OPT Fee Proposal 2026: DHS Rule Clears Review, Not Yet Published

A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) OPT fee proposal titled “Optional Practical Training Fees” cleared White House review on 11 September 2026, but it had not been published in the Federal Register as of late September. No new OPT fee is in effect, and the amount has not been officially released.

Key facts

• DHS sent the proposed rule to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review on 20 August 2026.
• Review was completed on 11 September 2026, marked “Consistent with Change”, according to a law-firm update.
• As of that update (last revised 24 September 2026), the proposal had not been published in the Federal Register.
• A $100,000 figure was first reported by The Wall Street Journal in August 2026. DHS has not confirmed any amount.
• More than 294,000 students took part in OPT in 2024/25, according to ICEF Monitor.

What changed

Optional Practical Training (OPT) lets F-1 students work in the US in their field after, or during, their studies. Today, students apply for OPT by filing Form I-765 with USCIS and paying the normal filing fee.

In August 2026, ICEF Monitor reported that the US was considering a much larger OPT fee. A DHS spokesperson said the fee was “under discussion” and that no policy should be seen as final until formally announced.

DHS then sent a proposed rule called “Optional Practical Training Fees” to OMB on 20 August 2026. Vanderbilt University’s international office noted that “no changes to OPT filing fees are currently in effect.”

On 11 September 2026, OMB finished its review. A law firm that tracks the rule says the public record does not show what changes were made during review.

Who is affected

If published and later finalised, the OPT fee proposal could affect F-1 students applying for OPT, and possibly STEM OPT. It is not yet known whether the fee would be paid by students, universities or employers. ICEF Monitor said this point was unresolved when it reported the story.

What it means for Nepali and Indian students

Indian and Nepali students are among the largest users of OPT. For many, OPT is the main way to gain US work experience and move toward an H-1B. Any large new fee would change the cost of studying in the US.

Right now, nothing has changed. You can apply for OPT under the current rules. When the proposal is published, it will be a proposed rule, which usually means a public comment period before any final rule. It would not apply immediately.

If you are still planning to study in the US, use the student visa money calculator to plan costs, and keep some buffer for possible fee changes.

What to do now

1. Do not pay anyone claiming to charge a “new OPT fee”. There is no such official fee today.
2. If you are eligible for OPT, talk to your DSO about your filing window under current rules.
3. Keep your F-1 status in order. See our guide to maintain F-1 status.
4. Watch the Federal Register for a proposed rule titled “Optional Practical Training Fees”. It will state the amount and who pays.
5. If you want to give your view, submit a comment during the comment period once the rule is published.

What we don’t know yet

• The fee amount. The $100,000 figure comes from a media report, not from DHS.
• Who would pay: students, schools or employers.
• Whether the fee would apply to initial OPT, STEM OPT, or both.
• When the proposed rule will be published, and when any final rule could take effect.
• We could not open an official OMB or DHS page for this rule. The review dates come from law-firm and university updates.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a new OPT fee now?

No. The OPT fee proposal has cleared White House review but had not been published as of late September 2026. Current Form I-765 fees still apply.

Is the OPT fee $100,000?

That figure was reported by The Wall Street Journal in August 2026. DHS has not confirmed any amount, and the proposed rule text is not yet public.

Will it apply to students already on OPT?

We do not know yet. The scope will only be clear once DHS publishes the proposed rule.

Sources

• Maggio Kattar: OPT Fee Proposal Clears White House Review, Publication Expected Next
• Vanderbilt ISSS: Proposed OPT Fees Under Review
• Fragomen: DHS to Propose New H-1B and OPT Fees
• ICEF Monitor: Report: US considering a $100,000 fee for Optional Practical Training

Last checked: 2 October 2026. This is general information, not immigration advice.