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On October 7, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a proposed rule, Optional Practical Training Fees, that would impose substantial new fees on Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certified schools recommending F-1 students for Optional Practical Training (OPT). The proposal would establish a $70,000 fee for an initial OPT recommendation and a $30,000 fee for each subsequent OPT recommendation, citing fraud prevention, immigration system integrity, and protection of U.S. workers.
The proposal would cover pre-completion OPT, post-completion OPT, and STEM OPT extensions. Schools would be required to pay the applicable fee before recommending a student for OPT. The $70,000 fee would apply to the first recommendation after the rule takes effect even if that recommendation is for a STEM OPT extension with subsequent recommendations subject to the $30,000 fee. Although schools would be responsible for payment, DHS contemplates that they could pass the costs on to students or employers.
What this means right now
These fees are not in effect. Students, schools, and employers should continue following current OPT requirements. Under the proposal, OPT recommendations issued before the effective date would not trigger the new fees for those periods of OPT. If implemented, the fees could substantially affect access to practical training and employers’ recruitment and retention of international graduates.
What's Next
The proposed rule is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on October 8, 2026, followed by a 30-day public comment period. DHS must consider public comments before issuing a final rule and proposes implementation 60 days after publication of that final rule. The proposal may change during rulemaking, and any final rule could face legal challenges. We are closely monitoring this development and will provide updates as they become available.
