🇺🇸 United States · Last checked: 12 Oct 2026
Under a rule proposed on 8 October 2026, a US school would pay $70,000 before recommending a student for OPT, and $30,000 for each later period; it is not final, and public comments close on 9 November 2026 (Department of Homeland Security).
OPT (Optional Practical Training) is the permission that lets F-1 students work in the US in their field, usually for 12 months after graduating, or up to 36 months in total with a STEM degree. Under a rule the Department of Homeland Security proposed on 8 October 2026, a school would have to pay the government $70,000 before it could recommend a student for a first period of OPT, and $30,000 for each later period, including the STEM extension. Schools would be allowed to pass that cost on to the student or the employer. Nothing changes yet: this is a proposal, not a final rule. The public can comment until 9 November 2026, and a final rule would take effect 60 days after it is published.
Source: Federal Register ↗ · Reported by Fortune ↗
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