A Steep Price for Foreign Talent: The Trump Administration's OPT Fee Proposal The latest salvo in President Donald Trump's efforts to tighten immigration controls has set off alarm bells among academics, businesses, and international students.
The proposed $100,000 fee on Optional Practical Training (OPT) permits would effectively make it prohibitively expensive for foreign graduates to work in the United States after completing their studies.
The OPT program has been a cornerstone of international students' appeal to American universities, providing a pathway for graduates to gain valuable professional experience before returning home or pursuing longer term employment.