Trump's $70,000 OPT Proposal: What Indian Students Need to Know
The US has proposed a $70,000 initial OPT charge and $30,000 for subsequent OPT; the proposal has not become a payable requirement.
Proposed fees are not in force
The Trump administration has proposed changes to the Optional Practical Training (OPT) system used by eligible F-1 international students, including many graduates from India. A Department of Homeland Security proposed rule identifies a $70,000 fee for initial OPT and $30,000 for subsequent OPT. Reuters and the Associated Press report that the proposed payments are directed at educational institutions, an important distinction from claims that each Indian student has already received a $70,000 invoice. This is a notice of proposed rulemaking, not a final regulation or an announcement that OPT is abolished. The relevant proposed-rule docket is ICEB-2026-0100.
Why universities and graduates are concerned
OPT allows qualifying students to pursue time-limited employment related to their studies, and eligible STEM graduates may seek an additional training period. A large institutional payment could influence whether schools recommend participation, how programmes are funded and whether prospective international students consider studying in the United States. The administration says the proposal is intended to reduce abuse and protect domestic workers. Universities, technology groups and other critics argue that a steep new charge could undermine research, recruitment and international competitiveness. Those assessments are arguments about likely effects, not outcomes already observed.
What applicants should do now
Check the government's final rulemaking status before treating an extraordinary fee as mandatory. The draft may change during public comment or face legal scrutiny. Review your university's official international-student office notices and the current government fee schedule, not viral posts about an immediate ban. Eligibility, status and practical training are separate from any later H-1B application or green-card sponsorship. Students with urgent filing deadlines should seek advice from designated school officials and qualified immigration counsel. RecoupRev will distinguish proposals from adopted rules in updates.
Reporting sources & references
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