Trump administration proposes $70K fee to allow international students to work in US, reduce fraud

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security proposed a $70,000 fee Wednesday for international students who want to work in the United States, a plan it says should "make it easier for American citizens to compete in the job market."

Schools would be required to pay that fee for every student who takes part in the Optional Practice Training program, the Associated Press reported. 

What they're saying:

"Optional Practical Training was never meant to be a back door into the American workforce, a subsidy for cheap labor, or a prize for those who game the system," a DHS spokesperson said in a statement Wednesday. 

The agency said the fee is designed to fight fraud and abuse identified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, including schemes to exploit current regulations, "including problematic worksites and ‘pay-to-stay’ visa schemes.

The proposed fees, the agency said, "would encourage schools to exercise greater oversight and selectivity" when they recommend international students for OPT, which it says would help reduce fraud and "strengthen program integrity." 

Dig deeper:

Students generally have one year of post-graduation work eligibility, but certain science, technology, engineering and math majors are eligible for an additional two years. 

In addition to the $70,000 fee per student at the time of their initial application, schools would have to pay a $30,000 fee for each renewal. 

The other side:

For American colleges and universities, recruiting overseas students can be a source of tuition revenue. Tech companies and other industries hire many international students for their tech roles. 

So the fee could be a blow to both higher education and those businesses. 

"Driving away the talents, perspectives, and aspirations of international students will only hurt American innovation, economic growth, workforce development, and global leadership," Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, an association that represents international education, said in a written statement to the Associated Press. 

Aw said the OPT program can provide hands-on experience to international students and help fill labor shortages in STEM fields that are in high demand. 

Doug Rand, a former senior adviser at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during the Biden administration, told the AP in an email that he expects the courts to strike down the fee, and added that he believes fees are not the answer.

"When we educate international students at our universities, and they want to work and apply their talents here after graduating, of course we should embrace them -- not use an exorbitant fee as a pretext to send them packing," Rand wrote.

What's next:

The public will have 60 days, starting Thursday, to comment on the proposal before DHS  can put it into effect. 

If you would like to leave a public comment on the plan, click here to visit the Federal Register for instructions. 

Public comment will be accepted through Nov. 9. 

 

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