New OPT fee proposed: Colleges to pay $70,000 for first-time F-1 students, $30,000 for extensions; DHS says this was never meant to be a backdoor
- The Department of Homeland Security announced a proposed rule that would impose a $70,000 fee for F-1 students seeking to participate in the OPT program and $30,000 for each subsequent OPT authorization including STEM OPT extensions.
- Schools will have to pay this fee, not the international students.
- The proposed rule is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on October 8, 2026, and DHS will accept public comments for 30 days.
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- The Department of Homeland Security announced a proposed rule that would impose a $70,000 fee for F-1 students seeking to participate in the OPT program and $30,000 for each subsequent OPT authorization including STEM OPT extensions.
- Schools will have to pay this fee, not the international students.
- The proposed rule is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on October 8, 2026, and DHS will accept public comments for 30 days.
Sources: Times of India