Trump administration proposes a $70,000 fee for international students to work in the U.S.

Key Points:

• The Trump administration proposed a rule requiring schools to pay $70,000 for each new international student's initial OPT application and $30,000 for renewals, aiming to curb alleged visa fraud but sparking backlash from education and business sectors.
• The OPT program is crucial for international students to gain work experience in STEM fields and for U.S. industries to fill labor shortages; critics warn the fee hike could harm innovation, economic growth, and workforce development.
• Education groups report a significant decline in international student enrollment, with some colleges seeing drops of up to 40%, and argue the new fee will further discourage students who value OPT for post-graduation work opportunities.
• Legal experts predict the fee increase could face court challenges similar to those against previous visa fee hikes, with concerns that the policy aims to reduce international student participation without outright banning the program.
• Additional Trump administration measures targeting international student work programs, such as stricter rules on Curricular Practical Training, have led to lawsuits and fears of criminal prosecution for non-compliance among university officials.