DHS just dropped a proposed rule that could hit schools hard — up to $70,000 for a student’s first Optional Practical Training (OPT) recommendation, and $30,000 for every one after that. Sounds like a lot? It is. If this becomes final, it changes the game for how colleges and universities support F-1 international students trying to work in the U.S. after graduation. We’re talking about F-1 students, designated school officials (DSOs), colleges, universities, and the employers who hire OPT workers. If you’re an international student or you work at a school that sponsors F-1 visas, you need to know what this proposal actually says, where it stands right now, and what you can do about it today.
Background: What This Proposed Rule Means
Let’s break down OPT first. It’s temporary work authorization for F-1 students — lets them work in a job tied to their field of study, either while still in school (pre-completion OPT) or after they graduate (post-completion OPT). A lot of students also go for the 24-month STEM OPT extension if their degree qualifies. Before any of that happens, though, a school’s Designated School Official (DSO) has to recommend OPT in the student’s SEVIS record. Only then can the student apply to USCIS for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
Here’s the twist with this new proposed rule: schools — not students — would get charged every time a DSO issues an OPT recommendation. DHS wants $70,000 for that first recommendation, and $30,000 for every one after, including STEM OPT extensions. But here’s what matters right now — as of October 11, 2026, this is still just a proposed rule. Nothing’s final. DHS still has to publish it in the Federal Register, take public comments, and then decide if it’s moving forward. No start date yet. We’re watching this closely, and you should too.
DHS has stated that the fees are meant to help pay for oversight of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Immigration policy groups, including ILRC and Immigration Impact, have raised concerns that fees this large could cause schools to limit or stop OPT sponsorship altogether, since most schools do not currently charge students a comparable amount for this service.
How This May Affect F-1 Students and Schools
If this rule is finalized as proposed, it could affect different groups in different ways:
- Current F-1 students: Schools may pass some or all of the new fee on to students through higher tuition or new administrative charges before agreeing to issue an OPT recommendation.
- Prospective international students: Some schools may reduce the number of OPT recommendations they issue each year, or may stop offering OPT support for certain programs, which could make it harder to find a school willing to sponsor OPT.
- STEM graduates: Because the STEM OPT extension counts as a later recommendation, it could trigger the $30,000 fee on top of the $70,000 already paid for the initial OPT. This is a concern for students in science, technology, engineering, and math fields who rely on the 24-month STEM extension to gain longer work experience.
- Employers: Companies that depend on OPT and STEM OPT workers, particularly in technology, engineering, and research fields, may see a smaller applicant pool if schools reduce OPT sponsorship, and may need to plan further ahead for other visa options such as the H-1B specialty occupation visa.
- Colleges and universities: Schools, particularly smaller or tuition-dependent institutions, may need to decide whether absorbing the fee, passing it to students, or limiting F-1 enrollment is the better business decision.
It is important to remember that, as of October 11, 2026, no fee has taken effect. Students currently on OPT or with a pending OPT application are not affected by a rule that has not been finalized.
What You Should Do Now
While the rule remains in the proposal stage, students and schools can take practical steps:
- Check your SEVIS status and OPT timeline. Students who are eligible for OPT now may want to talk with their DSO about current processing timelines before any new fee could apply.
- Watch the Federal Register and USCIS announcements. Official updates will be posted at uscis.gov and through SEVP notices. A public comment period typically follows a proposed rule, and the rule can change before it becomes final.
- Talk to your school’s international student office. Ask whether your school plans to continue OPT sponsorship and whether any new charges might apply to you.
- Review your long-term visa options. If you are approaching graduation, you may want to discuss alternative paths to longer-term work authorization with an immigration attorney, including employer-sponsored options like employment-based visas or, for qualifying individuals, the EB-2 and National Interest Waiver green card category.
- Keep records. Save copies of your I-20, OPT application materials, and any school communications about fees, in case the rule changes your plans.
How TEZ Law Firm Can Help
TEZ Law Firm advises F-1 students, schools, and employers on OPT, STEM OPT, and related work authorization questions as federal rules continue to change. The firm can review a student’s current immigration status, explain how a proposed rule like this one may apply to their situation, and discuss longer-term visa and green card options, including employment-based categories. TEZ Law Firm also assists employers who sponsor F-1 graduates with planning for H-1B and other work visa petitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the $70,000 OPT fee final?
No. As of October 11, 2026, this is a proposed DHS rule. It must go through a public comment period and further review before DHS can issue a final rule, and the final fee amounts could change or the rule could be withdrawn.
Would the fee be paid by the student or the school?
Under the current proposal, the fee would be charged to the school for each OPT recommendation a Designated School Official enters in SEVIS. Schools would then decide individually whether to pass some or all of that cost on to students.
Does this proposal affect students already on OPT?
Students who already have approved OPT or a pending OPT application based on current rules are not affected unless and until a final rule takes effect with its own effective date and transition provisions.
Would the STEM OPT extension cost more under this proposal?
Based on the proposal, a STEM OPT extension would likely count as a later OPT recommendation, which could trigger the proposed $30,000 fee in addition to the $70,000 fee for the first OPT recommendation, if the rule is finalized as written.
What can international students do if their school limits OPT sponsorship?
Students should speak with their DSO as early as possible and also consider discussing other visa or green card pathways with an immigration attorney, since options can depend on a student’s field of study, job offer, and overall immigration history.
Rules affecting F-1 OPT work authorization can change quickly, and the proposed fee structure described in this article may be revised before it becomes final. If you are an international student, school official, or employer who wants to understand how this proposal, or any other immigration law change, may affect your situation, you can schedule a consultation with TEZ Law Firm by visiting the contact page. TEZ Law Firm serves clients nationwide from its offices in West Covina, City of Industry, Newport Beach, and its Flushing, New York immigration office.
This article is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws and agency practices change; contact TEZ Law Firm (West Covina, California) at 626-678-8677 or [email protected] about your situation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.