Foreign Media: The Trump administration is considering imposing a $100,000 fee on international students participating in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program after graduation, a policy currently under discussion at the Department of Homeland Security and not yet finalized.
In 2024, approximately 419,000 international graduates worked in the U.S. through OPT. OPT is one of the main reasons attracting international students to study in the United States, helping them recoup their annual tuition costs exceeding $100,000.
This move would pose even greater challenges for U.S. universities in international student recruitment, as countries such as Germany, South Korea, and Japan are actively attracting talent by expanding English-taught programs and simplifying employment policies. Meanwhile, the U.S. technology and engineering sectors have long relied on this talent pipeline, and this fee could exacerbate shortages in technical labor and hinder innovation.
Moreover, the government is also advancing broader revisions to OPT regulations and has eliminated the "validity period" framework for student visas, requiring international students to apply for visa extensions in order to participate in OPT.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1872239754783756/
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