Pres. Trump To Impose $70,000 OPT Levy For Nigerians, Other International Students In the U.S
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a $70,000 fee for international students seeking to work in the United States through the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme.
Under the proposed rule, schools would pay $70,000 for each student’s initial OPT application and $30,000 for every renewal, according to AP News. The proposal could affect Nigerian and other international students who rely on OPT to gain work experience after graduation.
OPT allows eligible foreign students to work in jobs related to their fields of study. Students are generally eligible for one year after graduation, while STEM graduates can receive an additional two years.
Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, said OPT helps international students gain practical experience while helping employers fill labour shortages, particularly in STEM fields.
“Driving away the talents, perspectives, and aspirations of international students will only hurt American innovation, economic growth, workforce development, and global leadership,” Aw said.
DHS said the proposed fee is intended to tackle fraud and abuse, describing OPT as a “pipeline for cheap foreign labor.”
The public will have 60 days to submit comments before DHS decides whether to finalise the rule. The proposal could face legal challenges from higher education and business groups.
Doug Rand, a former senior adviser at US Citizenship and Immigration Services, said the fee would likely face legal challenges, comparing it with the $100,000 fee imposed on H-1B work visas.
“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 said.
