented, however, it could significantly reshape the financial and career calculations surrounding higher education in the United States.
What Is the Proposed OPT Fee?
The proposal targets the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, which allows eligible F-1 international students to gain practical work experience related to their academic field after graduation.
Under the existing framework:
· Non-STEM graduates can generally receive up to 12 months of OPT.
· Eligible STEM graduates can seek an additional 24-month extension, potentially allowing three years of post-study employment.
· The proposed initial university fee would be $70,000.
· A subsequent recommendation or eligible extension could attract another $30,000, taking the potential total to $100,000.
Although the charge would formally fall on universities, the Department of Homeland Security could allow institutions to recover the cost from students, employers or other sources. The proposed amount is particularly striking when compared with the existing OPT application fee of roughly $500.
Why Indians Are Particularly Worried
The impact could be especially significant for Indian students because India has become the largest source of international students in the US. According to Open Doors 2025, 363,019 Indian students were studying in the country during 2024-25, representing a 10% annual increase.
India's presence in OPT has also expanded sharply. Indian OPT participation increased from 97,556 in 2023-24 to 143,740 in 2024-25, a rise of 47.3%.
For many Indian families, this makes OPT an important part of the return-on-investment calculation behind an expensive US education.
A Potential Financial Barrier After Graduation
A $70,000 institutional charge could create several complications:
· Universities could become reluctant to recommend some graduates for OPT.
· Costs could potentially be transferred to students or employers.
· Employers may prefer candidates who require no additional financial commitment.
· Graduates could find it harder to accept lower-paid entry-level positions, internships or research opportunities.
· The additional liability could reach roughly ₹68 lakh initially, and close to ₹97 lakh if the full $100,000 potential cost applies.
For students already carrying substantial education loans, such costs could transform the transition from university to employment into a major financial hurdle.
Security Concerns Versus US Competitiveness
The Trump administration argues that OPT has been vulnerable to fraudulent employment arrangements, including false workplaces and “pay-to-stay” schemes. A substantial fee, it says, could encourage universities to scrutinise employers and students more carefully.
Critics, however, warn that making post-study employment prohibitively expensive could weaken the United States’ ability to attract global talent. International students contributed nearly $55 billion to the US economy in 2024, while OPT enrolment reached 294,253 in 2024-25.
A Costly Signal for America’s Global Talent Strategy
For Indian students, the proposed fee represents more than another immigration-policy change. OPT has long provided a crucial bridge between an American degree, professional experience and, for some graduates, a future H-1B pathway. If that bridge becomes prohibitively expensive, students may increasingly reconsider the US in favour of countries offering more predictable post-study work opportunities. The proposal therefore raises a larger question: can America continue attracting the world’s best students while making it increasingly difficult for them to build careers after graduation?
(With agency inputs)
