According to The South China Morning Post, on October 7 local time, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced a proposed rule requiring schools to pay $70,000 (approximately 469,000 yuan) for each student's first application for the "Optional Practical Training" program. An extension application would further require an additional payment of $30,000 (approximately 200,000 yuan).
Reports indicate that this measure may significantly increase the cost for thousands of Chinese graduates in gaining work experience in the United States.
In the full proposed rules of the Federal Register, concerns related to Chinese students and the Chinese government are listed as one of the reasons for the U.S. government to tighten the program. These include concerns expressed by Congress regarding Chinese citizens participating in U.S. technology projects.
A spokesperson for the US Department of Homeland Security said, “OPT has never been a backdoor to enter the US labor market. It is not a subsidy for cheap labor, nor a reward for those who exploit the system.”
This department claims that this expense is to combat fraud, strengthen regulation, and protect American workers.
According to the Open Door Report by the American International Education Association, during the 2024-2025 academic year, nearly 62,000 Chinese students participated in OPT. This program allows students with an F-1 visa who meet certain criteria to work in jobs that are directly related to their field of study.
According to the introduction, students holding an F-1 visa who meet the requirements can usually obtain a maximum of 12 months of OPT at each educational stage. Graduates who study specific fields such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are eligible for an additional 24 months of extension.
The report indicates that although schools are responsible for paying the fees, the proposed rules allow schools to shift this responsibility to students or employers. This raises a series of questions: Will schools continue to recommend this program to students, and how should participants pay for these fees?
The American International Educators Association criticized this, stating that it would increase the uncertainty faced by international students and harm the U.S. economy.
American International Educators Association Executive Director and CEO, Vanta Auff, stated, "International students do not take away opportunities from Americans; they create opportunities."
According to Av, OPT can not only provide international students with practical experience, but also help fill the gaps in high-demand STEM fields, thereby creating job opportunities for American workers. The association plans to submit a detailed proposal explaining its concerns regarding the proposed rules.
Currently, this fee scheme is still just a proposed rule. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says that the public can submit comments between October 8th and November 9th. After reviewing these comments, the department may modify the rules.
