White House reviews DHS plan to charge international graduates $100,000 for work permits
The White House is evaluating a Department of Homeland Security proposal that would levy a $100,000 fee on foreign students seeking post-graduation work authorization in the United States.
According to internal documents, the Department of Homeland Security has formally presented a rule to the White House that would impose a $100,000 fee on foreign students who wish to remain in the United States under the Optional Practical Training program after completing their degrees. OPT currently permits up to three years of employment for graduates, especially in advanced STEM fields, and is a key source of skilled labor for many firms.
The proposal stands in stark contrast to statements made by Donald Trump in 2024, when he advocated granting automatic green cards to all college graduates. Economic Innovation Group researchers Sam Peak and Jiaxin He argue that such a fee would undermine the high salaries and entrepreneurial activity that international STEM graduates generate, and could also reduce the pool of candidates for the H-1B visa lottery. A similar $100,000 charge on H-1B applications was blocked by a federal judge as unconstitutional, and the legal dispute continues. The administration’s rationale cites abuse of the program, yet experts warn the fee may backfire by shrinking the talent pipeline and harming U.S. GDP.
Why it matters
A $100,000 fee could drastically limit foreign STEM graduates' ability to work in the U.S., affecting the talent pool and economic growth.
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