What Is This $100,000 Proposal?
In late July 2026, reports emerged that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was internally considering a new fee of up to $100,000 tied to Optional Practical Training. OPT is the program that allows international students on F-1 visas to work in the U.S.
for up to 12 months (or 36 months for those in STEM fields) after graduation. It's a critical pathway for gaining practical experience and is particularly important for the hundreds of thousands of Indian students studying in the country. The proposal is not for a simple application fee; it's believed to be a refundable bond. However, key details—such as who would pay it (the student or employer), the exact amount, and the conditions for its refund—have not been announced because the idea has not moved beyond the discussion stage.
Why Is This Being Considered?
The reported rationale behind such a significant financial requirement is rooted in immigration compliance. The government's perspective appears to be that a substantial bond would ensure foreign nationals adhere to the terms of their visas and work authorizations. This aligns with a broader push to reduce visa overstays. The administration has already implemented similar, albeit much smaller, bond requirements for tourist and business visas for citizens of certain countries, arguing the policy is effective in ensuring compliance. However, applying this concept to OPT, a long-standing program for students, is a new and far more dramatic idea. Critics argue that such a fee would be punitive and function as a financial barrier to a crucial educational component, rather than a reasonable compliance tool.
The Current Status: Just a Proposal
It is essential for students and their families to understand that as of August 2026, this is only a proposal. No rule has been formally published in the Federal Register, the official journal for U.S. federal government agency rules. A DHS spokesperson has stated that no policy should be considered final until it is formally announced. For a proposal like this to become law, it must go through a lengthy public process. This typically involves publishing a proposed rule, allowing a period for public comments, reviewing those comments, and then, if the agency proceeds, publishing a final rule with an effective date. This process often takes many months or even years, and a proposal can be significantly changed or dropped entirely along the way.
Context from Other Immigration Changes
This OPT proposal doesn't exist in a vacuum. It follows a similar $100,000 fee for certain H-1B visas, which was struck down by a federal court in June 2026. The court ruled that the administration did not have the authority to impose a fee of that size without an act of Congress. While that case is separate, immigration lawyers suggest a similar OPT fee could face immediate legal challenges. Separately, DHS has finalized a rule, effective September 15, 2026, that ends "duration of status" for F-1 students, instead admitting them for a fixed period of up to four years. This means students needing more time for their studies or for OPT will have to apply for a formal Extension of Stay, adding another layer of bureaucracy.
What Should Indian Students Do Now?
For current and prospective students from India, the key is to avoid panic and focus on official sources. The $100,000 OPT bond is not a policy in effect, and there is no action to take regarding it right now. Instead, students should stay in close contact with their Designated School Official (DSO) at their university's international student office. DSOs are the most reliable source for updates on regulations that directly affect F-1 students. It is also wise to be aware of the new rules regarding fixed periods of admission that take effect in September 2026, as this is a confirmed change that will require students to be more proactive in managing their status. Planning for academic and career timelines should continue based on the rules that are actually in place, not on speculative proposals.
