The United States Department of Homeland Security has proposed a $70,000 fee for international students seeking to work in the country.
The proposal was posted online on Wednesday as part of the Trump administration’s wider crackdown on foreign visa holders.
Under the proposal, nonimmigrant students with F1 visas would be required to pay $70,000 to a certified institution for on the job training, known as Optional Practical Training, and $30,000 for any additional work training.
The department said the new rules were meant to combat fraud, strengthen the integrity of the immigration system, and protect US workers.
Under the current OPT system, foreign students can engage in work training for up to 20 hours per week while school is in session, as well as for a limited time after graduation, with an additional allowance for those with degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Those who enroll currently pay around $500.
Schools would be required to pay the $70,000 for each new student’s initial application to the program, and a $30,000 fee for each renewal.
DHS described the visa program as a pipeline for cheap foreign labor and said the fee would ensure that employers, students and institutions are engaging in appropriate activities.
The public has 60 days to comment on the proposal before DHS can finalize it.
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