The United States has proposed a $70,000 fee on colleges and universities for each initial recommendation of an international student for Optional Practical Training (OPT), a move that could increase the cost of post-study work opportunities for Nigerian students in the country.
The proposed fee is part of a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule that would also require institutions to pay $30,000 for subsequent OPT recommendations, including applications for a STEM OPT extension.
The proposal has not taken effect. DHS released it as a proposed rule, meaning it must undergo public consultation and be finalised before any new charges can be imposed.
OPT allows eligible international students on F-1 visas to work temporarily in the United States in jobs related to their fields of study after completing their academic programmes.
Eligible graduates can generally receive up to 12 months of OPT, while those in qualifying Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields can apply for a further 24-month STEM OPT extension.
Under the proposed system, the financial obligation would initially fall on universities rather than directly on students.
A university would be required to pay the applicable fee before its designated school official could recommend an eligible student for OPT through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
DHS said the employment authorisation would not be granted without the required payment.
However, the proposed structure could create significant financial pressure for institutions that regularly recommend international graduates for OPT, particularly universities with large foreign student populations.
A student who receives an initial OPT recommendation and subsequently qualifies for a STEM extension could trigger $100,000 in institutional fees under the proposed system.
The proposal could also have implications for Nigerians studying in the US, particularly those who factor post-graduation work experience into their decision to study abroad.
Although the proposed charges would initially be paid by institutions, universities could seek ways to recover the costs from students or employers, according to immigration lawyers reviewing the proposal.
This could potentially add to the financial considerations facing Nigerian students, who already contend with tuition, accommodation, visa, health insurance and other costs associated with studying in the US.
The scale of the potential impact is significant. Data from the Institute of International Education showed that 294,253 international students participated in OPT during the 2024/2025 academic year, representing a 21 per cent increase from the previous year.
More than half of international students across academic levels were studying STEM-related fields, many of whom could be eligible for the additional 24-month extension.
DHS said the proposed fees are intended to address fraud and abuse in the OPT system, strengthen programme oversight and protect US workers.
The department also argued that the charges would encourage institutions to assess the costs and value of recommending students for OPT and help offset government expenses associated with administering and investigating the programme.
The proposed rule would generate additional revenue for the US Treasury, with DHS estimating that the measure could generate billions of dollars annually depending on how universities and students respond.
The OPT proposal comes amid wider changes to US immigration policies affecting international students and foreign workers.
The Trump administration has also pursued changes to the H-1B programme, another important route for international graduates seeking longer-term employment in the US. A separate DHS proposal would impose an additional $103,265 fee on certain cap-subject H-1B petitions.
For Nigerian students considering US universities, the proposed OPT charges could therefore become an additional factor in assessing the overall cost and post-study opportunities associated with studying in the country.
However, the proposed $70,000 initial fee and $30,000 subsequent fee are not currently payable by universities or students.
DHS is required to consider public comments before deciding whether to issue a final rule. If adopted, the measure would significantly change the financial arrangements surrounding OPT recommendations for international students in the United States.
