The U.S. government is weighing the fee for the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which allows international students to work in the country for one to three years after completing their degrees. The program is widely used as a pathway from the F-1 student visa to the H-1B work visa, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The proposal is under discussion at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It remains unclear whether the fee would be paid by students, universities or employers.
A White House official familiar with the matter told The Independent that the administration is not expected to announce any changes to the OPT program in the near term.
Students at the University of Pennsylvania. Photo from the university's Facebook page
The proposal reflects the administration's broader strategy of raising fees to discourage foreign nationals from working in the United States. If approved, the new rule would further tighten the country's immigration system.
