International News: Trump Administration proposes $70,000 fee for International students seeking work training

By Zoila Palma:  The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed requiring international students to pay as much as $70,000 for work training authorization in the United States, in the latest move by the Trump administration to tighten restrictions on foreign visa holders.

The proposal was outlined in a government notice published Wednesday, Reuters report.

Under the proposed rules, students holding F-1 visas would be required to pay $70,000 to a certified institution for Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows eligible international students to gain work experience related to their studies. An additional $30,000 fee would reportedly apply for further work training. Students currently pay about $500 to participate in the program.

DHS said the proposed fees are intended to combat fraud, strengthen the integrity of the immigration system and protect American workers.

OPT allows eligible foreign students to work up to 20 hours per week while school is in session and for a limited period after graduation, with additional opportunities available to graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.

The proposal could face legal challenges and comes as the administration also targets the H-1B visa program, which has long provided a pathway for highly skilled foreign graduates to work in the US.

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