Big shock for Indian students! Trump eyes $100,000 post-study work fee

If enacted, the measure would mark a major escalation in President Donald Trump's efforts to tighten legal immigration. It could also deal a blow to US universities, which rely heavily on international students as a stable source of revenue, and to major technology and financial firms that recruit foreign graduates for highly skilled roles, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The proposed fee would apply to the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, which allows international students graduating from US universities to work in the country for one to three years while remaining on their student visas.

Citing the latest available data, The Wall Street Journal reported that around 419,000 international graduates were working in the US under the OPT programme in 2024.

A spokesperson for the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told the newspaper: "No policies should be considered final until formally announced. At DHS we are always having conversations about how to use all tools in our arsenal to protect the integrity of our legal immigration system."

According to the report, the proposed fee remains under discussion within the DHS, and it is not yet clear whether the White House will approve the measure.

Under the current rules, international student visas remain valid for the duration of a student's academic programme, along with up to three additional years of work authorisation for eligible graduates under the OPT programme.

How could Indian students be affected?

Indian students make up the largest international student community in the United States. According to media reports, more than 330,000 Indian students are currently enrolled at US universities.

For students planning to study in the US, however, there is no immediate reason to alter their plans. The proposed $100,000 OPT fee remains under discussion and has not been approved. Likewise, the reported proposal for a four-year student visa validity rule has not yet come into effect, according to India Today.