The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed new fees of $70,000 for initial Optional Practical Training (OPT) participation and $30,000 for subsequent OPT periods for F-1 international students, including Nigerians studying in the country.
The proposed rule, announced on Wednesday, would apply to each F-1 nonimmigrant student seeking to participate in OPT through an institution certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP).
Under the proposal, SEVP-certified colleges and universities would pay $70,000 before recommending an F-1 student for initial OPT and $30,000 for any subsequent OPT recommendation, including STEM OPT extensions. The fees would be imposed on the institutions rather than directly on students, although schools could seek to recover some or all of the cost from students or employers.
OPT allows eligible F-1 students to undertake temporary employment directly related to their major field of study after receiving a recommendation from their designated school official and applying for employment authorisation.
DHS said the proposed fees were intended to reduce what it described as the flow of cheap labour into the United States, make it easier for American workers to compete for jobs, combat fraud and abuse, strengthen the integrity of the immigration system and protect US workers.
The department said the proposed measures followed fraud and abuse identified by its Student and Exchange Visitor Programme.
According to DHS, some schools, designated school officials, employers and F-1 students have allegedly exploited existing OPT rules through problematic worksites and “pay-to-stay” visa schemes.
The department said the proposed fees could encourage educational institutions to exercise greater oversight and selectivity when recommending students for OPT, thereby helping to reduce abuse and strengthen programme integrity.
The proposal is not yet in force. DHS is seeking public comments before deciding whether to issue a final rule, and the new fees would not apply unless the proposal is finalised.
The proposed rule is scheduled for publication in the US Federal Register on October 8, 2026, with a 30-day public comment period.
