OPT Fee Proposal Clears White House Review, Publication Expected Next

A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposal addressing fees for Optional Practical Training (OPT) has completed review by the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), moving the proposal one step closer to publication.

The proposed rule, titled “Optional Practical Training Fees,” was submitted for OIRA review on August 20, 2026. OIRA completed its review on September 11, 2026, with the designation “Consistent with Change.” The public record does not disclose what changes were made during the review. The proposal remains at the proposed-rule stage and has not yet been published in the Federal Register.

What We Know — and What We Don’t About the OPT Fee

DHS has not yet published the proposed regulatory text. As a result, the amount of any proposed OPT fee, who would be required to pay it, which OPT applications would be affected, and how any new fee would be implemented are not yet known.

There has been significant reporting regarding the possibility of a $100,000 OPT fee, but DHS has not publicly confirmed that amount. Until the proposed rule is published, the $100,000 figure should not be treated as an established component of the proposal.

OPT allows eligible F-1 students to obtain temporary employment authorization for work related to their field of study and is an important source of talent for many U.S. employers.

Publication of the proposed rule should provide the first official details regarding the Administration’s plans for OPT fees and any potential impact on international students and the employers that hire them.

Maggio Kattar will continue to monitor the proposal and provide an update when DHS publishes the proposed rule.