The Trump administration has proposed a $70,000 fee for international students seeking US work opportunities through the Optional Practical Training programme
Trump Proposes $70,000 OPT Fee for Nigerian Students Seeking US Jobs
The administration of US President Donald Trump has proposed a $70,000 fee for international students seeking to participate in a programme that allows them to work in the United States after completing their studies.
The proposed rule by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) could affect thousands of foreign students, including Nigerians, who depend on the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme to gain professional experience in the country after graduation.
Under the proposal, schools would be required to pay $70,000 for each international student’s initial OPT application and $30,000 for each renewal.
OPT currently allows eligible international students to work in jobs related to their fields of study while they are in the US or after completing their programmes. Students are generally eligible for up to one year of employment through OPT, while graduates in qualifying science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields can receive an additional two years.
The proposed fee could significantly alter the cost of employing international graduates and potentially affect Nigerian students and other foreign nationals seeking to remain in the US workforce after completing their education.
US universities rely heavily on international students, including those from Nigeria and other countries, while American technology companies and other businesses recruit foreign graduates for specialised and technical positions.
Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, an association representing international education, criticised the proposed measure, warning that it could undermine the benefits international students bring to the US economy and workforce.
“Driving away the talents, perspectives, and aspirations of international students will only hurt American innovation, economic growth, workforce development, and global leadership,” Aw said in a written statement.
DHS, however, said the proposed fee was aimed at addressing what it described as fraud and abuse within the OPT system.
The department described OPT as a “pipeline for cheap foreign labor.”
If adopted, the proposal would give the public 60 days to submit comments before DHS determines whether to finalise and implement the rule.
The measure is also expected to face possible legal challenges from higher education organisations and business groups, which could delay its implementation.
The proposed OPT fee is part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration crackdown and efforts to increase scrutiny of international students and foreign workers in the United States.
The administration has previously taken action against thousands of international students, with some losing their legal status and others subsequently facing detention or deportation.
For Nigerian students and other international students planning to study and work in the US, the proposed $70,000 OPT charge could become a major consideration if the rule is eventually approved.
