The Golden Ticket for Global Talent
Optional Practical Training, or OPT, is a long-standing program that allows international students on F-1 visas to work for up to 12 months in the United States after graduation. For those in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields,
this period can be extended by another 24 months, offering a total of three years of valuable real-world experience. This isn’t just an internship; for many, it’s a critical stepping stone. It provides an opportunity to apply academic knowledge, earn an income to offset the high cost of a US degree, and, for some, transition to a longer-term work visa like the H-1B. It has become so integral to the value proposition of a US education that it’s often a primary reason students choose the US over other countries.
A Reported $100,000 Price Tag
In late July 2026, reports emerged that the Trump administration is considering a staggering $100,000 fee for international graduates to participate in the OPT program. According to sources familiar with internal discussions at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the plan is being weighed as part of a broader overhaul of immigration regulations. While a DHS spokesperson noted that no policy is final until officially announced, they did not deny that the proposal was under consideration. It remains unclear who would be responsible for paying the fee—the student, their university, or their employer—but the sheer amount is designed to be a deterrent. This move follows a similar attempt to impose a $100,000 fee on H-1B skilled worker visas, which was ultimately struck down by a federal court.
A Body Blow to Indian Aspirations
The impact of such a fee would be acutely felt by students from India, who form a massive and growing contingent in the US higher education system. In the 2024-25 academic year, there were over 363,000 Indian students in the US. Crucially, Indians are the single largest group using the OPT program, accounting for nearly half of all participants. In 2024-25, almost 144,000 individuals from India were on OPT, many in high-demand STEM fields. For these students and their families, who often make immense financial sacrifices for a US degree, a six-figure fee to access the work component would be an insurmountable barrier. It would effectively close a pathway that has become central to the Indian student experience in America.
The Broader Economic Fallout
The proposal has sent shockwaves not just through student communities but also through US universities and major industries. American universities rely heavily on the revenue from full-tuition-paying international students to offset declining domestic enrollment and fund research. The promise of OPT is a key recruiting tool. Without it, prospective students may find countries like Canada, the UK, or Australia, which have their own post-study work programs, far more attractive. Furthermore, US technology and engineering sectors, which have long warned of skilled labor shortages, depend on the OPT talent pipeline to fill critical roles. By making it prohibitively expensive to hire US-trained foreign graduates, the policy could stifle innovation and push talent to competitor nations.
