Department of Homeland Security has proposed that international students pay at least $70,000 in training fees if they want to work in the country, according to a government notice posted online on Wednesday (October 7, 2026), part of the Trump administration’s wider crackdown on foreign visa holders. The U.S.
Such training programs often serve as a bridge for students seeking work under H-1B visas, which the Trump administration has also targeted with increased fees. Under the proposal, nonimmigrant students with F-1 visas would be required to pay $70,000 to a certified institution for on-the-job training, known as Optional Practical Training (OPT), and $30,000 for any additional work training. When he was campaigning in 2024, President Donald Trump vowed he would make it easier for foreign students to remain in the country, suggesting they be automatically awarded a Green Card after graduation. The proposal is subject to 30 days of public comment before it can be finalised. DHS said it would wait 60 days after finalisation before putting the rule into effect to allow schools, students and employers time to prepare.
DHS said the new rules were meant “to combat fraud, strengthen the integrity of the immigration system, and protect US workers. “DHS is now setting a fee to ensure employers, students, and institutions are engaging in appropriate activities consistent with admission as an F-1 nonimmigrant,” the agency said.
