US proposes $70,000 fee for international students seeking OPT work under Trump administration

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed charging a $70,000 fee for international students who seek to work in the US under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, several Nigerian news outlets reported this week.

The proposal, described by the outlets as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to tighten rules around foreign students and immigration, would affect students from Nigeria and other countries who apply to participate in OPT after graduation.

What the proposal would do

According to the reports, the DHS proposal sets a $70,000 initial fee for participation in OPT. The Daily Post additionally reports that the department has proposed a $30,000 renewal fee, though that specific renewal amount was mentioned only by that outlet.

Outlets say the move comes amid a series of policy changes under the Trump administration aimed at restricting or more closely regulating foreign students and other immigration pathways. The reports identify the proposal as targeting international students seeking work experience in the United States following their studies.

Who is affected and next steps

News outlets reporting the proposal identified Nigerian students among those who would be affected, along with other foreign nationals who use OPT to gain practical work experience after completing US study programmes. The reports attribute the proposal to the Department of Homeland Security but do not detail an implementation timeline, how the funds would be used, or the full regulatory language.

At least one report said the proposal is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to tighten immigration-related rules affecting foreign students. The outlets did not provide information on official reactions from student groups, universities, or the US government beyond the DHS proposal itself.

Why it matters

OPT is widely used by international graduates to gain practical experience in their field of study. A large fee could change the cost calculus for students considering work in the United States after graduation and affect universities and employers that host OPT participants. The reports do not supply an analysis of economic impacts or potential legal challenges to the proposed rule.

Further developments will depend on DHS publishing the full proposal and any subsequent public comment period or legal review. For now, media reports from Nigerian outlets identify the fee proposal and place it within a pattern of immigration policy tightening under the Trump administration.