WASHINGTON, Oct 8, 2026: The Department of Homeland Security has put forward a plan that would require international students to pay a minimum of $70,000 in training fees before they can take up employment in the United States, according to a government notice published online Wednesday.
The move is the latest step in the administration’s broader tightening of rules for foreign visa holders. Under the plan, students on F-1 visas would have to pay a certified institution $70,000 for Optional Practical Training (OPT), the on-the-job experience program, plus a further $30,000 for any additional work training.
DHS said the changes are intended to curb fraud, safeguard the integrity of the immigration system, and protect American workers.
More details to follow.
