The Trump administration’s proposal to impose a $100,000 fee on the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program for international students has cleared White House review, moving the measure closer to possible implementation and raising concerns among Indian students in the United States.
OPT allows eligible F-1 international students to obtain temporary employment authorization for work directly related to their field of study after completing their academic programs. It is an important pathway for international graduates seeking U.S. work experience and, in many cases, eventually pursuing longer-term employment options.
The proposed fee would significantly increase the cost of the program. Indian students could be particularly affected because India is one of the largest sources of international students in the United States and a major beneficiary of post-graduation employment pathways.
The White House review does not by itself mean that the $100,000 fee has been finalized or is already payable. The proposal still has to move through the federal rulemaking process before any new requirement could take effect. A report by the Financial Express noted that the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has completed its review of the DHS proposal, but that the precise fee and final provisions have not been officially established.
READ: F-1 OPT applicant faces US visa refusal: Here’s know why (September 8, 2026)
If formally proposed, the measure would be published in the Federal Register, allowing universities, students, employers and other stakeholders to review the details and submit public comments.
What is OPT?
OPT is a form of employment authorization available to eligible F-1 students. Under existing regulations, students can seek authorization for temporary employment directly related to their major area of study.
Post-completion OPT generally gives graduates the opportunity to gain practical experience after finishing their degrees. Students in qualifying science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields can also be eligible for an additional 24-month STEM OPT extension, subject to separate requirements.
For many international graduates, OPT serves as a bridge between an American university education and employment in the U.S. labor market.
Why Indian students could be affected
Indian students form a substantial share of the international student population in the United States and have increasingly relied on U.S. universities as a pathway into technology, engineering, finance, healthcare and other professional sectors.
A $100,000 charge could therefore create a significant financial barrier for graduates seeking to remain in the United States after completing their studies.
The impact would also extend beyond students if employers become less willing or able to hire international graduates because of additional immigration-related costs.
The proposal comes amid a broader tightening of employment-based immigration policies under the Trump administration. DHS has separately proposed an additional $103,265 fee for certain H-1B cap-subject petitions, although that proposal concerns H-1B petitions rather than OPT itself.
READ: Why experts say the $100,000 OPT fee has little chance of surviving (August 11, 2026)
What happens next?
The immediate next step is publication of the OPT proposal and its detailed provisions through the federal rulemaking process.
Until that happens, students should not assume that they are required to pay a $100,000 OPT fee. The precise scope of the proposal, including who would be responsible for paying it, which students would be covered and when any fee could become effective, will depend on the formal regulatory language.
For current and prospective Indian students, the development is nevertheless significant because OPT is often a critical part of the post-graduation pathway in the United States.
Universities and immigration attorneys are expected to examine the proposal once it is formally published, while students with upcoming graduation dates will need to monitor official announcements from DHS and USCIS rather than rely on reports about the proposed fee.