US proposes $70,000 fee for first-time OPT participation by international students

Data cited by NAFSA and research firm JB International also showed a decline in international student enrolment in the US, from an estimated 11.69 lakh in 2025-26 to 10.57 lakh this year.The US has proposed a $70,000 fee on educational institutions for international students participating in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme for the first time, a move that could have affect Indian students seeking to study and work in the country after graduation.