New Delhi: The Donald Trump administration is reportedly considering imposing a $100,000 fee on international students seeking to work in the United States after completing their studies, a move that could significantly impact Indian students, who constitute the largest international student community in the country.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, senior US officials are considering charging the fee for the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, which allows international students to work in the US after completing their studies. The proposal has not yet been officially announced by the White House.
The move, if implemented, would directly affect thousands of Indian students who rely on the OPT programme to gain professional experience in the US before applying for H-1B visas. For many Indian families, the programme has long been an important factor in choosing the United States for higher education despite the high cost of overseas studies.
The OPT programme currently permits international students to work in the US for up to one year after graduation without requiring a separate work visa. Graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines can extend the period by another two years, allowing them to work for up to three years.
A fee of $100,000, or more than Rs 95 lakh at current exchange rates, would substantially increase the financial burden on students who are already paying high tuition fees and living expenses, often through education loans.
The proposal comes at a time when Indian students dominate international enrolments in the US. According to the latest Open Doors report, more than 3.63 lakh Indian students were enrolled in American higher education institutions during the 2024-25 academic year, overtaking China to become the largest source of international students.
The report also noted a sharp rise in Indian participation in the OPT programme, with nearly 40 per cent of Indian students opting for post-study work and participation increasing by 47 per cent over the previous year. The programme has become a crucial pathway for graduates seeking long-term employment in the US.
Officials supporting the proposal have reportedly argued that the OPT programme has been susceptible to visa fraud and overstays. However, critics contend that imposing such a high fee would discourage genuine students while making US universities less attractive to international talent.
The reported proposal follows another controversial immigration measure introduced earlier this year, under which the Trump administration imposed a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications. That policy was subsequently blocked by a federal appeals court in Boston after legal challenges from technology companies and industry groups.
The latest development also comes amid signs of declining Indian student enrolments in the US. According to US government arrival data cited in the report, new enrolments from India fell by nearly 45 per cent between August 2024 and August 2025, largely due to visa interview delays and stricter immigration scrutiny.
Education experts believe that if the proposed OPT fee is approved, it could prompt more Indian students to consider alternative destinations such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany and Australia, where post-study employment opportunities remain comparatively more accessible.
