OPT $70,000 fee proposal: what DHS proposed and where it stands
On 8 October 2026 DHS proposed a fee of $70,000 for a student's first OPT and $30,000 for any later OPT, paid by the school; it is a proposal, not a rule, and comments close on 9 November 2026 (Federal Register, 91 FR 64566, read on 30 October 2026). Today OPT still costs the Form I-765 fee of $470 online or $520 on paper.
Proposed OPT fee per student, paid by the school: $70,000 first OPT · $30,000 later OPT
Source: Federal Register, Optional Practical Training Fees (proposed rule, 91 FR 64566, 8 October 2026), summary and proposed 8 CFR 214.13(i); docket ICEB-2026-0100. Read on 30 October 2026.
Not legal or immigration advice. This page reports what USCIS, ICE (SEVP) and the Federal Register said on the date we read them. Your designated school official (DSO) and USCIS decide on your case, and rules can change quickly: check with your DSO and USCIS before you file.
What the proposal says
- A $70,000 fee "for initial OPT" and $30,000 "for any subsequent OPT", for each F-1 student.
- The school (the SEVP-certified institution) would pay it before the DSO recommends OPT in SEVIS; USCIS would not grant the work permit before the fee is paid.
- The $30,000 fee would apply to any OPT after the first one, "regardless of whether it is another pre-completion OPT, postcompletion OPT, or STEM OPT extension".
- DHS proposes that the final rule take effect 60 days after publication, for DSO recommendations dated on or after that day.
Source: Federal Register, Optional Practical Training Fees (proposed rule, 91 FR 64566, 8 October 2026). Read on 30 October 2026.
What it does not change today
Nothing changes until a final rule is published. Form I-765 still costs $470 online or $520 on paper, the filing window is unchanged, and the proposal may change after the comments. The Federal Register will publish any final rule; we will update this page when it does.
| Change | Status | What it means today | Federal Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| OPT fees of $70,000 and $30,000 | Proposal | Proposed on 8 October 2026; comments close on 9 November 2026. Not in force. Details | 91 FR 64566 |
| Filing deadline and grace period cut from 60 to 30 days | Final rule on hold | Published on 17 July 2026, due to take effect on 15 September 2026; a federal court postponed it on 14 September 2026 and USCIS applies the previous rules. Details | 91 FR 44976 |
| Premium processing fee $1,780 | In force | Since 1 March 2026 (inflation adjustment). | 91 FR 1059 |
| H.R. 1 fees, fiscal year 2027 | In force | Adjusted from 16 October 2026; they apply to other categories (for example parolees, TPS and asylum applicants), not to OPT. | 91 FR 62540 |
Sources: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, I-765, Application for Employment Authorization (page updated 7 October 2026); USCIS, G-1055, Fee Schedule: Form I-765 (page updated 28 October 2026); Federal Register, Optional Practical Training Fees (proposed rule, 91 FR 64566, 8 October 2026); Federal Register, Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media (final rule, 91 FR 44976, 17 July 2026); Federal Register, Adjustment to Premium Processing Fees (final rule, 91 FR 1059, 12 January 2026); Federal Register, Fiscal Year 2027 Inflation Adjustment to H.R. 1 Immigration Fees (notice, 91 FR 62540, 1 October 2026). Read on 30 October 2026.
Questions people ask
Is the $70,000 OPT fee in force?
No. It is a notice of proposed rulemaking published on 8 October 2026. It would apply only after DHS publishes a final rule.
Who would pay the OPT fee?
As proposed, the SEVP-certified school, for each F-1 student, before the DSO recommends OPT in SEVIS. It is separate from the $470/$520 Form I-765 fee.
Would it apply to the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, as proposed: $30,000 for any OPT after the first, STEM extension included.
When would it start?
DHS proposes that the final rule take effect 60 days after it is published; the fee would apply to DSO recommendations dated on or after that day.
Can I comment?
Yes, until 9 November 2026, on regulations.gov, docket ICEB-2026-0100.