Archive · 13 Sep 2026
White House Review Advances Proposed OPT Fee Rule
The US government is considering a new fee for a work program used by some international students.
A White House office has finished reviewing the idea and sent it back with changes.
This does not mean the fee has started.
It also does not confirm that the fee would be $100,000.
The Department of Homeland Security must first publish the proposal in the Federal Register.
After that, students, schools, employers and others can send comments.
The government must consider those comments before deciding whether to create a final rule.
OPT lets eligible F-1 students work in jobs related to their studies after graduation.
Some students can receive an additional 24 months through the STEM OPT extension.
The White House regulatory office completed its review of a DHS proposal on OPT fees on September 11, 2026.
OIRA marked the review outcome as “Consistent with Change” after receiving the proposal from ICE on August 20.
The proposal remains a proposed rule, and no new OPT fee—including a reported $100,000 fee—has taken effect.
DHS must publish the proposal in the Federal Register before public comments can begin.
The publication should disclose the fee amount, covered applicants, possible exemptions and potential effective timing.
- Who
- The Department of Homeland Security and its agency, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, proposed the fee rule; the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs reviewed it.
- What
- OIRA completed review of a proposed rule concerning fees for Optional Practical Training, returning it with changes.
- When
- ICE submitted the proposal to OIRA on August 20, 2026, and OIRA concluded its review on September 11, 2026.
- Where
- The proposal is moving through the US federal regulatory process and must next be published in the Federal Register.
- Why
- The proposal would potentially change the cost of Optional Practical Training, a work program used by eligible F-1 international students.
- Proposal status
- The measure remains a proposed rule and is not yet a final regulation.
- OIRA outcome
- “Consistent with Change”
- Submission date
- August 20, 2026
- Review completion
- September 11, 2026
- Proposed fee
- The amount has not been disclosed in the OIRA record.
- Reported $100,000 fee
- No $100,000 OPT fee has been imposed based on the OIRA review.
- Next step
- DHS must publish the proposed rule in the Federal Register, followed by public comments.