The fee would apply to OPT visas, an extension of the F-1 student visa that lets foreign graduates work in the US for one to three years in fields related to their studies.2 min readJul 31, 2026 05:20 PM IST First published on: Jul 31, 2026 at 05:20 PM IST ShareWhatsapptwitterFacebookInternational students at a US university commencement ceremony. (Photo: AP)The Trump administration is considering a $100,000 (about Rs 96.4 lakh) fee for international graduates seeking to work in the US under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, a move that could hit thousands of Indian students and make American universities less attractive to foreign applicants, according to a Wall Street Journal report.The move will likely make studying in the US far less attractive for foreign students, and would mark a significant step in Trump’s wider push to restrict legal immigration.The Journal reported that the proposed fee would particularly hit universities, which rely on international students as a steady source of revenue, along with major Silicon Valley and Wall Street firms that hire a large share of international graduates for technical roles.What visa route is being targeted?The fee would apply to Optional Practical Training (OPT) visas, an extension of the F-1 student visa that lets foreign graduates work in the US for one to three years in fields related to their studies. Around 419,000 foreign nationals were working under OPT in 2024, the most recent year for which data is available.The proposal follows a US court ruling that struck down an earlier plan to charge a $100,000 fee on H-1B visas. Tech companies, which account for most recruitment of international graduates from US universities, had opposed that fee.Story continues below this adWhat has the government said?A Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman said, “No policies should be considered final until formally announced,” adding that the department is continually looking at how to use every tool available to protect the integrity of the legal immigration system.Most ReadBeyond H-1B and student visas, State Department officials are also weighing a $100,000 (roughly Rs 96.4 lakh) bond requirement for green card applicants based outside the US, refundable only once they move to the US and become citizens.The OPT programme is one of the main reasons international students choose to study in the US. Without it, most international students would have to leave the country immediately after graduating, taking the skills gained at American universities to other markets instead.AdvertisementLoading Recommendations...AdvertisementLive BlogJana Nayagan Box Office Collection Day 8 Updates: Vijay’s film crosses Rs 260 crore mark worldwide2 minutes agoIndia news Live Updates, 31 July 2026: Union Ministers Amit Shah, Kiren Rijiju and Piyush Goyal attend meeting with Speaker Om Birla4 minutes agoIndia at Commonwealth Games Live, Day 9: Boxers Ankush, Preeti & 4×400 mixed relay team reach final5 minutes agoSpider-Man Brand New Day Box Office Collection Day 1 Updates: Tom Holland-starrer becomes biggest Spider-Man opener in India, beats No Way Home with Rs 72 crore gross19 minutes agoParliament Monsoon Session 2026 Day 10 LIVE: Both Houses adjourned as Opposition demands discussion on Ram Temple donation theft3 hours ago