White House / President·Immigration
DHS proposes a $70,000 fee for foreign students seeking post-graduation work permits under OPT
The Department of Homeland Security proposed a rule that would charge F-1 student visa holders a $70,000 fee for an initial optional practical training (OPT) work authorization and $30,000 for any subsequent extension, compared with about $500 now, Fox News reported. DHS said the change responds to widespread fraud and abuse identified by its Student and Exchange Visitor Program, including non-compliant worksites and “pay-to-stay” visa schemes, and a spokesperson said OPT “was never meant to be a back door into the American workforce, a subsidy for cheap labor or a prize for those who game the system.”
Sources
- Fox NewsDHS proposes massive $70K fee for foreign students seeking work authorization
- New York PostDHS proposes massive $70K fee for foreign students seeking work authorization